Is Democratic Socialism a bad word?

[Tiggeroshii]

16 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Yes.
	2 (13%)
	It's not a bad word, just distasteful and unmarketable. Nobody should use "socialism" if they want to win elections.
	0 (0%)
	Democratic Socialism might not be bad in itself, but "socialism" is a word with enough negativity associated with it that it shouldn't be said if we want to win elections.
	2 (13%)
	No.
	12 (75%)
	It's an extreme concept that nobody in their right mind should ever approach.
	0 (0%)
	Shut up, commie.
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[Awsi Dooger]

1. Losing term nationally

That's why I fretted Sanders winning the nomination. He had less perceived baggage than Hillary but once the word socialist was pounded on the airwaves and social media sites a billion times or more I don't think he could have survived it.

However, if there was ever an opportunity it was against Trump and his 38% favorable rating. In a typical cycle a socialist gets trounced.

Here's a reference point: I've known dozens and dozens of right wing simplistic angry males for 33 years. They don't know a damn thing about politics but ever since I encountered that group in summer 1984 they have abused the term socialist in regard to Democrats and Democratic politics. They don't even know what the word means. But it is so ingrained there is no way they would have shunned a one-time opportunity to savage a socialist in a general election.

[brooklynite]

2. Perhaps Bernie Sanders should run in 2018 as the "Democratic Socialist Party" candidate...

...and see how it plays.

[earthshine]

6. It would be a disaster for the Dem party to be at odds with Bernie.

A lot of people would follow him out the door.

[leftstreet]

3. No n/t

[Foamfollower]

4. Vile words.

Throwing "Socialism" into any term taints it with vile evil forever.

It's like trying to make a rainbow swastika.

[AlexSFCA]

5. horrible term

it should be social democracy or so; socialism is when governemnt owns everything - way worse than capitalism and so this word should not be used in any context when it comes to elections.

I like the idea of non-profit private enteprise more than government. Very rarely do I encouter friendly DMV or postal office workers but always at UPS and Fedex. And mind you, USPS and DMV workers have actually better benefits and usually better incomes. For some reason our governemnt agencies don't cultivate and enforce customer service which is an easy thing to do.

It goes without saying that health and education industries should be non-profit. I wonder what would be the term for that?

[OnDoutside]

7. Not to be confused with the European "Social Democrat", which is a much better term.