Dumb question: what's a Socialist?

[socialist_n_TN]

41. That's not really a dumb question, but it IS a very complex question...

I always HATE to try and boil down a concept like "socialism" in an internet post because something is guaranteed to be wrong with it.

My definition of socialism is a works council type of bottom-up democracy where decisions are made by the people DIRECTLY if at all possible and by representatives of the people where necessary. When representatives are necessary, they are paid only the average of the income of the people they represent and are immediately recallable if they DON'T vote the way a majority of their constituencies want them to. The workers directly control the places they work in all areas. In areas of general welfare, the workers work WITH representatives of the people in order to get the necessities made and delivered to the people. The main focus is not who makes the money, but getting the necessities out to the people in the most efficient way possible. Resources are allocate to that end.

As others have stated, it's a flexible concept. The best thing to do would probably to research different types of socialism and find what they have to say about their politics. In an earlier post, you mentioned Kshama Sawant in Seattle. She belongs to a ostensibly Trotskyist group called Socialist Alternative which is affiliated with an international organization called the Committee for a Worker's International or CWI. See what you think about their politics then check out some alternatives to SAlt. The group I belong to is called Worker's Power (or WP-US) and we're affiliated internationally with the League for a Fifth International and we're a little to the left of SAlt. There are also the old line Communist Parties all over, including some members represented on here. And of course as others have mentioned, there are even some Democratic Socialist parties. Do a little study of these groups and figure out what suits your politics best (if any) and then join.

I think at this point, it's about getting organized SOMEWHERE and SOMEHOW more than it is about what particular group you organize with.