General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSocialism vs Capitalism? Really?
Last edited Sun Jul 22, 2018, 07:35 PM - Edit history (1)
I recommend that we abandon the "socialism vs capitalism" nonsense and call for a "PEOPLE's ECONOMY." It may help unify progressives and centrists.
Deeper still, Democrats should emphasize a "PEOPLE'S INFRASTRUCTURE" of public roads, education and healthcare, etc., to foster a "PEOPLE'S ECONOMY" of small, innovative businesses.
I'll bet five peaches no one here will find this sufficiently pithy to respond to... but I hope one or two thinks about the implications of socially responsible INFRASTRUCTURE as ECONOMICALLY GENERATIVE. It's a nested model of society with a democratically determined infrastructure at the center of a continuously emergent system. Wired Magazine meets The Nation. Biology meets economics.
I'd even hazard to coin a term, DEMOSTRUCTURE, to imply a democratically determined infrastructure.
brooklynite
(94,727 posts)"People's Republic"
"People's Police"
Nothing in the current capitalist system prevents government investment in social and capital goods.
Nothing in your proposed system prevents small, innovative businesses from becoming big ones.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)A DEMOSTRUCTURE'S raison d'etre is to foster a system that encourages small business. Do you want to help list the components of a socially responsible demostructure?
NET NEUTRALITY
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
PUBLIC HEALTHCARE
PUBLIC EDUCATION
UNION AND WORKER-FRIENDLY REGULATION
TRUST-BUSTING
WOMEN'S, LGBTQ RIGHTS LEGISLATION
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
VOTING RIGHTS
CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FROM BANKS
etc, etc.,
DFW
(54,436 posts)Raison d'être is a "reason for being"
Raisin d'être is "grape for being"
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)The Genealogist
(4,723 posts)A lot of people like the bits of socialism we have now. They just don't like the word.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)Orsino
(37,428 posts)DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)LIBERAL
PEOPLE'S
SOCIALIST
Why not take the language back?
shanny
(6,709 posts)and that our country has been on the wrong one for far too long. Obscene income inequality should be proof enough of that for anyone.
DFW
(54,436 posts)In Germany, where I now live, the eastern part, run by the SED (Socialist Unity Party) trained its People's Police (Volkspolizei) and its Volksarmee (people's army) to kill anyone trying to escape their little "realexisistierender Sozialismus (really esisting socialism)."
The people who lived there didn't find the last two words to be so beautiful, and the eastern European Socialists considered "liberal" to be just as much of a dirty word as today's Republicans do.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)And I might add, great music program to go with Oberlin's progressive, even experimental politics.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)The music, the politics, the cloudy Ohio skies...
docgee
(870 posts)Looks like the old playbook is back in play.
DFW
(54,436 posts)NSDAP: National Socialist German Workers Party
docgee
(870 posts)The German Workers Party is where the Nazis came from. They gained power by spreading fear of Marxism. They may have had socialist in their name, but the Nazis were as fascist as the come.
johnp3907
(3,732 posts)And an unabashed Democrat. And Ill happily work with anyone seeking the same or similar goals, regardless of terminology.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)Do you understand why "socialism" vs "capitalism" sticks mud in any effort towards progress? Many socialists, esp. dem socialists, are entirely supportive of small biz, but the public has no idea because of how the discussion is framed.
Also, the concept of a demostructure which I've proposed, places a democratically controlled infrastructure at the center of a hive of continuously emerging small business activity
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)How about we look into using something like "Citizen-Led" and "Citizen-Centered" phrasing instead?
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)TexasTowelie
(112,417 posts)and too many syllables that will eventually be butchered into a phrase that would be ridiculed.
Wounded Bear
(58,706 posts)The RWers steal all the good terms and ruin them.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)docgee
(870 posts)Are the Russian bots spreading it around also?
brooklynite
(94,727 posts)Should we leave?
bitterross
(4,066 posts)The OP didn't say a word to disparage the 1% or suggest they are not part of the "people."
They way I read your post is you've taken offense to the OP for some reason. Also, the way your post is written it is certain to get responses. The issue I have is I the responses it will drive will be infighting and do the work of the right for them.
I don't get why you took offense to the OP in the first place?
bitterross
(4,066 posts)I completely agree we need some re-branding and fast.
Everything I can think of that uses the word "People's..." is socialist or communist. And I'm pretty much of the same age and background as the people in love with Trump and, more importantly, at lot of the independents who lean right. I just got the hell out of the South and got an education and life experience.
These come to mind first:
People's Republic of China
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Just not a good word to use. I apologize for complaining without making a alternative suggestion. I will work on it.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)... for a citizens' economy?
bitterross
(4,066 posts)Try not to get to frustrated. We can be frustrating here and beat a lot of dead horses.
Ron Green
(9,823 posts)Thats something everyone ought to have.