With the official entrance of Senator Bernie Sanders into the 2020 Presidential race, out came the predictable ‘socialist’ memes. It had been rumored for days that Sanders would enter the race. In anticipation of this, I went on a quest for knowledge yesterday. I asked a simple question of five people of different genders, races, socio-economic backgrounds, and education. Americans, I found have something in common, we are pretty stupid when it comes to history and geopolitical politics.
My question was; What is the difference between a communist, a fascist and a socialist?
From the stares and gaping mouths, I just as well may have asked for an explanation of quantum physics. I was on the corner of Tabor Road and Broad street in Philadelphia, just across from one of the busiest transportation hubs in the city, and a few steps away from Albert Einstein Medical Center. The first guy I asked was an older man setting up a vendor table of hats, gloves, and scarfs to sell in anticipation of the snowstorm that now falls just outside my kitchen window. I was surprised by his answer, I expected to be shooed away. He said, “ my granddaddy fought and was a cook in World War II. Without my old man’s dad, socialist would be giving my money to a dictator.”
The second man (after four others ignored me) was dressed in a doctor’s white coat, “ My father grew up in Poland,” he said as he glanced at his watch, “and socialism is hell.” Girls High School of Philadelphia is just opposite the transportation hub, I stopped a young tall black girl, carrying a heavy backpack with hair styled in multi-colored braids that she swept from her face constantly in the windy weather. She was quick and precise in her answer, “Trump is a fascist, Putin is a communist and AOC is socialist.” Because I was interested in her definition of a socialist; I pressed and asked why she named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a socialist?
Here comes the encouraging part…
…she said, “ she’s not like(sic) old fashioned socialist, she is like for the people.” I persisted, “ but do you know what socialism means?” She did something that the other four people all older than she did not do, although equipped with the same technology, she took out her cell phone Googled the definition and read it to me, ‘any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.’
Trying not to be too insulting I followed with, “ do you know what that means?” She said, “sure, the public hospital over there{pointing to Einstein Medical} the police station down on Champlost Avenue, the subway, ‘ I just got off of’ run by the city.” I finally got it, there is no divide in the Democratic party, just definitions. This young woman was not relying on historical rhetoric but the facts in front of her. The next time you take yourself or grandma to the hospital and present a Medicare card or you cash a Social Security check, thank modern Democratic socialism.
Vote in 2020 for Change.