Okay, we get it, Socialism has all sorts of negative connotations, and it puts a terrible taste in some of our mouths. Why is that though? Is it because every self-proclaimed Socialist leader in the past had no clue what they were doing and made a bad reputation for all future self-proclaimed Socialists? One would certainly hope.

Hitler, the eventual leader of the National Socialist German Workers party, or Nazis for short, eradicated many human beings for being something they’re not. The USSR, or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which was led at first by Lenin after Red October, was also under the guise of a so called Socialist government. Plenty of countries in the past have begun a socialist movement, but all have been led astray by psychopathic, egotistical leaders, and the implementation of socialism wasn’t used correctly.
Let’s begin by giving the definition of Socialism. Socialism is a “social and economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and/or social control of the economy as well as a political theory and movement that aims at the establishment of such a system.” Capitalism is defined as “an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.”

A country the size the U.S would have extreme difficulty organizing such a socialist state.  This difficulty is because of all of our successful business owners who wouldn’t give in to the redistribution of their wealth to others less fortunate. If the competition is already won, small business owners can’t get a leg up in the economy and it’s almost impossible for someone to even start their own business without proper education and safety nets if their business goes under, which is more a likely possibility than any other.
John Kinsey, a junior and criminal justice major went on to add, “I believe Democratic Socialism would not only benefit the working class, but also those of us who are going to school and trying to find the means to pay for it, and not have to live in debt for the rest of our lives.”
Now back to the point, Socialism, or rather a more feasible and more realistic possibility, Democratic Socialism, is what Bernie Sanders is proposing and is receiving a lot of backlash about. But Bernie has it right, and it’s because of the tremendous hatred for the word Socialism that most view his ideas as radical and would never work. But would they? Certainly, and people need to understand why.

Democratic Socialism is none other than the correct, and more reasonable usage of our tax money on things that benefit everyone. In no way are we wanting to put an end to capitalism and redistribute any wealth, but only enhance it so it can work for everyone instead of the few 1%.

We want to close the tax loop holes for greedy corporations who dodge paying their fair share of billions that could be used for useful means such as, making public college tuition free, the right to free healthcare, fixing and constructing infrastructure, etc. Democratic Socialism is not regular Socialism, there’s a fundamental difference. If you agree that your tax money should be used appropriately, then you know who to vote for.