
Don't let them scare you with words like "socialism." These policies are just common sense. (Photo: Screenshot)
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Don't let them scare you with words like "socialism." These policies are just common sense. (Photo: Screenshot)
I keep hearing a lot about "socialism" these days, mainly from Donald Trump and Fox News, trying to scare Americans about initiatives like Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, universal child care, free public higher education, and higher taxes on the super-wealthy to pay for these.
Well, I'm here to ask you to ignore the scaremongering.
These initiatives are overwhelmingly supported by most Americans.
First, these initiatives are overwhelmingly supported by most Americans.
Second, for the last 85 years, conservative Republicans have been yelling "socialism" at every initiative designed to help most Americans.
It was the scare word used by the Liberty League, in 1935 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed Social Security.
In 1952, President Harry Truman noted that "Socialism is the epithet they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years...."
Third, if we don't want to live in a survival-of-the-fittest society in which only the richest and most powerful can endure, government has to do three basic things: regulate corporations, provide social insurance against unforeseen hardships, and support public investments such as schools and public transportation.
All of these require that we pool our resources for the common good.
Regardless of whether this is called democratic socialism or enlightened capitalism, all are necessary for a decent society.
Fourth and finally, America spends very little on social programs compared to other industrialized nations. As a result, almost 30 million Americans still lack health insurance,nearly 51 million households can't afford basic monthly expenses including housing, food, child care, and transportation. And we're the only industrialized nation without paid family leave.
Our infrastructure is literally crumbling, our classrooms are overcrowded and our teachers are paid far less than workers in the private sector with comparable education.
We can and must do more.
So don't let them scare you with words like "socialism." These policies are just common sense.
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just hours away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
I keep hearing a lot about "socialism" these days, mainly from Donald Trump and Fox News, trying to scare Americans about initiatives like Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, universal child care, free public higher education, and higher taxes on the super-wealthy to pay for these.
Well, I'm here to ask you to ignore the scaremongering.
These initiatives are overwhelmingly supported by most Americans.
First, these initiatives are overwhelmingly supported by most Americans.
Second, for the last 85 years, conservative Republicans have been yelling "socialism" at every initiative designed to help most Americans.
It was the scare word used by the Liberty League, in 1935 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed Social Security.
In 1952, President Harry Truman noted that "Socialism is the epithet they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years...."
Third, if we don't want to live in a survival-of-the-fittest society in which only the richest and most powerful can endure, government has to do three basic things: regulate corporations, provide social insurance against unforeseen hardships, and support public investments such as schools and public transportation.
All of these require that we pool our resources for the common good.
Regardless of whether this is called democratic socialism or enlightened capitalism, all are necessary for a decent society.
Fourth and finally, America spends very little on social programs compared to other industrialized nations. As a result, almost 30 million Americans still lack health insurance,nearly 51 million households can't afford basic monthly expenses including housing, food, child care, and transportation. And we're the only industrialized nation without paid family leave.
Our infrastructure is literally crumbling, our classrooms are overcrowded and our teachers are paid far less than workers in the private sector with comparable education.
We can and must do more.
So don't let them scare you with words like "socialism." These policies are just common sense.
I keep hearing a lot about "socialism" these days, mainly from Donald Trump and Fox News, trying to scare Americans about initiatives like Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, universal child care, free public higher education, and higher taxes on the super-wealthy to pay for these.
Well, I'm here to ask you to ignore the scaremongering.
These initiatives are overwhelmingly supported by most Americans.
First, these initiatives are overwhelmingly supported by most Americans.
Second, for the last 85 years, conservative Republicans have been yelling "socialism" at every initiative designed to help most Americans.
It was the scare word used by the Liberty League, in 1935 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed Social Security.
In 1952, President Harry Truman noted that "Socialism is the epithet they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years...."
Third, if we don't want to live in a survival-of-the-fittest society in which only the richest and most powerful can endure, government has to do three basic things: regulate corporations, provide social insurance against unforeseen hardships, and support public investments such as schools and public transportation.
All of these require that we pool our resources for the common good.
Regardless of whether this is called democratic socialism or enlightened capitalism, all are necessary for a decent society.
Fourth and finally, America spends very little on social programs compared to other industrialized nations. As a result, almost 30 million Americans still lack health insurance,nearly 51 million households can't afford basic monthly expenses including housing, food, child care, and transportation. And we're the only industrialized nation without paid family leave.
Our infrastructure is literally crumbling, our classrooms are overcrowded and our teachers are paid far less than workers in the private sector with comparable education.
We can and must do more.
So don't let them scare you with words like "socialism." These policies are just common sense.