Great article! Written in a way that explains American socialism sensibly. Of course the status quo is visciously opposed. They seem to want everyone but them to pay and pay for things of common good.I certainly want to share this article. Thank You.
I think what makes Zohran special too and how his example can help other left wing movements, organizers and hopefully electeds: he seems happy! And fun to be around! While he calls out the corruption and wealth and greed he also wants to include anybody willing to come Join him. People are more likely to put aside misgivings for a shared goal if they don’t feel like they’re being shamed or ostracized if they don’t align on every tiny thing.
I didn’t know you were there Saturday! I was, too (just happened to be in town and couldn’t miss it). When they came out on stage together I was on the verge of tears; this essay just summoned that same feeling. You have such a gift for making these ideas feel so fucking obvious that opposing them looks genuinely absurd
Interesting that New York City in the '50s and early '60s, when the City University system was free to public high school graduates, playgrounds were funded, libraries were funded, unions were common, an adult working full-time at a job that did not require a college education could support a family on a single income, and apparently (I'm too young to remember this kind of information) the national tax rate on high earners was 85% (read this in the Nation, I think), and the country as a whole were considered the triumph of capitalism, but their values were socialist.
"Social Security is socialist. 401ks are not. Public schools are socialist. Private schools are not. Public roads are socialist. Private toll roads are not. Public parks are socialist. Private playgrounds are not."
I think this discussion, under closer scrutiny, leads to a fundamentally unfair dynamic: even those examples of private entities receive tax payer money. They receive state and federal funds directly or indirectly, and their profits flow to owners/operators who then shout about limiting government and cutting public spending out of the other side of their mouth. They expect working people to bear the bulk of the tax burden while they siphon public money directly into their pockets with less oversight and transparency than public ventures receive.
And the vast majority of the public still believes and expects that private entities aren't receiving public funds! Private schools teaching creationism receiving federal money for building projects when the right wing answer to everything--charities!--falls short; private roads receiving infrastructure spending and bail outs because people "need" the road for their commute; 401Ks owning an estimated 6% of the stock market while the 1% greedily gobbles up the 94% of stock market profits, and yet inept investors receive bail outs when they inadvertently engineer crashes...
The public is indeed susceptible to red-baiting, and so are our leftist representatives. They balk at any initiative that's "too progressive" or "too leftist" because it's labeled socialist while hollow-eyed right wing zombies enact the worst version of right wing policies. So ignore the red-herring of socialist-baiting and do what's best for us! Ramrod through those public measures! Use those positions to make lives better! Fuck centrism it only serves a right wing status quo!
Thank you for allowing me to vent. I am frustrated but remain hopeful.
It's a good question. What are people afraid of when someone says "Mamdani is a socialist!" I mean yeah he is but what does a regular person fear? (I know what rich people fear, they fear a 3-5% tax increase and they would slash their own mother's throat to avoid that) I suppose even the poor and normal people fear the 3-5% tax increase? But the benefits to them are so obvious whats he deal?
The word "socialism" has become a catch-all, fear-triggering word that is used to make valuing, honoring, respecting, and helping people a bad thing.
When will people realize that when the government applies money for social services, it does not hurt anyone else. It does not detract from government money used elsewhere. In fact, it adds money into the economy in a way that results in serving more people than when money is inserted into upper investment levels. Consider, "Trickle-up" ands cash-flow to the economy, whereas, "Trickle-down" does not.
After 17 years of falling in love with NYC every day, I had to leave in order to buy a home (in CT) and get some footing for my family. I yearn to move back. I'm supporting Zohran financially and by knocking on doors. Let's make this happen for us! (Us = The Working Class) 🌹❤️
Goddamn, this hit me like a truck. I'm a born and raised New Yorker and the next time someone asks me to explain my politics I'm going to make sure they read this so they have a better idea where I'm coming from.
It’s either a people-oriented system or a money-oriented system, regardless of what it’s called. Or, as it was said some 2000 years ago, "You can either serve people or money. You can’t serve both."
This is fantastic and so uplifting no matter how many people actively fight against this thinking. Got me fired up in the best way.
Beautifully said, and so effing sensible.
Great article! Written in a way that explains American socialism sensibly. Of course the status quo is visciously opposed. They seem to want everyone but them to pay and pay for things of common good.I certainly want to share this article. Thank You.
I think what makes Zohran special too and how his example can help other left wing movements, organizers and hopefully electeds: he seems happy! And fun to be around! While he calls out the corruption and wealth and greed he also wants to include anybody willing to come Join him. People are more likely to put aside misgivings for a shared goal if they don’t feel like they’re being shamed or ostracized if they don’t align on every tiny thing.
I didn’t know you were there Saturday! I was, too (just happened to be in town and couldn’t miss it). When they came out on stage together I was on the verge of tears; this essay just summoned that same feeling. You have such a gift for making these ideas feel so fucking obvious that opposing them looks genuinely absurd
So well written, and so many excellent points.
In addition, this is one of the best love letters to NYC I have ever read!
Interesting that New York City in the '50s and early '60s, when the City University system was free to public high school graduates, playgrounds were funded, libraries were funded, unions were common, an adult working full-time at a job that did not require a college education could support a family on a single income, and apparently (I'm too young to remember this kind of information) the national tax rate on high earners was 85% (read this in the Nation, I think), and the country as a whole were considered the triumph of capitalism, but their values were socialist.
Run and read Joshua Freeman's Working-Class New York, in which he describes NYC of that era as a "social-democratic polity."
Your best essay.
"Social Security is socialist. 401ks are not. Public schools are socialist. Private schools are not. Public roads are socialist. Private toll roads are not. Public parks are socialist. Private playgrounds are not."
I think this discussion, under closer scrutiny, leads to a fundamentally unfair dynamic: even those examples of private entities receive tax payer money. They receive state and federal funds directly or indirectly, and their profits flow to owners/operators who then shout about limiting government and cutting public spending out of the other side of their mouth. They expect working people to bear the bulk of the tax burden while they siphon public money directly into their pockets with less oversight and transparency than public ventures receive.
And the vast majority of the public still believes and expects that private entities aren't receiving public funds! Private schools teaching creationism receiving federal money for building projects when the right wing answer to everything--charities!--falls short; private roads receiving infrastructure spending and bail outs because people "need" the road for their commute; 401Ks owning an estimated 6% of the stock market while the 1% greedily gobbles up the 94% of stock market profits, and yet inept investors receive bail outs when they inadvertently engineer crashes...
The public is indeed susceptible to red-baiting, and so are our leftist representatives. They balk at any initiative that's "too progressive" or "too leftist" because it's labeled socialist while hollow-eyed right wing zombies enact the worst version of right wing policies. So ignore the red-herring of socialist-baiting and do what's best for us! Ramrod through those public measures! Use those positions to make lives better! Fuck centrism it only serves a right wing status quo!
Thank you for allowing me to vent. I am frustrated but remain hopeful.
No essential goods or services should be doled out to publicly traded corporations
Agreed!
It's a good question. What are people afraid of when someone says "Mamdani is a socialist!" I mean yeah he is but what does a regular person fear? (I know what rich people fear, they fear a 3-5% tax increase and they would slash their own mother's throat to avoid that) I suppose even the poor and normal people fear the 3-5% tax increase? But the benefits to them are so obvious whats he deal?
Yes, indeed. One of the many reasons I miss it so much. All power to Bernie and Zohran. People who actually CARE.
The word "socialism" has become a catch-all, fear-triggering word that is used to make valuing, honoring, respecting, and helping people a bad thing.
When will people realize that when the government applies money for social services, it does not hurt anyone else. It does not detract from government money used elsewhere. In fact, it adds money into the economy in a way that results in serving more people than when money is inserted into upper investment levels. Consider, "Trickle-up" ands cash-flow to the economy, whereas, "Trickle-down" does not.
Thank you, Hamilton. Another banger! 📢
After 17 years of falling in love with NYC every day, I had to leave in order to buy a home (in CT) and get some footing for my family. I yearn to move back. I'm supporting Zohran financially and by knocking on doors. Let's make this happen for us! (Us = The Working Class) 🌹❤️
Goddamn, this hit me like a truck. I'm a born and raised New Yorker and the next time someone asks me to explain my politics I'm going to make sure they read this so they have a better idea where I'm coming from.
Great writing. I love this line; because everyone else is right here, next to you, and if they are having a bad time, you soon will be too.
It’s either a people-oriented system or a money-oriented system, regardless of what it’s called. Or, as it was said some 2000 years ago, "You can either serve people or money. You can’t serve both."