opinion

Bernie Sanders is not a true ‘socialist’

As long as Bernie Sanders is in the news as an aspirant to the presidency, we can expect to see the word “socialist” attached to his name, as in Jason Fredregill’s Aug. 18 letter [“Socialism has no place in the land of the free”].

But Sanders doesn’t propose government ownership of the means of production and distribution, which is what socialism is about. (Check any dictionary.)

He calls himself a democratic socialist. For what that means, check the Wikipedia article “social democracy.” Here’s a sample sentence: “Social democracy aims to create the conditions for capitalism to lead to greater egalitarian, democratic and solidaristic outcomes.”

That sounds like what the crowds are cheering Bernie Sanders for proposing. It doesn’t sound like his detractors want what that dirty word “socialism” stirs up.

— Harland Nelson, Decorah