From Fox News · Lee Carter · · 1m 10s
Socialism Means Two Different Things
Republicans and Democrats define socialism in wildly different ways.
In brief
Republicans and Democrats define socialism in wildly different ways. Socialism means communism to Republicans and affordable healthcare to Democrats. Originally reported by Fox News.
Socialism's Meaning
Republicans see socialism as communism with government control and breadlines.
“To many Republicans, socialism means communism. Government control. Breadlines. Moscow. A dreary existence in which everyone is equally miserable except the people running the government”
Democrats' View of Socialism
Democrats associate socialism with affordable healthcare and economic equality.
“To many Democrats, socialism means something else entirely. Affordable healthcare. A decent retirement. A fair shot at getting ahead. An economy where billionaires don’t get every break while everyone else gets the bill”
Polling Shows Divide
65% of Democrats and 45% of independents have positive views of socialism.
“According to Gallup, 65% of Democrats have a positive view of socialism”
What Voters Actually Like
Democrats and independents talk about basic services and economic equality.
“When Gallup asked Americans what they actually liked about socialism, Democrats and independents talked about access to basic services, economic equality, and a stronger safety net”
The Swamp Analogy
Trump promised to drain the swamp and fight for forgotten Americans.
“They believed the system was rigged. They believed the powerful were getting richer while everyone else was falling behind. They believed Washington had become a private club where the members took care of themselves and sent the bill to the rest of the country”
Democrats' Similar Argument
Democrats now argue about an economy favoring the wealthy and political insiders.
“And now Democrats are making a strikingly similar argument about an economy that favors the wealthy, a political system that protects insiders, and ordinary Americans who can’t seem to get ahead”
Voters Experience Economy
Voters experience economic issues at the grocery store and pharmacy.
“Voters don’t experience the economy as an ideology. They experience it at the grocery store. At the pharmacy. When the mortgage payment comes due. When their children graduate from college with debt and move back into their childhood bedrooms”
The Label Doesn't Work
The label doesn't solve the problem of economic fairness.
“A positive view of socialism is not a blank check for every policy proposed in its name”
What Both Parties Need
Both parties must offer solutions to economic fairness without creating new problems.
“For Republicans, the challenge is to explain how their vision of free enterprise can deliver the affordability and opportunity people are demanding. For Democrats, the challenge is to demonstrate that their promises of fairness can produce real results without creating a whole new set of problems”
The Real Question
The real question is whether either party understands why many Americans feel the economy isn't working.
“Perhaps the most important question coming out of this election isn’t whether America is embracing socialism. Perhaps it’s whether either party fully understands why so many Americans feel the economy isn’t working for them”
The bottom line
Socialism means communism to Republicans and affordable healthcare to Democrats.
