I think Bernie, and probably most of us as well, are social democrats

[Bread and Circus]

rather than democratic socialists (at least by the definition offered by wiki).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy

Social democracy is a political ideology that supports economic and social interventions to promote social justice within the framework of a capitalist economy, and a policy regime involving welfare state provisions, collective bargainingarrangements, regulation of the economy in the general interest, redistribution of income and wealth, and a commitment to representative democracy.[1][2][3] Social democracy thus aims to create the conditions for capitalism to lead to greater egalitarian, democratic and solidaristic outcomes, and is often associated with the set of socioeconomic policies that became prominent in Western and Northern Europe – particularly the Nordic model in the Nordic countries – during the latter half of the 20th century.[4][5][6]

According to wiki this is different than democratic socialism which has its own page and sounds more like the traditional state ownership of means of production.

The terminology is confusing at first glance which I think is sad.

I would dare anyone on DU to argue with the values of social democrats as depicted on that wiki page.

[Juicy_Bellows]

1. If some of those among us are honest, they will take issue with it.

I however, think it fits pretty nicely with my world view.

Thanks for posting!

[Bread and Circus]

2. you are more than welcome. I am glad it was useful.

[Juicy_Bellows]

3. Indeed. I think it will be useful in illustrating a lack of conviction of some here.

In other words, I do not think many will challenge the definition even though they exude opposite characteristics at every turn.

Cheers!

[stevenleser]

4. This is more of what the European countries are and I identify with that, not Democratic Socialism

Which as you noted is more in the realm of Socialism.

I've been saying this since Summer.

[Bread and Circus]

6. I feel as if Sanders uses the wrong term to describe himself

Which is unfortunate.

[stevenleser]

9. I see it as two possibilities and I noted this from the getgo back in June/July.

Either #1 - As you say he is using the wrong term to describe himself. That he has been doing it for a long time and has been willfully ignorant about it.

Or:

#2 - He really is a Democratic Socialist and is watering down the viewpoint for the purposes of not coming across as so scary when he talks about himself and his preferred policies.

I tend to think #2 is more likely. I don't think Sanders is dumb.

[Cheese Sandwich]

5. It doesn't go far enough

It leaves the major features of the capitalist system in place, so the capitalist class still has most of the money and material power in society. They always use their power to influence and get control of the government, and use their political power to evade or undo the social democratic reforms.

We should go for deeper structural reforms to the economy, like a democratic socialism where we bring the major means of production under democratic control. That doesn't mean the government should own everything, but it should be a lot more democratic than it is now, including maybe turning the banking system into a public utility, and some combination of public control of major industries with worker and community managed co-ops.

It would be a lot better than what we have now though.

[Bread and Circus]

7. I don't agree. I still agree with private ownership for most things.

Can't type all the reasons now on my phone....may get to thisn point later.

[firebrand80]

8. Of course, but

using that term is bad politics

[MaggieD]

10. Bernie is a Democratic Socialist

Not a Social Democrat. You got the wrong wiki page. You might want to edit your OP to correct that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_socialism

[Bread and Circus]

11. Actually, I believe Bernie is what he espouses, and what he espouses sounds like a social democrat.

When your candidate has a trust problem you might want to be more honest.