American liberals have long sensed the need to find the right label for their political orientation. In their selection of labels they have, incidentally, been rather unfair. In every other country in the world, advocates of free markets and personal liberty have called themselves (and have been called) “liberals.” Early on in American history the leftists simply confiscated the beloved title for themselves, so that “liberal” came to mean, only in this country, one who did not favor markets and personal liberty. Some American liberals would probably have preferred the more honest title “socialist,” but the socialist rubric was found abhorrent in the United States. As a result, leftists were happy to steal the more appealing “liberal” label.
After a while, however, the so-called liberals gained a negative reputation for their obvious preference for big spending and big government. As a result, “liberal” had now also become an unfavorable term, one to be avoided by left-oriented politicians. In the tradition of American leftists, another euphemism was sought; the new label turned out to be “progressive.”
It’s time now for a little honesty, which thanks to Bernie Sanders we are beginning to see. Many young people on the left are unabashed in embracing the appropriate word “socialist.” But it’s not just a matter of a new generation’s disregard for the political traditions of their parents and grandparents. The ongoing, continual (one might say “progressive”) shift toward the left of the democratic party thoroughly qualifies democrats and other leftists for the socialist label. Let me make the case rather irrefutably by showing some of the policies Europeans advocate while calling themselves “socialists.”
In the midst of their 2017 presidential election, the French made clear in their socialist party platform what French socialists advocate. As anyone can quickly discover on line, they pushed for
1) the legalization of cannabis (marijuana),
2) for a basic income (a guaranteed, state-provided income for all citizens independent of employment) as a welfare state program,
3) lower taxes on the poor,
4) heavier national investments in green technologies,
5) plans to “revamp” Europe and strengthen the European Union,
6) heavier taxation of the wealth created by robots,
7) the repeal of the labor law passed last year that made it easier to hire and fire.
Socialists also maintain traditional positions on workers’ rights, the redistribution of income, promotion of civil liberties and state measures to protect the environment.
The Germans like to use the word “social” as a code word for socialism of the non-totalitarian variety. Their manipulation of the language shows an abhorrence for totalitarian central planning of the Stalinist or Ulbricht/Honnecker type; it maintains that the socialist market economy favored by the later Marxists should respectfully be labeled the “social market economy.” Thus, the German socialist party is called the SPD, or Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands. Now, consider what their party platform includes.
1) Social Democrats want to position themselves as the “peace party.” That means “no” to new sanctions against Russia, “no” to a heightened conflict
2) The SPD implemented a minimum wage of 8.50 € (Euros), which was later raised to 8.84 €.
3) The coordinated social market economy (“as much competition as possible, as much regulation as necessary”) should be strengthened and incomes should be “fairly” distributed.
4) The European Union should be extended and intensified, while national sovereignty should be yielded to the EU.
5) The party intends to work towards the complete equality of civil rights for the LGBT community.
6) It also advocates a “climate-friendly” energy policy, minimizing the costs of such, which should be justly borne by all.
These views, like those of socialist parties in other European socialist countries, are basically the same as those our leftists are advocating and the mentality is virtually identical with that of the American socialist (Democrat). It is thus logical to call a socialist a socialist, especially when it is no longer a term of opprobrium.