One thing I try to do when having a conversation is to understand the person the way they want to be understood. It is only fair to give them the opportunity to represent themselves. Often times people are so hasty to speak that they completely disregard the other person. It is impossible to have a productive conversation if only one person is talking. This is the case with Bernie Sanders. It is okay not to agree or support Sanders’ platform or ideology. However, in order to understand exactly what you disagree with, beyond a superficial level, it is absolutely necessary to understand him.
Regardless of your opinion about him, he is still the longest serving independent member of Congress in American history. He has been in Congress since 1981 with 8 consecutive sessions as a Representative and 4 consecutive sessions as a Senator. There is a reason he has been able to sustain a long career in a third political party. It is only reasonable to understand why and how he has maintained his success.
The beginning of understanding, as far as Bernie Sanders is concerned, is a basic understanding of Democratic Socialism. In an interview with Steve Inskeep on NPR, this is how Bernie Sanders defines democratic socialism: “what democratic socialism means to me is that we should have a government addressing and representing the needs of the vast majority of our people rather than it is the case today a government which represents large campaign donors in corporate America and the top one percent.” He also point out that existing programs such as Social Security and Medicare are also socialist programs that we had adopted and accepted into our society.
Q: When many people hear the word socialism or democratic socialism, they may think in terms of the government taking over the steel mills, taking over the commanding heights of business. You are saying you don’t mean that?
A: No I don’t mean that at all. Of course I don’t. But I think we have seen in Scandinavia market economies which are strong but which are very conscious that the distribution of wealth and income has got to positively impact all people not just the few.
Q: Why not call yourself a democrat?
A: Because that is what I believe and that is what I have always believed. As people get to know me better, they will learn I do not change my position for the sake of convenience.
The website Democratic Socialists of America addresses some other misconceptions. I think this one is where most of the most of the fear and distrust comes from.
“Hasn't socialism been discredited by the collapse of Communism in the USSR and Eastern Europe?
A:Socialists have been among the harshest critics of authoritarian Communist states. Just because their bureaucratic elites called them “socialist” did not make it so; they also called their regimes “democratic.” Democratic socialists always opposed the ruling party-states of those societies, just as we oppose the ruling classes of capitalist societies. We applaud the democratic revolutions that have transformed the former Communist bloc. However, the improvement of people’s lives requires real democracy without ethnic rivalries and/or new forms of authoritarianism. Democratic socialists will continue to play a key role in that struggle throughout the world.
Moreover, the fall of Communism should not blind us to injustices at home. We cannot allow all radicalism to be dismissed as “Communist.” That suppression of dissent and diversity undermines America’s ability to live up to its promise of equality of opportunity, not to mention the freedoms of speech and assembly. ”
Just in case my point is not abundantly clear, I am in no way trying to convince anyone to become a democratic socialist or support Bernie Sanders. Your political opinions are yours to keep. I am simply emphasizing the importance of understanding what you disagree with so you can make an informed opinion.
