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Baraka_Guru · 05-12-2011, 01:52 PM

I'm going to make a brief first post, and then see how this thread unfolds.

First, I don't think you can take the "social" out of socialism. Though perhaps you can take the "ism" out of it.

For the record, I'm a social democrat. In a nutshell, I'm a socialist who believes in the democratic process, that a revolution isn't necessary, that the democratic process should strive to reform the capitalist system into a mixed system that incorporates socialist ideals. These ideals include (to use loaded terms that can be unpacked later) but are not limited to: social justice; egalitarianism; reducing poverty; progressive taxation; human rights; public health care; affordable if not free public services (transportation, education, job training); fair trade balancing free trade; humanitarian, diplomatic, and peacekeeping foreign policies; and workers' rights.

Social democrats aren't against capitalism in principle, but we believe it needs to be tempered with public policies to avoid exploitation and damaging class inequality. This doesn't require a revolution, but it requires public and political will.

These are realistic and applicable aims. Most economies are already mixed economies. Social democracy is at work right here in Canada (a social democratic party---the New Democratic Party (NDP)---is the Official Opposition in the House of Commons, being the party with the second highest number of seats) and in Europe, among other places. It's more widespread than you may think.

As I said, I'll keep this first post brief. I just wanted to bring my own position on socialism into the thread to perhaps garner some conversation around the different aspects of a concept that does have varying degrees.

05-12-2011, 01:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	I'm going to make a brief first post, and then see how this thread unfolds. First, I don't think you can take the "social" out of socialism. Though perhaps you can take the "ism" out of it. For the record, I'm a social democrat. In a nutshell, I'm a socialist who believes in the democratic process, that a revolution isn't necessary, that the democratic process should strive to reform the capitalist system into a mixed system that incorporates socialist ideals. These ideals include (to use loaded terms that can be unpacked later) but are not limited to: social justice; egalitarianism; reducing poverty; progressive taxation; human rights; public health care; affordable if not free public services (transportation, education, job training); fair trade balancing free trade; humanitarian, diplomatic, and peacekeeping foreign policies; and workers' rights. Social democrats aren't against capitalism in principle, but we believe it needs to be tempered with public policies to avoid exploitation and damaging class inequality. This doesn't require a revolution, but it requires public and political will. These are realistic and applicable aims. Most economies are already mixed economies. Social democracy is at work right here in Canada (a social democratic party---the New Democratic Party (NDP)---is the Official Opposition in the House of Commons, being the party with the second highest number of seats) and in Europe, among other places. It's more widespread than you may think. As I said, I'll keep this first post brief. I just wanted to bring my own position on socialism into the thread to perhaps garner some conversation around the different aspects of a concept that does have varying degrees. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 05-12-2011 at 01:54 PM..