Socialism ... You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

So, it's a political season and Bernie Sanders, our fun loving independent Senator from Vermont has been calling himself a Democratic Socialist.  Many on the right have said we are descending into socialism.  Some even equate the Nazi party to the concept of socialism, which is akin to saying; 'Mormons are Christians, therefore all Christians are Mormon.'

So, here's the definition:  Socialism is a political ideology and movement which has proposed a set of social and economic measures, policies and systems characterized by social ownership and democratic control of the means of production.

Our Democracy has socialistic elements.  Our infrastructure and defense structure are a form of socialism.  Our civil service works for the people.  Get over the word.  It's not  evil.  It's baked into our democratic process.  We are not ever going to become a communistic state nor are we (unless we elect Trump) going to become a fascist state.

Our choices on the Democratic side are a Centrist hawk who used to support Barry Goldwater and an independent Senator with more of a labor focus.  The Republican side has Trump, who will probably be the party's nominee.  He's a self-serving nut job who plays to the lowest common denominator in the Republican party.  They also have some decent candidates in Bush, Kasich, and Rubio, but all of them are fairly conservative, but not a wild card like Trump.

The bottom line though is that even in the right wing of the Republican party, there are socialistic elements.  There is a need and role for government, or social programs that the state must manage.  People need to get off of the term socialism and focus on the issues.  Stupid slogans and demagoguery do nothing but whip up the base and speak to the unintelligent.

So my wish for the new year is a reasoned debate on real issues.  Pfft... I can dream.