Yes Scott: Democratic Socialism (which is the system in Europe put into place by most of the western European countries sometime between 1945 and 1980) presupposes that humanity is better off if everyone is able to achieve the Four Freedoms FDR talked about (Ironically, on 6 January 1941): Freedom from Fear, Freedom from Want, Freedom of…
Yes Scott: Democratic Socialism (which is the system in Europe put into place by most of the western European countries sometime between 1945 and 1980) presupposes that humanity is better off if everyone is able to achieve the Four Freedoms FDR talked about (Ironically, on 6 January 1941): Freedom from Fear, Freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship. The Freedoms from Want and from Fear are the issues we are really struggling with and have always done. What is different in Europe is that for the most part, parliamentary systems actually DO represent constituencies because they are based mostly on proportional representation, Center-Right parties (with some grumbling, admittedly) DO embrace--after decades of opposition and attempted privatization--principles like universal healthcare, a livable minimum wage, and affordable housing. But here is the problem: in Scandinavia, especially, where these systems work exceptionally well, with only the occasional hiccup (such as Sweden deciding to go for the "herd immunity" option re: COVID-19, which resulted in thousands of preventable deaths), the culture is quite monolithic. The number of non-white northern Scandinavians is extremely small. When refugees began to be welcomed into the system--especially from Turkey, Greece, Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia--the Right began to try to legislate against their inclusion into the social safety net all "native" (read white Germanic) Swedes, Norse, and Danes enjoy. Racism is just below the surface. Sexism is not as big a deal, apparently, but I have colleagues in Norway who tell me that it is alive and well--also under the surface.
In order for the USA to adopt Democratic Socialist ideals (AOC advocates for this, and of course Bernie) there has to be a broad consensus that everyone has an equal right to freedom from want. That is unlikely to occur because of the racist embrace of American Exceptionalism that occurs not only on the Right but also on the Left.
The word for the politics that have had so much influence in Scandinavia (albeit less nowadays) is Social Democracy.
But almost all developed countries -- except the United States -- have healthcare systems that provide citizens with a safety net in case of illness which, as we have been seeing, is no respecter of beliefs or class distinctions. Or of Cain's response when God asked him where his brother was...
That said, you use that word Socialism (dirty to ultra-individualist American ears) too freely. Is Canada socialist? Is Switzerland socialist? Is Japan socialist?
Yes! Social Democracies is a term I feel might be accepted by Americans, over time. In contrast to Social Democracies, we have 'Private Greed’ of American capitalism.
As Lakoff remains us, "say what you mean, and mean what you say”, over and over again. The benefits of universal health care in a Social Democracy far outweighs the pain, poverty and suffering from the Private Greed of our profiteering health care system
Gotta take "social" out. Capitalistic Democracy? Isn't that our grand experiment? Democracy will cover workers and their families' education and healthcare, along with infrastructure, and environmental management (trying not to sound threatening to CEOs), freeing up business to focus on business.
Yes, I remember my affinity for Demorcatic Capitalism. We will have many people disagree with us, and so that is to be expected if we are say anything meaningful
Yes Scott: Democratic Socialism (which is the system in Europe put into place by most of the western European countries sometime between 1945 and 1980) presupposes that humanity is better off if everyone is able to achieve the Four Freedoms FDR talked about (Ironically, on 6 January 1941): Freedom from Fear, Freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship. The Freedoms from Want and from Fear are the issues we are really struggling with and have always done. What is different in Europe is that for the most part, parliamentary systems actually DO represent constituencies because they are based mostly on proportional representation, Center-Right parties (with some grumbling, admittedly) DO embrace--after decades of opposition and attempted privatization--principles like universal healthcare, a livable minimum wage, and affordable housing. But here is the problem: in Scandinavia, especially, where these systems work exceptionally well, with only the occasional hiccup (such as Sweden deciding to go for the "herd immunity" option re: COVID-19, which resulted in thousands of preventable deaths), the culture is quite monolithic. The number of non-white northern Scandinavians is extremely small. When refugees began to be welcomed into the system--especially from Turkey, Greece, Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia--the Right began to try to legislate against their inclusion into the social safety net all "native" (read white Germanic) Swedes, Norse, and Danes enjoy. Racism is just below the surface. Sexism is not as big a deal, apparently, but I have colleagues in Norway who tell me that it is alive and well--also under the surface.
In order for the USA to adopt Democratic Socialist ideals (AOC advocates for this, and of course Bernie) there has to be a broad consensus that everyone has an equal right to freedom from want. That is unlikely to occur because of the racist embrace of American Exceptionalism that occurs not only on the Right but also on the Left.
The word for the politics that have had so much influence in Scandinavia (albeit less nowadays) is Social Democracy.
But almost all developed countries -- except the United States -- have healthcare systems that provide citizens with a safety net in case of illness which, as we have been seeing, is no respecter of beliefs or class distinctions. Or of Cain's response when God asked him where his brother was...
That said, you use that word Socialism (dirty to ultra-individualist American ears) too freely. Is Canada socialist? Is Switzerland socialist? Is Japan socialist?
Yes! Social Democracies is a term I feel might be accepted by Americans, over time. In contrast to Social Democracies, we have 'Private Greed’ of American capitalism.
As Lakoff remains us, "say what you mean, and mean what you say”, over and over again. The benefits of universal health care in a Social Democracy far outweighs the pain, poverty and suffering from the Private Greed of our profiteering health care system
Gotta take "social" out. Capitalistic Democracy? Isn't that our grand experiment? Democracy will cover workers and their families' education and healthcare, along with infrastructure, and environmental management (trying not to sound threatening to CEOs), freeing up business to focus on business.
Yes, I remember my affinity for Demorcatic Capitalism. We will have many people disagree with us, and so that is to be expected if we are say anything meaningful