Is Bernie Sanders a Democratic Socialist or a Social Democrat? (generations, thought)
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He calls himself a democratic socialist, but always touts social democracies (Denmark, Sweden, etc.) as models of his beliefs. So which one do his views represent?
Democratic Socialist = Advocates a completely socialist economic system alongside a democratic government
Social Democrat = Supports economic and social interventions by the government to provide some level of social justice but within the framework of a capitalist economy. Social democrats want to amend the capitalist system to lead to greater egalitarian and democratic outcomes.
It's still a bit early to say with certainty. I would say based on your definitions of the two, Social Democrat, but we'll see. He doesn't have what it takes to be commander in chief, so I don't really care. He let's people walk all over him. He has a good heart, but often times if you can't get tough, none of your plans will ever become reality because it takes a lot of fight and will power to bring change.
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It depends on the definition of "Socialist".
Public highways are a socialist concept. When was the last time you had to pay a toll to use a public street? Same for public education. Anything that you pay taxes to not related to defense spending and law enforcement is arguably "socialist".
At the other extreme, in the 20th century especially, some said "Socialism" was government ownership of all wealth-creating properties (including small grocery stores), as in the then-Communist countries. People could own consumer goods they bought, but nothing beyond that. I think, but not sure, they could own their house, but not the land it sits on.
Socialism of the 20th Century W. European variety was government ownership of key industries (steel, shipbuilding, airlines, other large factories) but not to the extent as in the USSR and its satellites.
These days, most EU countries are considered "Social Democrat" to one degree or the other. They affirm the basic soundness of the capitalist system, but use the wealth generated from that system to provide key services for its people (health, education, social services, and so forth). In that sense, the US is barely a social democracy if at all. In fact, I'll argue the US was more of a social democracy one and two generations ago.
The 1950s, as social-issues conservative (race and gender relations, to name two) as it was, that decade was also far more economic-issues liberal (i.e. "Socialist") than now. The wealthiest Americans had marginal tax rates as high as 91%, college and university tuition were much more affordable, there was more regulation of the financial and business sectors.
I think people have different definitions of "socialist", even in Scandinavian countries, politicians call themselves socialist but they are really social democrats.
Sanders is a social democrat. Like FDR and others.
I think people have different definitions of "socialist", even in Scandinavian countries, politicians call themselves socialist but they are really social democrats.
Sanders is a social democrat. Like FDR and others.
That is my thought on this as well. Heck, ask any right winger what socialist is and they will probably respond it is communism.
Do you think Bernie should get his terminology straight considering they are two fairly different ideologies?
The terminology you used isnt concrete as I see no reputable source that even uses the term Social Democrat, let alone defines it.
further more, social democrat doesnt even exist in the American lexicon, so at best, you are using a foreign term and its definition. A Democrat in England is not the same as one in America. Heck, a Democrat in Asia, South America , or Europe is actually a Republican affiliated directly to their international alliance.
It's on a gradient. Socialisms are varying degrees of communism. Some of it's communism lite.
if anything Communism is a degree of socialism, not the other way around.
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