Nowadays, people use to visualize Cuba, Venezuela, or Nicaragua when someone mentions “socialism,” but why? These countries have had populist leaders selling themself as saviors of the poor, that they care about people. Those leaders promoted socialism as a unique solution to the problems that these countries were facing. I am not here to defend socialism, but nor Cuba, Venezuela, or Nicaragua have had socialism. Behind the mask of socialism, these countries had tyrannical leaders obsessed with power.
The United States has a populist leader with the intention -and making it happen- to divide the country based on their beliefs. A kind of policy that if you disagree with me, then you are wrong, there is no space for mixed opinions. Something that I found a poor way to do campaign is saying that if democrats get into the White House, then the US will come a socialist a communist country. First of all, Democrats have been in the game since 1828, having excellent and con governments like every party in every country. So creating this new idea of democrats equal socialism is absurd.
Bernie Sanders is the only candidate that considers himself a democratic socialist. Senator Elizabeth Warren might be the closest aligned ideologically with Sanders, and she commented she is “a capitalist to my bones.” Sanders’ opinion about Maduro was unclear. It was hard for Bernie to call Maduro a dictator or tyrant, but in the end, he said: “Let me be very clear: Anybody who does what Maduro does is a vicious tyrant.” So even the candidate who is most to the left criticizes the fake “socialism” in Venezuela
Among the principles that democrats defend they have: Reduction of poverty through equal economic opportunities and a strong labor union; progressive tax structure to provide more services from the government to the community and less investment in the military sector; raise of minimum wage it should be adjusted regularly; “affordable and quality health care”; improvement of public education; protection of the environment; equality of outcome regardless sex, age or race; comprehensive immigration reforms having in mind American economic goals; no discrimination based on sexual orientation and so on.
None of the principles above are attached to socialism. Most of them have been tested in the country and worked. Republicans are using crisis from different countries to manipulate voters. President Trump is acting like Chavez, controlling the media, controlling all institutions, and dividing the country as he calls himself the savior. Trump’s campaign is again based on discriminating against the opponent but no proposing new ideas that will represent the growth of the country. Let’s bring more knowledge, experience, and ideas, less verbal violence to the 2020 elections.