Why I'm a Democratic Socialist

The first 30 years of my life was spent in Colorado, and Southern California. It was only when I left the US, with only the clothes on my back, and my trusty guitar, that my mind truly opened politically, living in England for a stint, to finally make Australia home. The American political system wasn't “exceptional” in the least. People were going bankrupt from medical bills, and a minimum wage to merely exist, was nearly impossible. Living overseas opened my political consciousness to a new system, democratic socialism.

Like most Americans growing up in the 70' and 80', the spectre of Communism, omnivorously loomed, and was constantly ready to pounce, and eat our souls. Understandably, we were in the midst of the Cold War. While in 2^nd grade, we used to have atom bomb drills, ordered to hide under our desks – as if this exercise would save the children in a nuclear holocaust! To be certain, the propaganda worked, thus any sign of communism or its little sister, socialism, was anathema to our very existence.

It appears that many American's equates Stalin totalitarianism, with any form of socialism. They're not the same. I find it appalling when republican cohorts attack Venezuela for its socialism. For sure, the Maduro government is a form of democratic socialism. They elect their president, and have social support in terms of medicare, education, public transport, and public housing. Specifically, the poor have access to health/medicine, free education, and affordable housing. The populations' taxes goes for the benefit of the people, and not the rich. In fact, the wealthy are taxed to ensure a fair system for all the population. When the right-wing US points to Venezuela as a failed Social-system, they never mention the brutal sanctions the US has placed upon this country's economy. These rich, US politicians are lying.

When I arrived in Australia in 1986, the country was a true democratic socialist country. Capitalism was thriving, and we had inexpensive education, a free medical system, and the minimum wage was such that one could survive. It was only in the early 90's, when the conservative government was voted into power, that our society began to change for the worse. They closed 100's of schools, and thousands of teachers were out of a job. They privatised the public transport system, and it became much more expensive and unreliable. Through a propaganda campaign, the citizens were urged to buy expensive health insurance, just in case the system *changed*. Under this conservative government, Australia blindly followed the US into the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Australia's “defence” budget doubled, and the cost of living went out the roof.

Democratic socialism is not a Mao or Stalin totalitarianism. In democratic socialism, leaders are democratically elected, and the social-system, is designed to help the majority of people. Our tax dollars go for infrastructure, medicare, education. While in the US, the tax dollars help the rich, and the perpetuation of endless war.

The US's political/capitalist centred system is dividing the country. Dividing the haves and the have nots. When billions go for endless war, and not the people, something is terribly wrong.

The reason(s) I'm a democratic socialist, is I believe in democracy, and at the same time, believe that the basic needs of a country (people) must be covered, thus ensuring intellectual and technological advancement. When you have 60,000 people a year, die because they can't afford a visit to the doctor, something is terribly wrong. When you have smart children denied higher education because it costs too much, something is wrong. When the rich get away from paying their fair share of taxes, something is terribly wrong.

Democratic Socialism isn't a monster akin to Stalin or Hitler, it's a system designed for the people, as well as enabling the best of the best to advance, ensuring we live in a better world.

That's why I'm a democratic Socialist.