this post was submitted on 31 May 2026
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I think despite people's best efforts socialism is becoming less of a dirty word. Every time you correct someone by identifying that what they're thinking of is authoritarianism or communism you can bring them around to the idea that socialism is just allowing workers to have more of a say in their workplace and decommodifying basic needs, which is much harder to be so hard-line against.
Of course socialism is just a stepping stone to communism but it could never happen without some generations of de-programming our culture from this capitalist mindset.
Okay, but why is terminology so important here? If you could achieve your other goals easier by compromising on terminology, why wouldn't you?
What would you suggest as alternative terminology? The problem is if you create a new term they media will just demonize that too. Now you got to explain two different concepts to people that mean the same thing.
Why not focus on policies instead of labels? If you must apply a label, I'm sure you can find something that's understood by the person you're talking to. Someone who's right-leaning might prefer the term "America first" (as in, American citizens before big business). Know your audience.
I have only ever had to defend socialism when I present a policy and get told "that's socialism".
Other than that, labels are necessary for political movements. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have the "affordable housing, healthcare, and food as well as cutting back military spending, increasing education funding, taxing the wealthy and making sure it's enforced, replacing police with social workers and support systems etc etc etc... party." But it just doesn't roll off the tongue.
I'm sorry that's been your experience, but my comments have been in the context of the OOP, which is very different from what you just described.