On Meet the Press, Bernie Sanders was pressed about Socialism. I’ll paraphrase. Democratic Socialism is more compatible with American ideals then, Donald Trump cozening up to Kim Jong-un or Vladimir Putin…
I could not say it better. When will our educated electorate understand the difference between socialism and communism and not equate the two. Communism is a totalitarian dictatorship. Socialism is an economic system that was adopted by most if not all communist states. A strong democracy needs to provide for the welfare of all it citizens and not only the rich. Capitalism emphasizes greed. In some things that is okay, but when it leaves our most needed without, it fails.
There are certain things that all people need to survive. Water, food, a roof over our heads, and health care. Democracies thrive where educational systems are strong, where a non-corrupt police force serves the people and not our leaders.
Why Not Socialism
Socialism already exists in our democracy. Our fire and police departments, our military are all socialism working for the common good. It has worked for the great majority in our public school systems. So to deny that socialism is not part of our society is just wrong.
So why not providing a socialistic answer to our medical system. The only reason for this is to maintain poverty for those who can not afford it. Our current system is unfair. It enriches the insurance companies and drives our costs up. Our current system leads to more part time labor in order to deny health benefits to all. Think of how much more time parents could spend with their children if they held one full time job which paid a living wage. If health care was provided by a single payer system and backed by our government. Think of how many people would benefit from not having cancer or another catastrophic illness deplete their savings. It would raise the quality of life for so many in so many ways.
And in education, to survive as a nation we need more people with higher education. We need more people with better skills in many ways. But college is not nor should not be for everyone. Vocational training for those who are not what is commonly known as book smart should provide skills which will allow those to live with dignity.
Contrary to those who, think this would socialism would destroy our democracy, in truth it would make it greater and more caring.
To Change the Subject, other events.
I’d like to comment on other events that have occurred which trouble me.
- The firings of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and his twin brother Lt. Col Yevgen Vindman,
- The removal of Ambassador Gordon Sondland,
- The removal of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch,
- The over-ruling of a conviction of Eddie Gallagher for a war crime.
Who benefited the most from these actions. The american people? or President Donald Trump?
My answer is while Sondland bought his post, both Vindman are decorated US military man, Marie Yovanovitch a respected and capable diplomat. In the case of all but Sondland the american people lost experience. The american ideal was weakened and the interest of the american people came in second to the interest of President Donald Trump.
In the case of Eddie Gallagher a more troubling act occurred. After vacating the ruling of a military court, Trump called him “one of the ultimate fighters.” How does elevating a war criminal help our image? How does this make us strong? It weakens our alliances, it makes us the bully on the block and like Pablo Escobar it will eventually lead to a loss of character and standing. It changes our soul. The United States is weaker in the eyes of every peace loving person in the world.
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