THE NEW DEMOCRACY
Overcoming the Fear of Socialism: Reclaiming a Misunderstood Word
For decades, Americans have been conditioned to recoil at the word socialism as if it were synonymous with tyranny, repression, and failed states. The term has been deliberately demonized and weaponized to instill fear and prevent meaningful reform. But it’s time to set the record straight: socialism is not communism and isn’t the antithesis of democracy. In fact, in many forms, socialism is democracy—extended into the economy, everyday life, and fairness.
Debunking the Myths
The myths are many, and they’re persistent:
“Socialism means the government will control every aspect of your life.”
“Socialism kills innovation and rewards laziness.”
“Socialism is one step away from dictatorship.”
These statements aren’t grounded in fact. They’re rooted in Cold War propaganda and political opportunism. In truth, most developed nations today practice some form of democratic socialism, blending capitalist markets with strong public institutions. Think of universal healthcare in Canada, subsidized higher education in Germany, or nationalized transportation systems in Scandinavia. These aren’t dystopias. They’re functioning democracies with thriving economies and higher living standards than the U.S. in many categories.
Socialism Versus Communism
Let’s clarify: communism, as practiced in authoritarian regimes, abolishes private property and installs a single-party state. That’s not what we’re talking about. American socialism, or, more accurately, democratic socialism, simply seeks to mitigate the cruelty, inequality, and instability produced by unchecked capitalism.
It doesn't abolish private ownership but says that basic human needs, like healthcare, housing, education, and clean air, should not be commodities sold to the highest bidder. It affirms that markets serve people, not the other way around.
Capitalism Needs a Counterbalance
Unbridled capitalism has proven itself incapable of regulating its own worst impulses. Greed becomes a virtue. Corporations buy politicians. Wealth trickles up, not down. Inequality becomes a feature, not a bug.
Socialism, in the American context, simply means restraining capitalism's excesses through public policy. It means ensuring that workers have rights, that the environment is protected, and that billionaires don’t rule over a nation of wage slaves. This is not revolutionary. It’s responsible governance.
Socialism and Democracy Go Hand in Hand
The great irony is that while socialism is often painted as anti-democratic, it strengthens democracy by democratizing more than just the ballot box. It asks:
Why shouldn’t workers have a say in how their workplace is run?
Why should a handful of CEOs decide the fate of millions?
Why do we call it freedom when only the rich can afford to be free?
Real democracy doesn’t end at the voting booth. It lives in the classroom, the hospital, the workplace, and the dinner table.
Building Support Through Education and Grassroots Movements
If socialism is to shed its unfair stigma, we must educate, organize, and reframe:
Education: Teach the history of socialist movements that fought for the 40-hour workweek, child labor laws, Social Security, and Medicare. These were socialist ideas before they became mainstream American policy.
Grassroots Organizing: Support local cooperatives, community land trusts, and worker-owned businesses. Show socialism in action, neighbors helping neighbors, and communities building sustainable economies from the ground up.
Language Matters: Don’t shy away from the word socialism—reclaim it. Define it not as state tyranny but as community empowerment, economic fairness, and moral responsibility.
Policy Wins: Highlight successful policies like public libraries, public parks, Social Security, and the Postal Service, which are socialist in principle yet cherished by Americans of all stripes.
The Moral Argument
We must ask ourselves a deeper question: What kind of society do we want to be?
One that allows billionaires to hoard more wealth than entire countries while children sleep in cars? Or one that prioritizes human dignity over profit margins?
Socialism, far from being a threat, offers a path back to balance, empathy, and justice, values that once formed the backbone of this nation.
It’s time to stop letting fear guide our politics. Socialism is not the end of America, it may be its salvation. By reining in capitalism's abuses and restoring power to the people, democratic socialism aligns perfectly with the founding ideals of democracy: liberty, equality, and justice for all.
Don't be afraid of a word. Embrace a future where we care for each other and call it by its name.
William James Spriggs
Friday, April 11, 2025
CHOOSING A DEMOCRATIC FUTURE
Choosing a Democratic Future: Debunking Myths, Embracing Socialist Values
In recent decades, the term socialism has been dragged through the mud of misunderstanding, misrepresentation, and deliberate distortion. Used as a political boogeyman by those clinging to systems of entrenched privilege, socialism has been branded a threat to freedom, productivity, and even patriotism. But as we confront widening inequality, fragile institutions, and the rising tide of authoritarianism, it is time to separate myth from reality and recognize that democratic socialism not only aligns with democratic values but is essential to preserving them.
Debunking Myths and Misconceptions
The most common myth about socialism is that it inevitably leads to authoritarianism. Critics often point to failed regimes like Stalinist Russia or Venezuela as evidence. But these are distortions. Democratic socialism, particularly in the tradition espoused by leaders like Bernie Sanders, bears no resemblance to totalitarian rule. Instead, it seeks to empower the people, not the party. It supports democratic elections, civil liberties, free speech, and a mixed economy where the government plays a regulatory and redistributive role to promote fairness, not to abolish markets altogether.
Another misconception is that socialism punishes success. On the contrary, democratic socialism believes that success should not come at the expense of others’ basic needs. It champions systems where a few do not hoard the wealth created by many and where healthcare, education, housing, and a livable wage are treated not as luxuries but as rights.
Socialism and Democratic Values
Far from opposing democracy, democratic socialism is its natural evolution. In a system where money buys access, policy, and power, what good is a vote if one’s voice is drowned out by corporate influence? Socialism insists on removing the barriers that keep people from participating fully in the democratic process, be they economic, social, or institutional.
Freedom is not merely the right to vote; it is the right to live with dignity. True liberty is the ability to afford medicine, feed your children, retire with security, and work without exploitation. These are not the spoils of the lucky few; they are the birthrights of every person in a democratic society.
Educating and Organizing for Change
The path forward requires more than political slogans; it requires education and grassroots engagement. Knowledge is the most powerful tool in the hands of the working majority. By dispelling fear and explaining how democratic socialism functions, often through successful real-world examples like the Nordic countries, we can demystify the concept and build broad-based support.
Grassroots movements are already shifting the conversation. From union drives to climate activism, from mutual aid groups to democratic reform coalitions, people reject the idea that our current system is as good as it gets. Democratic socialism gives them a framework for what comes next.
Choosing a Democratic Future
To preserve democracy, we must change the system that undermines it. The myth of trickle-down economics has failed. The corporate stranglehold on government has compromised our rights. Rampant inequality has turned the American dream into a mirage for most. Systemic change is not a radical idea; it is a moral necessity.
We face a choice: either double down on a failing status quo or embrace a future that prioritizes human dignity over corporate profit, community over greed, and justice over power. This is not a utopian fantasy; it is a democratic imperative.
Bernie Sanders has long embodied this vision. He has spoken about what is politically expedient and morally correct, calling for universal healthcare, tuition-free public college, higher wages, and corporate accountability. He is not perfect, but he is principled. He is not driven by polls but by purpose. In Bernie, we see not a cult of personality but a consistent champion for a democratic socialist future that works for everyone.
Now it’s our turn.
Let us organize, educate, and advocate for a nation where democracy means more than a vote every four years. Let us build a society where equality is not charity but the standard. And let us do so with courage, conviction, and clarity of purpose.
Because the future belongs not to those who hoard wealth and power but to those who dare to share both.
William James Spriggs
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
A MORE PERFECT UNION
Balancing Capitalism and Socialism for a Stronger Democracy
In discussions of the best government systems, democracy often emerges as a preferred model because it provides citizens with representation and safeguards individual freedoms. However, democracy's principles can become distorted when economic systems like capitalism or socialism are implemented without balance. Unchecked capitalism may lead to oligarchy, while socialism, if overly centralized, can also concentrate power in the hands of a few. Striking a balance—through government regulation of production and public ownership of essential services—could create a more equitable society where democratic values are upheld and power is distributed more broadly across society.
The Potential Pitfalls of Unchecked Capitalism
When left unregulated, capitalism allows private individuals and corporations to own the means of production and pursue profit. While this system encourages innovation and efficiency, it also risks consolidating wealth and power into the hands of a few. In the United States, for example, corporate monopolies and economic inequality have sparked debates about the concentration of wealth among an elite few—essentially an oligarchy where a small group wields vast influence over the economy and politics. In such cases, those with significant economic power can shape policies favorably, limit competition, and stifle upward mobility.
When capitalism becomes "unbridled," democratic processes are undermined. Wealthy individuals and corporations can disproportionately influence political decisions through lobbying and campaign financing, making it challenging for regular citizens to have their voices heard. The result is a political and economic system that increasingly benefits the rich, widening the gap between socioeconomic classes and reducing social mobility.
The Dangers of Over-Centralized Socialism
Socialism, in its simplest form, advocates for the collective or governmental ownership of production and distribution. However, when implemented with extreme centralization, socialism can suffer similar pitfalls to unbridled capitalism. Concentrating ownership and control of all resources within the government can inadvertently centralize power in a small governing class or elite bureaucrats. This has often led to inefficiency, stagnation, and a lack of personal freedom.
Without checks and balances, government control can restrict individual liberties, as those in power make decisions for the entire population without input from diverse economic sectors or citizens. Such centralization can lead to authoritarianism, where decisions are made by a few for the many, which ultimately contradicts democratic principles.
The Role of Democracy with Balanced Economic Policies
A democracy, like that of the United States, thrives when it combines the best aspects of capitalism and socialism through a mixed economy, regulated to prevent extremes. Government regulations on the means of production—particularly in critical industries such as healthcare, energy, and transportation—ensure that no single corporation or elite group can monopolize essential resources.
In this balanced model, essential services—such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure—can be nationalized or heavily regulated to guarantee equal access and protect public welfare. Government oversight prevents the unchecked accumulation of wealth and ensures that markets remain competitive and fair. Regulations could include antitrust laws, campaign finance reform, and progressive taxation to mitigate income inequality.
Public Ownership of Essential Services
Certain services are fundamental for societal welfare and should be publicly owned to ensure equitable access. Government ownership of essential services—such as healthcare, utilities, and public transportation—ensures that profit motives do not interfere with providing basic human rights. When these services are privately owned, profit motives may compromise quality, accessibility, and affordability.
In a democratic society, public ownership of essential services aligns with equality and justice by ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their economic status, can access necessary resources. It also shields these services from the volatile nature of the free market, which can lead to shortages or inflated prices. This approach enables the government to prioritize public interest over profit.
Balancing Innovation with Fairness
The ideal system balances innovation with fairness, maintaining capitalism's strengths in fostering innovation and growth while avoiding its tendencies toward monopolization and inequality. Regulations, transparency, and government accountability are essential to preserve this balance. For instance, regulating big tech companies can protect citizens’ privacy and data rights, while policies that curb excessive executive compensation can prevent stark economic divides.
Similarly, combining public and private investments in renewable energy, healthcare, and technology allows for advancements without sacrificing public welfare. Governments can encourage innovation while maintaining oversight by partnering with private enterprises and incentivizing them to pursue goals that align with public interest.
Conclusion
A democratic government that blends the strengths of capitalism and socialism is best equipped to address the complex challenges of modern society. By regulating industries and owning essential services, governments can protect citizens from unchecked capitalism and over-centralized socialism. This balanced approach promotes social justice, reduces inequality, and ensures that all citizens have access to essential services while preserving the dynamism and innovation that capitalism brings.
Democracy flourishes when the economy serves the people—not vice versa. Through democratic governance, regulation, and shared ownership, society can create an economic system that values fairness, opportunity, and the well-being of every individual.
William James Spriggs
Monday, December 4, 2023
JESUS WAS A SOCIALIST
Jesus Was A Socialist
There's a great deal of pent-up demand for a candidate who articulates Americans' frustrations with the status quo. Trump exploited those frustrations with a campaign based on racism, intolerance, and xenophobia.
E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics, Occidental College
Dec 25, 2016, 05:18 PM EST
|Updated Dec 26, 2017
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
As people around the world celebrate Christmas, it is worth remembering that Jesus was a socialist. Of course, he was born long before the rise of industrial capitalism in the 19th century, but his radical ideas have influenced many critics of capitalism, including many prominent socialists and even Pope Francis.
Pope Francis has consistently criticized the human and spiritual damage caused by global capitalism, widening inequality, and corporate sweatshops. Last week, he blamed the "god of money" for the extremist violence that is taking place around the world. A ruthless global economy, he argued, leads marginalized people to violence.
In 2013, he released a remarkable 84-page document in which he attacked unfettered capitalism as "a new tyranny," criticized the "idolatry of money," and urged politicians to guarantee all citizens "dignified work, education and healthcare."
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"Today we also have to say 'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills," Pope Francis wrote. "How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?"
During the last year, as Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign gained momentum, the word "socialism" generated lots of media attention because Sanders described himself as a "democratic socialist." In November, Americans elected a staunch capitalist, Donald Trump, as president, but a majority of Americans - and even many of those who voted for Trump - disagree with his policy ideas.
Few Americans call themselves socialists, but many of them share socialists' critiques of American-style capitalism, including the widening gap between the rich and the rest, the greed of the super-rich, the undue influence of Wall Street and big business in politics, and the persistence of widespread poverty and hunger in our affluent society.
The idea of Christian socialism has a long and proud tradition. As capitalism emerged in the mid-1800s, many of its fiercest critics based their ideas on Jesus' teachings.
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"No one can serve two masters," Jesus says in Matthew 6:24. "Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." I
In Luke 12:15, Jesus says, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'"
Jesus not only urged people to be kind to others in their everyday lives. He was also talking about those in government who ruled over others, including the priests who ruled Judea for Rome and the rulers of the Roman empire.
Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) -- often called the "workers' pope" -- echoed similar ideas. His 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum ("On the Condition of Labor") focused attention on the dehumanizing conditions in which many workers labored. He affirmed workers' rights to just wages, rest, and fair treatment, to form unions, and to strike if necessary. He called on governments to promote a more equal distribution of resources and said, in particular, that the poor "have a claim to special consideration." He did not espouse socialism, but his attacks on capitalism for its endorsement of greed, its concentration of wealth, and its mistreatment of workers had a major influence on the emerging socialist movement in Europe and America.
Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), an American Baptist minister, was a leading Christian socialist. Like Pope Leo, he championed the rights of working people and a more equal distribution of wealth and income, which he believed reflected Jesus' teachings. In 1891, Bellamy was fired from his Boston pulpit for preaching against the evils of capitalism and describing Jesus as a socialist. But he's best known as the author of the "Pledge of Allegiance," which he wrote in 1892 as an antidote to Gilded Age greed, misguided materialism, and hyper-individualism, reflected in those radical words "with liberty and justice for all." (Ironically, Bellamy did not include the words "under God" in the original Pledge. They were added by Congress in 1953 at the height of the Cold War).
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Many of America's leading socialists -- including labor leader Eugene Debs, settlement house founder Jane Addams, Rev. Walter Rauschenbusch, and Helen Keller -- rooted their views in their Christian faith, which became known as "social gospel." Indeed, many of the leaders of America's socialist movement, including Norman Thomas (1884-1968) -- who ran for president five times on the Socialist Party ticket and was often called "America's conscience" -- were Protestant clergy.
Throughout American history, some of the nation's most influential activists and thinkers, such as philosopher John Dewey, sociologist W.E.B. DuBois, scientist Albert Einstein, poet Katherine Lee Bates (who wrote "America the Beautiful"), muckraking writer Upton Sinclair, labor leaders A. Philip Randolph and Walter Reuther, civil rights crusader Martin Luther King, feminists Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Gloria Steinem, Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, and Dorothy Day (founder of the Catholic Worker movement) embraced democratic socialism.
In the early 1900s, socialists led the movements for women's suffrage, child labor laws, consumer protection laws and the progressive income tax. In 1911, Victor Berger, a socialist congressman from Milwaukee, sponsored the first bill to create "old age pensions." The bill didn't get very far, but two decades later, in the midst of the Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt persuaded Congress to enact Social Security. Even then, some critics denounced it as un-American. But today, most Americans, even conservatives, believe that Social Security is a good idea. What had once seemed radical has become common sense.
Much of FDR's other New Deal legislation -- the minimum wage, workers' right to form unions and public works programs to create jobs for the unemployed -- was first espoused by American socialists. Socialists have long pushed for a universal health insurance plan, which helped create the momentum for stepping-stone measures such as Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s.
Socialists were in the forefront of the civil rights movement from the founding of the NAACP in 1909 through the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
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King believed that America needed a "radical redistribution of economic and political power." In October 1964, he called for a "gigantic Marshall Plan" for the poor -- black and white. Later that year, after he he traveled to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, he told friends that the U.S. could learn much from Scandinavian "democratic socialism." In fact, he told his staff, "There must be a better distribution of wealth, and maybe America must move toward a democratic socialism."
During the Cold War, many Americans confused democratic socialism with communism. In fact, democratic socialists opposed the totalitarian governments of the Soviet Union, China and their satellites. That's because democratic socialism is about democracy -- giving ordinary people a greater voice in both politics and the workplace.
Sanders' version of democratic socialism is akin to what most people around the world call "social democracy," which seeks to make capitalism more humane.
This is why Sanders often said that the U.S. should learn from Sweden, Norway and Denmark -- countries with greater equality, a higher standard of living for working families, better schools, free universities, less poverty, a cleaner environment, higher voter turnout, stronger unions, universal health insurance, and a much wider safety net
Sounds anti-business? Forbes magazine ranked Denmark as the #1 country for business. The United States ranked #18.
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European social democracies put greater emphasis on government enterprise, but even most Americans favor government-run police departments, fire departments, national parks, municipally-owned utilities, local subway systems and public state universities.
Today's democratic socialists believe in private enterprise but think it should be subject to rules that guarantee businesses act responsibly. Banks shouldn't engage in reckless predatory lending. Energy corporations shouldn't endanger and planet and public health by emitting too much pollution. Companies should be required to guarantee that consumer products (like cars and toys) are safe and that companies pay decent wages and provide safe workplaces.
Democratic socialism also means reducing the political influence of the super rich and big corporations, increasing taxes of the wealthy to help pay for expanded public services like child care, public transit, and higher education, reducing barriers to voting, and strengthening regulations of business to require them to be more socially responsible in terms of their employees, consumers and the environment. That means a higher minimum wage, paid sick days and paid vacations, and safer workplaces.
A poll earlier this year found that among Americans under 50, a majority are critical of capitalism. Although the word "socialism" has often been demonized, public opinion polls show that a vast majority of Americans agree with these ideas. For example, 74% think corporations have too much influence; 73% favor tougher regulation of Wall Street; 60% believe that "our economic system unfairly favors the wealthy;" 85% want an overhaul of our campaign finance system to reduce the influence of money in politics; 58% support breaking up big banks; 79% think the wealthy don't pay their fair share of taxes; 85% favor paid family leave; 80% of Democrats and half the public support single-payer Medicare for all; 75% of Americans (including 53% of Republicans) support an increase in the federal minimum wage to $12.50, while 63% favor a $15 minimum wage; well over 70% support workers' rights to unionize; and 92% want a society with far less income disparity.
There's a great deal of pent-up demand for a candidate who articulates Americans' frustrations with the status quo. Trump exploited those frustrations with a campaign based on racism, intolerance, and xenophobia. But a candidate who can channel those frustrations in a way that inspires hope rather than fear can build on the long tradition of Christian socialism and social democracy.
Peter Dreier is professor of politics at Occidental College and author of The 100 Greatest Americans of the 20th Century: A Social Justice Hall of Fame (Nation Books, 2012).
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the very foundations of our democracy are at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a vibrant democracy is impossible without well-informed citizens. This is why we keep our journalism free for everyone, even as most other newsrooms have retreated behind expensive paywalls.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
THE BETTER DEMOCRACY
Reimagining Democracy
Democracy in the United States has failed, not in the distant future, not in theory, but right now, in plain sight, in real-time, before the eyes of a population that saw it coming and did too little to stop it. The American experiment, once heralded as a model of liberty and self-governance, has been undone not by foreign invasion or civil war but by capitalism unchained, by religious extremism weaponized, and by an electorate stripped of hope, agency, and truth.
It did not happen overnight. But its final unraveling felt sudden because we refused to accept how fragile American democracy was.
Democracy Is Not Enough
The lesson is clear: democracy alone is not self-sustaining. A system of elections, free speech, and judicial checks is necessary but insufficient in an economic and cultural framework designed to elevate the few and abandon the many.
- Unregulated capitalism has created a vast economic inequality in which power has been privatized.
- Dogmatic religion has stepped into the moral vacuum, replacing compassion with cruelty and freedom with fanaticism.
- Corporate domination, enabled by deregulation and privatization, has turned every sphere of life, from healthcare to housing and justice education, into a marketplace where citizenship is measured by what one can afford.
This is how democracy dies: not with a coup, but with a transaction. And it is time we tell the truth; only democratic socialism can save what remains.
The Moral and Practical Case for Democratic Socialism
Democratic socialism is not about state control or central planning. It is not authoritarian. It is not the Soviet Union. It is not Venezuela. It is not some imported ideology that is the logical extension of our highest democratic values: fairness, equality, participation, and collective responsibility.
To survive, democracy must live in the workplace, our neighborhoods, our wallets, and our daily lives. That means:
- Egalitarian policies that reduce obscene income inequality
- Worker cooperatives where employees govern their labor
- Universal healthcare and education, available to all as human rights
- Strong labor unions and guaranteed worker representation
- Reclaiming public goods from private profiteers
- Progressive taxation that funds shared prosperity
- Anti-racist social programs that correct structural injustice
This is not a utopia. This is the minimum required to prevent collapse.
How Capitalism Undermines Democracy
Capitalism, when unrestrained, erodes democracy from the inside. It does so in five fundamental ways:
- It creates a vast class divide in which political power becomes a commodity. The rich buy laws; they punish the poor.
- It privatizes public goods. What once belonged to everyone, water, energy, education, and infrastructure, is sold to the highest bidder.
- It feeds racism and scapegoating. When people are desperate, they are more easily divided, and capitalism thrives on division.
- It hollowed out civic engagement. When survival becomes personal, community becomes optional. “I want mine, and I want yours” becomes the national creed.
- It devalues empathy. In a market-driven society, kindness has no currency.
The result is a democracy in form but not in substance, a shell, a façade, a rigged game of elections propped up by lobbyists, billionaires, and media owned by six corporations.
Reclaiming Government as a Force for Public Good
Republicans have long demonized government as the enemy while using it to enrich themselves and their donors. Since Reagan, they have pursued tax cuts for the wealthy and spending spikes for the military while gutting every institution that served the common good.
The result is a self-fulfilling prophecy: a government starved of revenue becomes ineffective and then blames itself for its own malnutrition.
We must reverse this by asserting that government is not the enemy of freedom but the tool by which freedom is made real. Only government, transparent, democratic, and accountable can:
- Regulate markets to serve people, not exploit them
- Redistribute wealth to prevent oligarchy
- Protect the planet from environmental collapse
- Enshrine universal rights over corporate privileges
We need massive reinvestment in healthcare, education, housing, food, transit, and climate resilience. We must also take back everything that has been privatized because essential services should not be profit centers.
Empathy, Not Extraction
Democratic socialism demands a cultural shift from hyper-individualism to shared responsibility, from zero-sum competition to mutual survival, from “I win, you lose” to “we rise together.”
That means rejecting the toxic ethos of "every man for himself" and replacing it with a moral code that honors empathy, cooperation, and care, not out of charity but of necessity. No democracy can function when people believe they are alone.
The Republic Requires a Systemic Shift
We are not calling for cosmetic reform. We are calling for a new foundation.
It is not a restoration of the past but a construction of a future where democracy is durable through economic fairness, shared power, and collective care.
The choice is stark:
Democratic socialism, or democratic collapse.
A nation of solidarity or a nation of scavengers.
Empathy. or extinction.
There is no fear in socialism. The only fear is in doing nothing.
Reimagine democracy. Reclaim the republic. Redistribute power.
William James Spriggs
Saturday, August 31, 2024
EXTEND VIRTUES OF SOCIALISM
A Call for Military Values in Civil Society: A Path to Reforming America’s Political Structure
I am neither a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. I'm a non-practicing socialist. My beliefs often place me at odds with the political landscape of the United States, where my ideas seem far from mainstream acceptance. Socialism is not complicated; a version of it is already practiced within our military. The Marine Corps, for instance, instills values of morality, leadership, empathy, respect for authority, continued lifetime learning, professional and courteous behavior, duty to country, and respect for experience. These are principles that every American could benefit from embracing, yet they remain confined to those who serve.
Moreover, the military is not just about instilling values; it also provides a model of how a society can care for its members. Service members receive a fair and reliable paycheck and access to universal healthcare, housing, and living assistance. These are basic needs that many Americans struggle to secure in their civilian lives. The military demonstrates that offering these essentials within a structured system is possible, promoting stability and well-being for all who serve.
Political Reform: A Military-Inspired Approach
Our current political structure desperately needs reform. As a non-practicing socialist, I often find myself voting for Democrats, but lately, their incessant fundraising tactics have made me reconsider my support. Leading up to Election Day, I have received over 200 emails, texts, and phone calls daily begging for money. It’s disheartening and frustrating to feel my vote has a price tag. Voting should not be a financial transaction but a civic duty, free of coercion and financial burdens.
Adopting military virtues in our political system would mean prioritizing public service over self-interest. It would mean that our leaders, like those in the military, are held to a higher standard of conduct, focusing on integrity, respect, and duty to the country above all else. Imagine a political landscape where leaders are more concerned with the welfare of the people than with their next fundraising goal. Imagine if they led with empathy, showed proper respect for the opposition, and valued the experience and expertise of those who have dedicated their lives to public service.
Capitalism with a Moral Compass
While my views lean toward socialism, I recognize the benefits of capitalism, particularly in terms of innovation and economic growth. The means and manner of production can remain capitalistic. Still, capitalism needs a moral compass—a set of guidelines ensuring fairness, equity, and a commitment to the common good. The military’s approach to caring for its people—through fair pay, healthcare, housing, and support services—shows that these principles coexist with a system driven by efficiency and performance.
A Path Forward
We must start with a fundamental value shift to reform our political practices and structure. We should look to the military not for its command structure but for its commitment to principles that transcend individual ambition. Leaders should be chosen for their ability to serve, not just to campaign. Political parties should focus less on fundraising and more on policy, service, and the real issues affecting Americans daily.
Reforming America’s political structure is not about choosing between socialism and capitalism; it’s about finding a balance that incorporates the best of both. It’s about recognizing that the virtues we teach our soldiers—morality, leadership, empathy, and respect—are not just for the battlefield but for the boardroom, the classroom, and the halls of Congress. The military’s example of providing fair compensation, healthcare, and support reminds us that we can create a system that cares for its people. Only by embracing these values can we hope to create a more just, fair, and united society.
William James Spriggs
Saturday, December 9, 2023
U.S. IS NOT THE BEST COUNTRY
By Peter Dreier with edits by Bill Spriggs
U.S. should learn from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark -- countries with greater equality, a higher standard of living for working families, better schools, free universities, less poverty, a cleaner environment, higher voter turnout, stronger unions, universal health insurance, and a much wider safety net.
Sounds anti-business? Forbes magazine ranked Denmark as the #1 country for business. The United States ranked #18. European social democracies emphasize government enterprise, but even most Americans favor government-run police departments, fire departments, national parks, and municipally-owned utilities.
Today's democratic socialists believe in private enterprise but think it should be subject to rules that guarantee businesses act responsibly. Banks shouldn't engage in reckless predatory lending. Energy corporations shouldn't endanger the planet and public health by emitting too much pollution. Companies should be required to guarantee that consumer products (like cars and toys) are safe and that companies pay decent wages and provide safe workplaces.
Democratic socialism also means reducing the political influence of the super-rich and big corporations, increasing taxes of the wealthy to help pay for expanded public services like child care, public transit, and higher education, reducing barriers to voting, and strengthening regulations of business to require them to be more socially responsible in terms of their employees, consumers, and the environment. That means a higher minimum wage, paid sick days and vacations, and safer workplaces.
A poll earlier this year found that among Americans under 50, a majority are critical of capitalism. Although the word "socialism" has often been demonized, public opinion polls show that a vast majority of Americans agree with these ideas. For example, 74% think corporations have too much influence; 73% favor stricter regulation of Wall Street; 60% believe that "our economic system unfairly favors the wealthy;" 85% want an overhaul of our campaign finance system to reduce the influence of money in politics; 58% support breaking up big banks; 79% think the wealthy don't pay their fair share of taxes; 85% favor paid family leave; 80% of Democrats and half the public support single-payer Medicare for all; 75% of Americans (including 53% of Republicans) support an increase in the federal minimum wage to $12.50, while 63% favor a $15 minimum wage; well over 70% support workers' rights to unionize; and 92% want a society with far less income disparity.
There's a great deal of pent-up demand for a candidate who articulates Americans' frustrations with the status quo. Trump exploited those frustrations with a campaign based on racism, intolerance, and xenophobia. But a candidate who can channel those frustrations to inspire hope rather than fear can build on the long tradition of Christian socialism and social democracy.
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
WHY I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT
Why I Am Not a Christian, Republican, or Democrat
In a world where labels often define our identity, I reject many affiliations that shape others. My refusal to identify as a Christian, a Republican, or a Democrat, and my reluctance even as a capitalist and lawyer, stems from a deep commitment to facts, rational thought, and a moral vision for society. Let me explain.
Why I Am Not a Christian
I cannot align myself with Christianity because I prioritize fact over fiction, reality over superstition, and proof over faith. By its nature, faith demands belief without evidence, an expectation I cannot reconcile with a rational worldview. I believe in the power of evidence to uncover truths, not in the suspension of reason to embrace unproven narratives.
The stories of Christianity, beautiful and poetic to some, lack the empirical foundation I require to shape my understanding of the universe. Relying on ancient texts to dictate morality or truth is troubling to me, especially when those texts conflict with the observable world. For me, a belief system must withstand the scrutiny of reason and align with the progress of science and human understanding. Christianity, as it is practiced today, often obstructs both.
Why I Am Not a Republican or Democrat
In my view, political parties in the United States have failed to lead rationally or guide the nation in the right direction. The Republican Party has increasingly devolved into a reactionary movement, embracing authoritarianism and rejecting the values of democracy. Its rhetoric and actions have often undermined the very principles on which this nation was founded.
The Democratic Party, while preferable in many respects, has also fallen short. It lacks bold leadership and vision and is often content with incrementalism when transformative action is required. In its hesitance, it has left a void, a vacuum of authentic leadership, eagerly filled by those who seek to exploit fear and division for personal power. Both parties have disappointed us who seek rational, ethical governance rooted in long-term planning and collective good.
Why I Am a Reluctant Capitalist
Though I operate within a capitalist system, I do so reluctantly. I recognize capitalism’s efficiency in innovation and wealth generation but its glaring inequities and destructive tendencies. Greed, not empathy, drives the system. Wealth consolidates in the hands of a few while vast swaths of humanity suffer in poverty.
I long for a shift toward socialism's principles, not to replace capitalism entirely but to temper its excesses. Socialism embodies the values of shared responsibility, equity, and care for the collective well-being. The military, often touted as a bastion of American excellence, operates on many socialist principles: universal healthcare, housing, and a commitment to mutual aid. These are the values we should aspire to in broader society.
Why I Am Embarrassed as a Lawyer
I love the law, but the state of the legal profession deeply disheartens me. Lawyers and judges entrusted with upholding justice have too often become agents of inequality and corruption. The monumental failings of the judiciary, from partisan rulings to outright disregard for ethical principles, have eroded public trust.
Law practitioners frequently prioritize profit over principle, perpetuating a system that serves the powerful at the expense of the vulnerable. This is not the justice I was taught to revere. It is a betrayal of the law’s highest purpose: to protect the rights of all and ensure fairness in society.
Conclusion: A Call for Rationality and Moral Leadership
I reject Christianity, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, and unbridled capitalism not out of cynicism but out of hope for something better. I believe in the potential of humanity to rise above superstition, greed, and division. I yearn for leadership rooted in reason, morality, and a commitment to collective progress.
It is not enough to accept the status quo. We must demand better from our institutions, our leaders, and ourselves. Only then can we build a society that reflects the values of truth, justice, and empathy that I hold dear. Let us not settle for fiction when facts are within reach, nor for mediocrity when greatness is possible.
Friday, March 22, 2024
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
AMERICAN SOCIALISM?
Right. There is none. Not even a whiff. The far-right sees it in their imaginations. They need to find out what it is. They attack those with the slightest lean to the left of the center as socialists. They are against a government that could preserve the freedoms they enjoy if strengthened.
Yet we need the control elements of socialist thinking that FDR set in motion. Reagan duped the nation and conditioned the right for a cult mentality, creating a gulf between the haves and the have-nots. Demigods can now fool the generations brought up in the broken educational system into believing that freedom is antisocial. Socialism is the straw man the cult members view as the left-wing enemy. Properly defined, it is the very thing they need.
We need stronger laws to protect democracy, freedoms, and rights, including the right to work, freedom from the poison of religion, progressive redistribution of wealth, guaranteed health services, and minimum living standards for workers and the retired. We need to take care of people as we do in the military. We need all leaders to take an empathy test and pledge if elected. We need our thought leaders to oversee and intervene in our educational system, devoting a paid month a year to truth and reality disclosure.
The American experiment is doomed. We are in our last days. After man-made climate change fails to decimate society, religion will devour the species with its poison.
Saturday, December 28, 2024
HEEDING THE TEACHINGS OF CHRISTIANITY
Heeding the Teachings of Christianity
As the holiday season unfolds and Christians around the world celebrate Christmas, it is a fitting time to reflect on Jesus Christ's teachings and how they contrast starkly with the values espoused by Donald Trump and the radical right. Both Christians and liberals alike should revisit the Bible’s lessons to recognize and reject the perverted societal values promoted by these figures, which stand in opposition to the virtues of compassion, justice, and humility central to Christianity.
A particular tragedy in this narrative is the way many evangelical Christians have been hoodwinked into aligning themselves with the radical right. In doing so, they have forsaken the core teachings of Jesus and embraced a vision that prioritizes power, greed, and exclusion over love, generosity, and inclusion.
Jesus Was a Radical Advocate for Justice and Equality
Though Jesus lived centuries before the emergence of industrial capitalism, his teachings have long inspired critics of economic systems that prioritize greed and wealth accumulation over human dignity. Jesus was, in many respects, a revolutionary advocate for social justice—a figure whose actions and words embody what some might today call "democratic socialism."
- In Matthew 6:24, Jesus declared, “No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve God and Money,” condemning materialism and the idolatry of wealth.
- In Luke 12:15, he warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions,” emphasizing that life’s value transcends material wealth.
Jesus preached love, generosity, and care for the marginalized. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and prioritized the needs of the poor and outcasts over the desires of the wealthy elite. These teachings challenge the radical right’s obsession with wealth, power, and exclusion.
The Tragic Deception of Evangelicals
It is a disgrace that many evangelicals, who claim to follow Christ’s teachings, have allowed themselves to be deceived into supporting the radical right and figures like Trump. This alignment is not only a betrayal of Jesus’ teachings but also a blatant contradiction of the values evangelicals claim to uphold.
Trump’s rhetoric and policies—marked by greed, exclusion, and cruelty—stand in direct opposition to the virtues of humility, compassion, and justice that Jesus embodied. Yet, many evangelicals have been seduced by promises of political power and cultural dominance, forsaking the Gospel’s call to love one’s neighbor and care for the least among us.
By supporting policies that demonize immigrants, neglect the poor, and prioritize wealth accumulation, these evangelicals have abandoned the principles of Christianity. They have traded the teachings of Jesus for a distorted vision that elevates nationalism and materialism above faith and moral integrity.
Pope Francis and the Modern Critique of Capitalism
Pope Francis has become a leading voice in the critique of unfettered capitalism, echoing Christ’s teachings. In his 2013 document, he described unrestrained capitalism as “a new tyranny” that prioritizes profit over people, creating vast inequality and dehumanizing millions. He condemned the “idolatry of money” and urged political leaders to guarantee dignified work, education, and healthcare for all—a vision in harmony with the values of Christian compassion and justice.
In a recent speech, Pope Francis went further, blaming the “god of money” for extremist violence, noting that economic systems that marginalize and exploit people breed anger and despair. This critique underscores the dangers of a Trump-led agenda that perpetuates division, xenophobia, and greed, while ignoring the systemic injustices fueling societal unrest.
Rejecting the Radical Right’s Distortion of Values
The radical right’s co-opting of Christian rhetoric to justify policies of exclusion and inequality is a profound perversion of Christ’s teachings. Their vision, driven by greed and authoritarianism, is fundamentally incompatible with the Gospel’s call for love, humility, and justice.
Evangelicals and all Christians must confront this betrayal of their faith. Supporting the radical right is not an act of devotion; it is a forsaking of the very teachings they claim to hold dear. True faith demands that we resist such distortions and realign ourselves with the values Jesus exemplified.
A Path Forward: Embracing True Christian Virtues
America is at a crossroads. There is immense pent-up demand for leadership that articulates frustrations with inequality and injustice while inspiring hope rather than fear. By drawing on the long tradition of Christian socialism and social democracy, we can reimagine a society that honors Christ’s vision of love and justice.
This Christmas season, let us all heed the call to embody the true spirit of Christianity—not through hollow rhetoric or selfish ambitions, but through actions that uplift the marginalized, heal the wounded, and create a world where all can thrive.
It is time for Christians and liberals alike to reclaim the teachings of Jesus and reject the radical right’s perversion of faith. Only by doing so can we honor the true message of the Gospel and build a society that reflects the compassion, humility, and justice of Christ.
William James Spriggs
Thursday, October 31, 2024
DESIGNED STUPIDITY OR REAL?
“The secret of the demagogue is to make himself as stupid as his audience so that they believe they are as clever as he” -Karl Kraus
Why Do People Vote Against Their Interests? The Trap Set by the Billionaire Class
In every election cycle, the familiar paradox emerges: voters seem to champion policies at odds with their interests. From health care to taxes, education to worker protections, many voters cast ballots that benefit the wealthy at the expense of their security and opportunity. How do they repeatedly walk right into the trap set by the billionaire class?
The Illusion of Shared Values and Manufactured Problems
One of the key tactics of this billionaire class is creating the illusion of shared values and common enemies. Billionaire-funded media and think tanks relentlessly hammer away at issues they label as crises, like "socialism" or "welfare abuse," drawing attention to problems that are, in fact, exaggerated or even fabricated. These narratives distract from the real issues—wealth inequality, corporate influence, and a lack of essential social services—and instead channel voter frustration toward convenient scapegoats.
By offering simple, divisive messages, they give the illusion that these "problems" are clear and pressing. In truth, many of these manufactured issues are distractions meant to rally voters behind agendas that ultimately work against their interests.
The Emotional Trap: Fear, Anger, and Identity
One of the billionaire class's most powerful tools is tapping into the emotions that drive human behavior—especially fear and anger. When people feel that their identities, communities, or values are under attack, they respond with urgency. The billionaire-driven narratives are designed to make people feel threatened by change, whether it's changes in demographics, global economics, or social norms.
Focusing on these shifts as threats compels voters to rally around candidates who promise to “protect” them. In reality, these candidates typically enact policies that exacerbate wealth disparities and reduce access to resources that the average person needs.
Anti-Intellectualism and the Devaluation of Expertise
A strategic devaluation of knowledge and expertise also serves the billionaire agenda. When people are told that experts—scientists, economists, educators—are out of touch, they’re more inclined to distrust facts and figures that reveal the inequality they’re enduring. Anti-intellectualism dismisses the voices that might challenge billionaire-backed policies, reinforcing that everyday “common sense” is superior to evidence and expertise.
This carefully crafted narrative implies that solutions from experts are elitist or impractical while promoting policies that align with big business interests as more "authentic" and "American."
Erosion of Hope and Dependence on a "Strongman" Figure
Voting against one’s best interests also stems from a diminished sense of agency. When people feel powerless, they may invest their faith in "strongman" leaders who project authority and promise to "fix" everything. These leaders often claim to stand against the establishment, even as they protect the establishment’s most influential players. This cycle of dependency on a single figure diverts power away from democratic processes that could serve the public good, allowing billionaires to consolidate their hold on the government and the economy.
Breaking the Cycle: Awareness, Solidarity, and Action
To avoid falling into these traps, it's essential to recognize the mechanics of manipulation. By questioning the narrative, turning to credible sources, and discussing the impact of policies with others who are similarly affected, people can dismantle the rhetoric that pits them against their best interests. Solidarity, shared knowledge, and an insistence on honest representation are powerful tools in resisting the billionaire class's influence.
Voting for one’s true interests demands careful discernment of which voices serve the public good versus those that merely pretend to. The future relies on empowering voters to make informed choices that serve themselves and their communities, challenging the systems that thrive on keeping them in the dark.
William James Spriggs
Sunday, February 11, 2024
EINSTEIN ON SOCIALISM
Why Socialism?
By Albert Einstein
From Monthly Review, New York, May, 1949.
[Re-printed in Ideas and Opinions by Albert Einstein]
The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labor -- not by force, but on the whole in faithful compliance with legally established rules. In this respect, it is important to realize that the means of production -- that is to say, the entire productive capacity that is needed for producing consumer goods as well as additional capital goods -- may legally be, and for the most part are, the private property of individuals.
For the sake of simplicity, in the discussion that follows I shall call "workers" all those who do not share in the ownership of the means of production -- although this does not quite correspond to the customary use of the term. The owner of the means of production is in a position to purchase the labor power of the worker. By using the means of production, the worker produces new goods which become the property of the capitalist. The essential point about this process is the relation between what the worker produces and what he is paid, both measured in terms of real value. In so far as the labor contract is "free," what the worker receives is determined not by the real value of the goods he produces, but by his minimum needs and by the capitalists' requirements for labor power in relation to the number of workers competing for jobs. It is important to understand that even in theory the payment of the worker is not determined by the value of his product.
Private capital tends to become concentrated in few hands, partly because of competition among the capitalists, and partly because technological development and the increasing division of labor encourage the formation of larger units of production at the expense of the smaller ones. The result of these developments is an oligarchy of private capital the enormous power of which cannot be effectively checked even by a democratically organized political society. This is true since the members of legislative bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise influenced by private capitalists who, for all practical purposes, separate the electorate from the legislature. The consequence is that the representatives of the people do not in fact sufficiently protect the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population. Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education). It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights.
The situation prevailing in an economy based on the private ownership of capital is thus characterized main principles: first, means of production (capital) are privately owned and the owners dispose of them as they see fit; second, the labor contract is free. Of course, there is no such thing as a pure capitalist society in this sense. In particular, it should be noted that the workers, through long and bitter political struggles, have succeeded in securing a somewhat improved form of the "free labor contract" for certain categories of workers. But taken as a whole, the present-day economy does not differ much from "pure" capitalism. Production is carried on for profit, not for use. There is no provision that all those able and willing to work will always be in a position to find employment; an "army of unemployed" almost always exists. The worker is constantly in fear of losing his job. Since unemployed and poorly paid workers do not provide a profitable market, the production of consumers' goods is restricted, and great hardship is the consequence. Technological progress frequently results in more unemployment rather than in an easing of the burden of work for all. The profit motive, in conjunction with competition among capitalists, is responsible for an instability in the accumulation and utilization of capital which leads to increasingly severe depressions. Unlimited competition leads to a huge waste of labor, and to that crippling of the social consciousness of individuals which I mentioned before.
This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career.
I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child. The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own innate abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow-men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society.
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