Democratic Socialism

Comparing Socialism with Democratic Socialism is like comparing Foosball with Football.

A bird is not a plane,
And a plane is not a bird...

And Bernie Sanders is not a 'Marxist Socialist'...but a pro-market/pro-people Democratic Socialist who wants a more even playing field for all people including the middle class...via a stronger mixture of social (people) interests, rather than too heavily tilted corporate interests...like most economically strong Scandinavian countries.

We already have a mixture of Capitalism and Socialism. Every capitalist nation in the world has some social netting. Otherwise, they would crumble.

Please Understand these concepts and practice wise vigilance while the corporate network media tries to confuse its recipients...

A brief summary...

Capitalism:
In common usage, the word capitalism means an economic system in which all or most of the means of production are privately owned and operated, and the investment of capital and the production, distribution and prices of commodities (goods and services) are determined mainly in a free market, rather than by the state. In capitalism, the means of production are generally operated for profit.

In a purely capitalist economy, there would be no public schools, no state owned or maintained roads and highways, public works, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, unemployment insurance, Social Security benefits etc.

Capitalism motivates people to create goods and services...because they are working to improve their own lot in life. No other economic system motivates people like that.

But capitalism has run its course and needs a major adjustment because the goods are being produced over-seas (mostly China)...and the money-supply is based on fiat currency or debt-based money printed/digitized out of thin air.

And the tip-top 00.01% (mega-Billionaires) own most of the wealth...while the middle-class is getting squeezed while working longer hours for less pay.

Socialism:
Most generally, socialism refers to state ownership of common property, or state ownership of the means of production. A purely socialist state would be one in which the state owns and operates the means of production. However, nearly all modern capitalist countries combine socialism and capitalism.

Most Universities are “socialist” institutions, and those who attend it or work for it are partaking in socialism, because it is owned and operated by the state. The same is true of federal and state highways, federal and state parks, harbors etc.

What democratic socialism is NOT:
Communism:
Most generally, communism refers to community ownership of property, with the end goal being complete social equality via economic equality. Communism is generally seen by communist countries as an idealized utopian economic and social state that the country as a whole is working toward; that is to say that pure communism is the ideal that the People’s Republic of China is (was?) working toward. Such an ideal often justifies means (such as authoritarianism or totalitariansim) that are not themselves communist ideals...

Bernie Sanders is not a 'Socialist'...but a Democratic Socialist = A pro-market democrat who wants a more even playing field for all people including the middle class...via a stronger mixture of social interests, rather than too heavily tilted corporate interests.

Plus...If you make under $250,000 per year, then your taxes will not change under Bernie's plan. Sanders said if a middle-hike is needed, it would ultimately save people money by cutting out private health insurers. Also...Bernie said he will address offshore stashing of billions in the Cayman Islands and elsewhere.

A healthy dose of at least some social programs keeps a capitalist nation from imploding. Don't let the uber-corporate network media fool ya.