Bernie Sanders

malthaussen

(17,732 posts)

5. I've asked that myself

Sun May 17, 2015, 08:38 AM

May 2015

One answer is that "self-avowed Socialist" is a remark designed to disavow that the label is the responsibility of the pundit, that is "He calls him that himself, I'm not calling him that to insult him." Which is as may be, but it does presuppose that the Socialist label is somehow a denigration, which speaks volumes.

Bernie is no socialist, as others have mentioned. He most closely resembles what in Europe are called Social Democrats, but so far as I know, no one has asked him why he doesn't use that label. He's certainly no radical, except in the US anyone to the left of Ronald Reagan is called a radical (and it appears the only radicals are leftists, as you don't often hear about the "Radical Right.&quot .

-- Mal

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What the hell is an "avowed Democratic Socialist," anyway? [View all] merrily May 2015 OP

Whenever I see that phrase, "Avowed Democratic Socialist" - I feel the rest of that dog whistle djean111 May 2015 #1

Who believes in working within capitalism AND the Democratic Party. merrily May 2015 #3

Correct - HRC - Hope And Change Redux - America Never Seems To Learn cantbeserious May 2015 #4

If you are implying that Bernie is insincere, may I remind you that this is a group for merrily May 2015 #15

Implying Just The Opposite - Others Are Not Sincere cantbeserious May 2015 #23

OK. In that case, post is consistent with supporting Bernie for President (and beyond). merrily May 2015 #24

Bernie Has My Full Support For Both The Primaries And The General Election cantbeserious May 2015 #26

Yep. Good for you. merrily May 2015 #27

Bernie Ain't A Commie Marxist RoccoR5955 May 2015 #16

Yep. SusanCalvin May 2015 #32

Jamie Dimon, Jackpine Radical May 2015 #38

! SusanCalvin May 2015 #39

A perfect description. riqster Jun 2015 #53

Thanks. Lots clarified here. K and R. n/t Smarmie Doofus May 2015 #2

I've asked that myself malthaussen May 2015 #5

Yeah, but.... merrily May 2015 #14

It's a good dog-whistle. Politic is the art of the possible. Joe Chi Minh May 2015 #22

Exactly right. fasttense May 2015 #17

Jeb Bush, avowed Republican… Jackpine Radical May 2015 #40

I see it that way myself... malthaussen May 2015 #42

The 'radical right' in this country would be the Freikorps that showed up at the KingCharlemagne Jun 2015 #54

Agreed, but they are never called that. malthaussen Jun 2015 #55

Maybe if we stoped looking at kacekwl May 2015 #6

AGREED! Labels are not a problem for me. I do think it's helpful to have info handy when merrily May 2015 #9

I could rant about repiggies all day rock May 2015 #7

Thanks. From what I've seen on this board, Republicans are not the only ones who are merrily May 2015 #13

Bernie might be a socialist at heart, he calls himself that, Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #8

I thought he calls himself a Democratic Socialist and an Independent. merrily May 2015 #11

For me democratic socialism just means socialism with democracy Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #18

"Political democracy, regulation of the economy and a welfare state" could easily have been used to merrily May 2015 #29

Yeah I don't disagree with anything you've said. Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #45

Thank you for that. I am glad I looked into this. It's been interesting. merrily May 2015 #48

I don't think of it as the government owning businesses but rather as a system in which JDPriestly May 2015 #28

When you say "it" in your subject line, does "it" refer to socialism, or to Democratic Socialism? merrily May 2015 #30

democratic socialism. The European system. Especially in German, Austria and Scandinavia. JDPriestly May 2015 #35

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." merrily May 2015 #37

FDR was married, as we know, to Eleanor Roosevelt, the niece of Teddy JDPriestly Aug 2015 #56

Well, Ahem, I happen to be a founding member (1982) of the . . FairWinds May 2015 #10

Thank you for your input! I believe my OP links, and quotes from, that website? merrily May 2015 #12

P.S. Congratulations on having been a founding member. That must have been so exciting. merrily May 2015 #31

I always thought I was a Democrat. Now I know I am a Democratic Socialist Autumn May 2015 #19

Surprise! merrily May 2015 #33

K&R! Thanks, learned a lot from this. Dustlawyer May 2015 #20

Me, too! And you're more than welcome. merrily May 2015 #34

K & R !!! Thespian2 May 2015 #21

When I see the words, "democratic socialist," I think Germany and Austria and generally JDPriestly May 2015 #25

"Liberal" also has a somewhat different connotation in Europe than it does in the US. merrily May 2015 #36

Thank you Merrily. Very informative. jwirr May 2015 #41

You're most welcome. My pleasure. I learned from putting it together. merrily May 2015 #43

More info on US Democratic Socialists FairWinds May 2015 #44

Thank you. It's very true that merrily May 2015 #47

The traditional definition of socialism is public ownership of all means of production eridani May 2015 #46

Thank you. A lot has been devoted for many years to make merrily May 2015 #51

The definition of democratic socialism vive la commune May 2015 #49

Bernie calls himself a Democratic Socialist, not a Social Democrat, and an Independent. merrily May 2015 #50

^ Good analysis. TBF May 2015 #52

Agreed and some amplifications. stevenleser Aug 2015 #60

Bernie Sanders tells us what it means to be a Democratic Socialist. merrily Aug 2015 #57

Currently I am a registered democrat for over 25 year but when people ask me I tell them I am a walkthewalkorstfu Aug 2015 #58

LOL! Thank you. The New Deal and the Great Society are great examples of Democratic Socialism. merrily Aug 2015 #59

Bernie needs to have a "What is Democratic Socialism" section on his website and needs to educate... jessjgonz Nov 2015 #61

Have you considered contacting his campaign about this? merrily Nov 2015 #62