Are the American people ready to become socialists?
We the people are not ready, and might never be ready, for the soicalist agenda that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is spreading to the people of America.
We are in a time of extreme political polarization and emotion driven political participation. Sanders is winning votes because of the promises of universal healthcare and free education. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for free stuff, but how is what he promises even possible?
Just think about how many times the people have been promised things that were never delivered. For example, President Donald Trump promised to replace Obamacare, which has yet to occur. That unkept promise is where Sanders has found his foothold — providing free healthcare for everyone.
Sanders is a self-proclaimed democratic socalist, which is noted as a different form of socialism that leans on the demcoratic foundation of popular control. What might sound like a simple differentiation is believed to make a world of a difference, but it doesn’t.
The Democratic Socialists of America state their goal is “to achieve a more just society” and that in order to reach this utopia, “Many structures of our government and economy must be radically transformed through greater economic and social democracy so that ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our lives.”
America is so ready for a change that many feel that Sanders is the man for the job. The benefits he proposes are securing his popularity among the younger generations, and have the possibility of securing his position as the Democratic National Convention (DNC) candidate.
While it is evident that the younger portion of the U.S. is ready to “feel the Bern,” the older generation and those who cling to their pride in their country are having an extremely difficult time of simply listening to what democratic socialism has to say
We are not ready for the radical change that Sanders is prepared to enact. Sanders supporters are attached to the possibility of free health care and education, but, just like Credit Karma says, “free is not always free.”
Karol Markowicz, a reporter for the New York Post wrote, “‘Socialism’ only works when it’s paid for by capitalism.” The economic prosperity of Sweden can be the shining light in the distance, the city on the hill, where America should be headed, but their system of democratic socialism is financed by a capitalist market.
While taxing the rich to pay for the poor is a wonderful idea in theory, what happens in real life? What happens when the rich finish paying their dues in taxes? Kevin Cochrane of The Washington Times analyzes the breakdowns within the democratic socialist’s reallocation of wealth plans.
The reallocation of wealth comes with the reallocation of power, and while that might sound like a great thing for the working middle and lower classes, who built the foundation of our society, very few will willingly give up their power and wealth.
We the people are not ready to let go of the freedom of the pursuit of happiness our capitalist society facilitates. The DSA notes that, “Unless we are all collectively working to win a world without oppression, each fight for reforms will be disconnected, maybe even self-defeating.”
Because America is politically polarized forcing each individual to pick a side, the collectivism that is necessary for the success of socialism is impossible. It is not only Republicans versus Democrats, but the younger “progressive” generations versus the older generations as well.
After the whirlwind presidency of Donald Trump to this point, many Americans are ready for a change. This cry for change has propelled Bernie Sanders’ campaign and has presented him with a chance at receiving the DNC nomination and becoming the 46th president of the U.S.
America is ready for change, but are we ready for a revolution? Without a united front, how can a new form of government succeed?