Following the New Hampshire primary, here’s the title in this week’s The Economist – TRUMPED and BERNED!

There are a lot of polarized views in the USA – Liberal or Conservative, Sanders or Trump, Gun legislation or the NRA, Pro-life or pro-choice, Socialism or Capitalism. 

And speaking of socialism, the question I ask is “Why is this such a dirty word in the USA?”  I’m guessing that a lot of Americans associate the word with communism, the McCarthy era and the “Red Scare.”  And it stops there.  In other words, people can’t be bothered to do 20 minutes of research over the internet to find out the real, not to mention varied, meanings of the word.  There’s no excuse in the internet age to be uninformed, folks.  A wealth of learning lies at your fingertips via your computer keyboard!

SOCIALISM = EQUALITY.  What’s wrong with social, educational and health-care equality for all?  Why would that be viewed as a bad thing?

The way I see it, the key word hidden in the meaning of modern-day socialism is “access.”  Access to all services, no-one left behind.  That’s how Canada’s egalitarian ethos has shaped my core values.  And here’s an idea – is it possible that the higher the equality, the lower the social unrest and conflict?  The lower the number of haves and have-nots?  The gap between rich and poor is huge in the USA.  How can that gap be narrowed?

Socialist: Someone concerned with the greater good of society, rather than their own personal gain.

Activist: Someone who takes action to change aspects of their society which they believe are wrong.

Bernie Sanders is a socialist-minded activist who promotes fairness and equality of opportunity.  It’s true that at times he comes across as a utopist.  But if I could, I’d vote for him.  But I can’t.  I’m not American.

My native country, Canada, is a free-market, democratic, capitalist country that provides some socialist, aka social, programs to its citizens (examples below).  France is the same.  As is Great Britain.  In my lifetime, I’ve lived, worked and paid taxes in these three countries.  Scandinavian countries also offer socialist, aka social programs (government programs designed to give assistance to citizens outside of what the market provides.)  And we live well.  Yes, we pay higher taxes, but where I live, to give just one example, we have garbage pick-up (by electric trucks) seven days a week with street-sweepers.  Public transportation is subsidized as is a multitude of other services.

Historically, the French have tolerated high taxes as the price to pay for decent public services and a proper universal safety net. All those fast trains, first-rate hospitals and public crèches do not come for nothing, and the French are the first to defend a way of life subsidized by the public purse that can often only be bought privately in America. (The Economist)

What kind of social/socialist government programs do the above-mentioned countries offer?  Access to HEALTH CARE that is guaranteed to all citizens.  In Canada, all provinces provide universal, publicly-funded healthcare for services which are considered “medically necessary“.  Their costs are partially subsidized by the federal government.  Services which are not “listed” (covered by a provincial insurance plan), or have been “delisted” (removed from the plan) may be purchased privately.  The U.K. has their NHS (National Health Service) which is entirely free and the French have a different system. 

The French health care system is one of universal health care largely financed by government national health insurance. In its 2000 assessment of world health care systems, the WHO (World Health Organization) found that France provided the “close to best overall health care” in the world.  In 2011, France spent 11.6% of its GDP on health care, or US$4,086 per capita, a figure much higher than the average spent by countries in Europe but less than in the United States.  Approximately 77% of health expenditures are covered by government funded agencies.  (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)

The entire population must pay compulsory health insurance. This is the most important detail, the complete opposite is the case in the USA – the insurers are NON-PROFIT agencies that annually participate in negotiations with the state regarding the overall funding of health care in France.  There are three main funds, the largest of which covers 84% of the population and the other two a further 12%. A premium is deducted from all employees’ pay automatically.

My monthly premium for an employer-sponsored health care plan, deducted from my monthly paycheque, is 44 euros.

EDUCATION – Post-secondary schooling is not free, but subsidized by the federal and provincial governments. Financial assistance is available through student loans and bursaries.

Capitalism violates essential American values. (the tenets of Sinclair’s socialism)

While researching this, I came across a website that celebrates an American author called Upton Sinclair.  He was born in Baltimore in 1878.

Sinclair’s goal was to attain what he referred to as “democratic socialism” in the United States.  Although most readers did not realize it, his beliefs actually embraced the American dream.  In fact, what Sinclair wanted was a return to the original idea that inspired immigrants and freedom-seekers — a return to the original American dream. In one of his most famous passages, he writes, “Passionately, more than words can utter, I love this land of mine. . . . There never was any land like it — there may never be any like it again; and Freedom watches from her mountains, trembling.” Sinclair loved what the United States stood for but was concerned that the economic system of capitalism was interfering with the premises and promises of liberty that the founding fathers sought. Sinclair based his attack on capitalism on his belief that capitalism violated essential American values.

Sinclair believed that socialism was the means for American liberals to achieve most fully the ideals they embraced. Sinclair abhorred the exploitation of the working class and economic inequality. He thought that America should be the land of opportunity for all people, provided they were willing to work.  A strong work ethic was imperative. “If a fellow won’t work, he has no right to anything.” However, when a worker, like Jurgis, is willing to work and is able to work but cannot work, that is a problem. Or when an entire family is working but not succeeding, that too is a problem.

For Sinclair, the ideals of America stressed equality and brotherhood, but in all actuality, the rich did indeed get richer and the poor got poorer.  No equality. No brotherhood.  But Sinclair’s perceived views on capitalism and socialism endured more so than his actual message. Too many people are unable to separate a political system from an economic system. Moreover, the United States, unlike many European counterparts, never had an overwhelmingly successful socialist movement, so Sinclair is remembered as a muckraker, not a socialist.