4 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
DBR's avatar

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.

Expand full comment
MillennialExistential's avatar

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.

Expand full comment
knowltok's avatar

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.

Expand full comment
Don Gates's avatar

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?

Expand full comment