The Young Democratic Socialists (YDS)

YDS helped introduce many student activists to the labor movement as well as other social, economic or political struggles, with many of the organization's alumni going on to work in labor organization, politics, education, journalism, community groups, and the non-profit sector.

During the Bush era, YDS focused much of its national and local energy on fighting right-wing ideological, economic, social, and political assault. This entailed defending the labor movement and the social gains of the LGBTQ, racial justice, and women’s movements. Our chapters and members worked in working-class communities and on campuses in support of workers’ rights. While YDS values and contributes to all struggles against oppression, as socialists we raise the great unspoken issue of American politicsâ€"social classâ€"and connect it to the various injustices in American life.

Democratic Socialists

Stopped reading there.

In addition, this undesirable work should be among the best, not the least, rewarded work within the economy.

Under Socialism, here is where it would fail. No one gets "rewards". Everyone is equal. Under this childish scheme, someone would get jealous and want to be rewarded the same, hence, no one would want to do the work if the reward wasnt greater than everyone else...

Democrats are socialists just like Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman.
We just bailed out the capitalists who destroyed the economy because of their unregulated greed so now they thank us by calling us Commies etc. Next time the are on the verge of collapse I hope we remember and don't let ignorant Tea Baggers use chants of "Socialism" to prevent us from firing all the management of the big banks and also declaring the shares to be worthless JUST LIKE WE DO EVERY TIME FDIC has to take over a bank. TEabaggers ought to be embarrassed about how easily they were played.

American Youth Tilt Toward Socialism, Which Hardly Matters

Young Americans have a more positive view of socialism than capitalism, according to new research from Pew. That puts them in contrast to the balance of adults, the great major of whom view socialism negatively. But younger Americans, those under 29, may have read the headlines about the future of Social Security and other social safety nets and believe these programs will be gone in two decades. That makes the results understandable.

The Pew research reports that, overall, only 31% of Americans have a positive view of socialism. And 50% view capitalism the same way. Capitalism gains further among the middle aged and those over 65. Some 72% of people who have passed the traditional age of retirement view socialism negatively. People who make over $100,000 a year have similar views to those over age 65.

The findings of the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted from December 7 to December 11, 2011, among 1,521 adults, do not tell much about why the young, as well as the relatively poor and minorities, have positive feelings about socialism. The answer is obvious, though. Capitalism has done almost nothing to help minorities and the relatively poor for many decades, if ever. Younger Americans are more often without jobs than they were five years ago, and they have become increasingly concerned about federal government support, both now and in the future.

Under Socialism, here is where it would fail. No one gets "rewards". Everyone is equal.
Posted by boaz at 2012-01-10 09:12 AM | Reply

A second and more critical problem is the lack of an effective pricing structure.

"Capitalism has done almost nothing to help minorities and the relatively poor for many decades, if ever. Younger Americans are more often without jobs than they were five years ago, and they have become increasingly concerned about federal government support, both now and in the future."

This seems to be a common theme. Capitalism needs a public relations department. Our schools don't seem to be interested in the job. If this was isolated it would be easy to ignore but we see signs of disenchanted youth all over the world. It is not unreasonable to worry about the future and if you will get a job but the new twist is looking to government to guarantee your future. When government can't deliver?

Democratic Socialists

Stopped reading there.

#2 | Posted by LIVE_OR_DIE

Why? Albert Einstein was a democratic socialist. So was George Orwell.

Democratic Socialists
Stopped reading there.

#2 | Posted by LIVE_OR_DIE at 2012-01-10 09:07 AM | Reply | Flag:

Good choice.

Under Socialism, here is where it would fail. No one gets "rewards". Everyone is equal. Under this childish scheme, someone would get jealous and want to be rewarded the same, hence, no one would want to do the work if the reward wasnt greater than everyone else...

#3 | POSTED BY BOAZ

Hey, Alabama, you do realize that the military is a socialist apparatus, right?

Under Socialism, here is where it would fail. No one gets "rewards". Everyone is equal. Under this childish scheme, someone would get jealous and want to be rewarded the same, hence, no one would want to do the work if the reward wasnt greater than everyone else...
#3 | Posted by boaz

How is that different from what we have now? It's not; the roles would just be reversed.

Democratic Socialist is an oxymoron.... who cares if a physicist liked the idea ;)

Private ownership of personal property, but collective ownership of the means of production is all but impossible, and a fantasy false dichotomy.

Old school Democrats were not socialist. While they wanted government support for people, they didn't believe in command and control of the economy. Which is quintessential when talking about socialism. It is through raising of the baseline on what the government "should do", that today we have democrats that are socialist.

We just bailed out the capitalists who destroyed the economy because of their unregulated greed

#4 | Posted by danni at 2012-01-10 09:15 AM

LOL

Why? Albert Einstein was a democratic socialist. So was George Orwell.

#8 | Posted by nullifidian at 2012-01-10 10:24 AM

"Many people assume that in a socialist society people will lose their incentive to work. We strongly disagree."

Just ask Andy Capp.

Private ownership of personal property, but collective ownership of the means of production is all but impossible, and a fantasy false dichotomy. "

Well, I don't describe myself as a democratic socialist, but you haven't read the link. Worker-owned and managed enterprises are not the same as collective ownership/state control.

" Capitalism needs a public relations department. Our schools don't seem to be interested in the job."

Why should they be? Why, that would be *sputter sputter* INDOCTRINATION!

Capitalism is like a gorgeous, gold-digging girlfriend: while she's taking you for everything you've got it's a fun ride and you feel you're on top of the world. But once she's taken everything she moves on to the next mark, leaving you with nothing but empty pockets and blue balls.

"Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically"

False. Democracy only when they agree with the outcome. See WI.

Why? Albert Einstein was a democratic socialist. So was George Orwell.

#8 | POSTED BY NULLIFIDIAN

And look where they are now! Dead! Dead! Dead!

Stupid Democratic Socialists.

#16 | Posted by nullifidian

Being a recovered socialist I have the benefit of a long look at socialism in the US and to me the current socialism is selling itself in a very different manor. In the 60's and 70's it was not about economics. If anything we wanted to be spit out of the system and did't concern ourselves as much with changing the system. The exception was the Vietnam War.

I can't speak about the 80's well as I became part of the bourgeoisie.

Today it is all about social justice and economic justice but with a side of greed. It is all about "my" student debt, "my" job, "my" money. To me it would seems easy to teach and show the importance of capitalism to the selfish. Isn't that what the left thinks about the 1%?

The answers today youth are asking can answered by a central control and income redistribution, the problem is that they fail to comprehend that central control and income redistribution create a whole lot of bigger problems.

"Capitalism needs a public relations department. Our schools don't seem to be interested in the job."

Why should they be? Why, that would be *sputter sputter* INDOCTRINATION! #17 | Posted by pragmatist

Maybe if the teachers were not members of public sector unions and didn't have a vested interest in a socialist command and control government, the teaching of capitalism might be acceptable.
If a lot of kids in America ask their parents where the money of food comes from the answer will be from the government. That is sad and it is no wonder today youth is so open to the message of socialism. They are promised education and a job and that looks pretty dam good to a lot of people that don’t see the big picture.

#18 | Posted by DARTHCHENEY

Nice till you got to the balls part. I'm not sure Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels wrote anything about "blue balls"

Capitalism has done almost nothing to help minorities and the relatively poor for many decades, if ever.

Funny thing is, you will still tout this line, as Capitalism itself isnt supposed to do anything but anyone but enable them to help themselves, which is exactly what capitalism does, enable you to provide for yourself. The problem is, if you dont work, you dont provide. Therein lies the rub..

Hey, Alabama, you do realize that the military is a socialist apparatus, right?

#10 | Posted by oldwhiskeysour

No, it isnt. As much as you liberals want to equate the military with welfare receipients, you are wrong. I get a W-2. I was hired to do a job. What job does a welfare recepient do?

The problem is, if you dont work, you dont provide. Therein lies the rub..

LOL...The capitalist has spoken and provided no work but to china!

"Capitalism needs a public relations department."

What a joke. People are indoctrinated in capitalist ideology virtually from the day they're born, via media, schools, culture, etc.

If truth be told, fascism is alive and well in American politics too.

"State Capitalism needs a public relations department."

FTFY

No, it isnt. As much as you liberals want to equate the military with welfare receipients, you are wrong. I get a W-2. I was hired to do a job. What job does a welfare recepient do?
#24 | Posted by boaz

Warfare spending is a close rival to welfare spending. It's another public works project of little social value aimed at enriching the defense industry.

Haha. Boaz is proud he's paid to kill innocent people.

#26 | Posted by nullifidian

I know you consider your allowance capitalism but have your parents spelled out that the $2.00 is for making your bed and taking out the trash or do they just give it to like it was from the government.

Boaz is proud he's paid to kill innocent people.

Innocent people? Most of the people I helped kill were carrying AK-47's or rocket launchers...

If your view of the military is someone killing civilians, you are more fucked up than you realize...

Innocent people? Most of the people I helped kill were carrying AK-47's or rocket launchers...
#31 | Posted by boaz

You are one dumb fuck. You're engaged in military aggression and think the residents have no right to fight back.

"Most of the people I helped kill"

MOST?!? So you killed some people who weren't threatening you? Ouch.

That said, sir, I do not think you are on welfare or proud of killing innocent people.
+++++

"Maybe if the teachers were not members of public sector unions and didn't have a vested interest in a socialist command and control government, the teaching of capitalism might be acceptable."

Teaching of capitalism is acceptable; teaching that it is better than any other system or doing "PR" for it is not. I was joking before, but teaching children that one mode of thought, economic or political (or religious), is better than another is indoctrination. It should be no more acceptable to teach that something you agree with is right than to teach that something you disagree with is right. Leave values to the parents, right? Right?!?

Never mind that your presumptions in the first part of the sentence are simplistic at best.

And not all teachers are union members. And even among them, I know some *gasp* Republicans. Conservatives, even. One of our social studies teachers today was fulminating (to us, not kids) about socialism. He sounded like one of you guys. : ) But he doesn't put that opinion in his teaching. He is "painfully centrist" in his teaching. (He teaches civics.) And that's appropriate. If you're teaching basics of government, step back and let the teaching be about understanding not evaluating.

"If a lot of kids in America ask their parents where the money of food comes from the answer will be from the government. That is sad and it is no wonder today youth is so open to the message of socialism. They are promised education and a job and that looks pretty dam good to a lot of people that don’t see the big picture."

That's more crazy assumption and hyperbole. Stats on "a lot"? I've never heard anyone say, "Money for our food comes from the government." Though I know what you mean, I think it's less widespread than you suggest. And children of all kinds of parents have unrealistic understandings of what the future holds. They're called children for a reason. Most people don't know what being an adult is really like until, guess what, they become adults. This was true when I was in HS; it's true now. You have this overwhelming sense of the laziness and mendacity of humans based on ... what? Occupy? It's valid to extrapolate from there to large numbers? That's nuts, PA.

teaching children that one mode of thought, economic or political (or religious), is better than another is indoctrination.#33 | Posted by pragmatist

So I guess we can teach creationism then? :-) What you say is true but can you really come on here and tell me that is what is happening all over? It is obvious that these kids don't have a clue about economics. I have taught kids to handle a check book they sure didn't know where their parents money came from.

I've never heard anyone say, "Money for our food comes from the government #33 | Posted by pragmatist

you live in freaking NH, move to Centre City Philly and see if the kids know where their parent money comes from. I use to have to answer the question "where do you think the money comes from, the money tree out back?" at least twice a week, when I was growing up. At the time I didn't know I was getting a lesson on capitalism and it didn't take as I was a Bolshevik idiot into my 20's.

You have this overwhelming sense of the laziness and mendacity of humans based on ... what? Occupy? It's valid to extrapolate from there to large numbers? That's nuts, PA.#33 | Posted by pragmatist

My years 20+ as a manufactures representative in the outdoor industry had me working with retailers and their floor people. My view on our youth are formed by extensive personal experience. I have also worked with a lot of youth athletes and there is a wide discrepancy in puritan work ethic.

"So I guess we can teach creationism then? :-) What you say is true but can you really come on here and tell me that is what is happening all over? It is obvious that these kids don't have a clue about economics. I have taught kids to handle a check book they sure didn't know where their parents money came from."

Creationism is religion. It belongs in a religion course, not in science.

Teaching economics is very important. Teaching that one economic model is better than another is inappropriate. Don't conservatives keep saying that values are up to parents?

"you live in freaking NH,"

Why do you think this? I've asked you before, and you never answered.

" move to Centre City Philly and see if the kids know where their parent money comes from. I use to have to answer the question "where do you think the money comes from, the money tree out back?" at least twice a week, when I was growing up. At the time I didn't know I was getting a lesson on capitalism and it didn't take as I was a Bolshevik idiot into my 20's."

Fine, stop talking in such generalities, and I won't call you out. Not all teens are this way, and lots of older folks, even conservatives, have confusion about economics too. My argument is not that we shouldn't teach economics, or what capitalism is, but that it's not okay to teach that one model is better than another. That's indoctrination, and if you saw that a school was teaching some idea of which you don't approve, you'd say the exact same thing.

We need economics taught in every single school, as a graduation requirement.

"My years 20+ as a manufactures representative in the outdoor industry had me working with retailers and their floor people."

So? I've known thousands of people in my life too, and I don't make sweeping statements about their knowledge or politics.

"My view on our youth are formed by extensive personal experience. I have also worked with a lot of youth athletes and there is a wide discrepancy in puritan work ethic."

Wide discrepancy? Between what and what? I'd say there's a wide range of work ethic in people, young and old. Many of my students revise nothing for school (if they do the work at all), but bust ass at their jobs. Go figure.