Regarding the Feb. 19 letter, “Better study what socialism means”: Dictionaries rarely give full understanding of words. Automobiles, for example, are defined as self-propelled land vehicles without noting Chevrolets differ from Ferraris and Corvettes differ from Yukons. Mistaking a definition for understanding misses the fact there’s a range of difference among automobiles. Likewise, the letter writer’s dictionary definition of socialism missed the fact socialism ranges from minimal to an extreme form in communism; just as capitalism ranges from regulated to an extreme form in plutocracy.
And, while extremes are incompatible with democracy, milder forms of socialism and capitalism serve us well. They even overlap sometimes, as, for example, when private business needs workers to be healthy, it turns to the socialism of group insurance, rightly claiming this benefits both employer and employees.
Whether we realize it or not, homeowners, health, or any group insurance is a form of socialism we’ve used for decades. And it’s proved so economically beneficial that Congress established Social Security and Medicare insurance as protection for the retired, elderly, disabled and orphaned. I doubt citizens would abandon this form of socialism anymore than they would reject the socialism of police and fire services — especially as it’s efficient, more economical than capitalism, and has proven not to lead to communism.
By thinking beyond the dictionary, the writer might realize Bernie Sanders’ democratic socialism is not antithetical to our national character. Rather, Sanders’ call for regulated capitalism to benefit everyone — not just those at the top or the bottom of society — is American idealism at its pragmatic best.
Paul Heckel
Snohomish
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