(06-14-2019 11:45 AM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(06-14-2019 11:34 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(06-14-2019 11:23 AM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(06-14-2019 10:58 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(06-14-2019 09:59 AM)georgewebb Wrote:  Then why are so many Democrats "needlessly" eager to call themselves socialists? Two possibilities are:
(1) They are ignorant;
(2) They don't actually, or at least are not content to, "care about the welfare of workers"; rather, they hope to use the supposed "welfare of workers" as an excuse to control the economy, which is to stay, to control the people.

Henry Ford's maxim suggests (1) may explain it. On the other hand, historical precedent around the world suggests that (2) is pretty likely. In the case of some particularly high-profile, particularly stupid Democrats, both reasons are probably true.

How many elected democrats are eager to call themselves socialists? I see people like Bernie calling himself a democratic socialist, and he's very clear as to why he uses the two words.

I see many Democrats tripping over themselves to call themselves socialist and to characterize other First World democracies as socialist (which is pretty offensive to many citizens of those countries).

Why does Sanders use the term socialist if he doesn't mean it? Either he means it (which would be bad but honest); or he doesn't mean it but thinks the voters do (which would be bad and dishonest); or he doesn't know what he means (which come to think of it seems likely).

He uses the term "democratic socialist" from what I've seen. But maybe he has changed?

That's is why I think the third explanation (he doesn't know what he means) might be right.
- If he means socialism that is compatible with democracy: there is no such thing. Not now, not ever.
- If he means parliamentary democracy with lots of social insurance, entitlements, and so on, there is a time-honored name for that: social democracy.
But Sanders intentionally uses a term that is at best unnecessary, at worst delusional, and in either case confusing. If the public reacts critically to this term, it's hardly the public's fault.

There actually is a term democratic socialism, but you seem to be right that Sanders is trying to use a definition for democratic socialism that doesn't exist and is incorrect, and that he's much closer to a social democrat (based on my quick Googling/Wikipedia-ing).