I go back and forth on this as a late Generation X person. On the one hand, I see your point, People born after 1977 or so grew up when the Cold War was on the wane and/or non-existent and do not have their childhoods marked by years of propaganda against the Eastern Bloc. It is obviously true that Millennials and Gen Z swing left (now …
I go back and forth on this as a late Generation X person. On the one hand, I see your point, People born after 1977 or so grew up when the Cold War was on the wane and/or non-existent and do not have their childhoods marked by years of propaganda against the Eastern Bloc. It is obviously true that Millennials and Gen Z swing left (now if only they would vote in greater numbers).
However, there is a part of me that wonders if warmer feelings towards socialism* are more prevalent among the chronically online than anyone else.
*Really, mixed-market social democracy with a strong welfare but I digress. Very few people are calling for old school socialism where the government controls the means of production.
Probably, but most of my generation is chronically online... So I guess it's a bit of a chicken/egg problem.
Also, socialism != government control of the means of production. There are plenty of anti-statist socialists. Unfortunately they kind of got wiped out by both the authoritarian left and the right for most of the 20th century and are just starting to finally get the recognition they deserve.
Socialism literally means the government controls the means of production!! Communism literally means the people control the means of production. Anti-statist socialists are inchoates who prove that words can be bent beyond meaning by anyone.
What many people seem to want is a mixed-market regulated economy/social democracy. Basically, they want Amsterdam in the United States. This is fine and it can be a variant of socialism but to call yourself an anti-statist and still want this is a bit special.
Literally every anarcho-socialist would disagree with you. Also, some of the most prominent critics of the state, such as George Orwell, were committed socialists. Worker control of the means of production can be accomplished without a centralized state apparatus.
And that is all the finer points and distinctions that should just be ignored. Latch onto Socialism = Government ownership of the means of production. Using such a definition, all kinds of good programs benefiting social welfare can be promoted as clearly not socialist. Make the Republicans do the explaining that causes people's eyes to glaze over.
Right, words can be twisted, and meanings can evolve over time. When Republicans call Democrats Socialists, who are the Democrats who advocate for government control of the means of production?
I go back and forth on this as a late Generation X person. On the one hand, I see your point, People born after 1977 or so grew up when the Cold War was on the wane and/or non-existent and do not have their childhoods marked by years of propaganda against the Eastern Bloc. It is obviously true that Millennials and Gen Z swing left (now if only they would vote in greater numbers).
However, there is a part of me that wonders if warmer feelings towards socialism* are more prevalent among the chronically online than anyone else.
*Really, mixed-market social democracy with a strong welfare but I digress. Very few people are calling for old school socialism where the government controls the means of production.
Probably, but most of my generation is chronically online... So I guess it's a bit of a chicken/egg problem.
Also, socialism != government control of the means of production. There are plenty of anti-statist socialists. Unfortunately they kind of got wiped out by both the authoritarian left and the right for most of the 20th century and are just starting to finally get the recognition they deserve.
Socialism literally means the government controls the means of production!! Communism literally means the people control the means of production. Anti-statist socialists are inchoates who prove that words can be bent beyond meaning by anyone.
What many people seem to want is a mixed-market regulated economy/social democracy. Basically, they want Amsterdam in the United States. This is fine and it can be a variant of socialism but to call yourself an anti-statist and still want this is a bit special.
Literally every anarcho-socialist would disagree with you. Also, some of the most prominent critics of the state, such as George Orwell, were committed socialists. Worker control of the means of production can be accomplished without a centralized state apparatus.
And that is all the finer points and distinctions that should just be ignored. Latch onto Socialism = Government ownership of the means of production. Using such a definition, all kinds of good programs benefiting social welfare can be promoted as clearly not socialist. Make the Republicans do the explaining that causes people's eyes to glaze over.
Right, words can be twisted, and meanings can evolve over time. When Republicans call Democrats Socialists, who are the Democrats who advocate for government control of the means of production?