What follows are a few off-the-cuff responses to questions we’ve gotten from members of the community who might either be curious about, suspicious of, or outright opposed to the idea of a people-powered movement built on the messy work of our democracy. Some may have been asked in bad faith, but we’re treating them as honest questions.
And we’ll start with the most obvious:
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What the heck is a Democratic Socialist? Isn’t that a contradiction in terms? How can you support both democracy and socialism?
Look, if you put 50 socialists in a room, you’d end up with 100 different definitions of what socialism even is. In short, it’s simply the opposite of (and, we’d argue, the only viable antidote to) fascism. A better way of describing it might be a cooperative, community-based vision for whatever follows capitalism. And make no mistake about it: Something will follow capitalism, since that oppressive economic system is unstable and unsustainable, given its fairy-tale attempts at extracting infinite growth from finite resources.
And if you’re reading this, you’re probably one of those resources.
So the question is, do you want a new form of techno-feudalism to take the place of capitalism, or would you rather build a better world that actually works for most people instead of a tiny fraction of the populace?
Good. Now, how do we build that better world? Democratic socialists argue that since People Power is the ultimate goal, the road to that final destination should be paved democratically. This isn't 1917. This isn't Russia. We're not advocating for a dictatorship. In fact, it's just the opposite. We want democracy at every level of life, not just in government.
If socialism is so great, why do socialist countries have so many economic problems?
You know the bully’s old taunt? “Why are you punching yourself in the face?” That’s pretty much how it works with socialism, at least in our hemisphere. As soon as any people rise up and demand to control their own destinies, benefit from their own natural resources, express any measure of self-determination, the full force of the U.S. military industrial complex and deep state (mostly the CIA) crank the propaganda campaigns, terrorist attacks, sanctions, boycotts, and/or invasions to 11. And they claim they’re doing it in the name of democracy.
Check out season two of the great podcast Blowback (blowback.show/Season-2) for an in-depth exploration of how this works in the real world, at least in one specific instance. Simply put, many attempts at creating more people-powered governments have been squashed by our government. And we’re under no delusions, here—we know we’ll face the same blowback as we try to transform American politics, unless enough working-class people develop class consciousness and work together in solidarity to keep those kinds of tactics from dividing us.
But imagine how many other countries will be able to thrive once we transform the U.S. into a truly democratic society and lift its boots off the necks of the rest of the world’s working people.
Even if we create a more socialist society democratically, wouldn’t the nature of socialism eventually lead to government control over every aspect of our lives?
No, expanding democracy doesn’t mean creating an all-powerful state. Just the opposite. Part of our fight is to make sure essential needs like healthcare, housing, and education are guaranteed as rights, not left to profit-driven markets. That necessitates some form of centralized administrative state for now, sure—but one that should be accountable to us all, and one where we actually have the power to shape policy, which we currently don’t.
We want more freedom, not less—freedom to choose your work without being tied down by a corporate health insurance plan, freedom to live with dignity without corporate control or state surveillance, and freedom to speak your mind and voice your dissent.
Isn’t the United States a republic, though? Not a democracy? If so, what place does democracy have in our government?
It’s not either/or. The United States is both a republic and a democracy. And it’s only gotten more democratic since its founding, with things like the direct election of senators, women’s suffrage, abolition, civil rights, and so forth. Democratic socialists fight to continue that tradition, working to give ordinary people real political power that currently only belongs only to the wealthy and well-connected.
How can you support socialism when capitalism has lifted millions of people around the world out of poverty?
Capitalism—the system by which those with capital exploit those without, paying workers a tiny fraction of the wealth they create and calling the remainder “profits”—has certainly created a big old pile of wealth, but it has also created vast inequality, instability, and discord. In fact, it only works if there are more losers than winners, no matter how productive the working class are.
And why do we allow such exploitation? Because capitalist propaganda keeps workers divided along lines of race, gender identity, party affiliation, and religious tradition, just to name a few. If they can keep us fighting about such differences, they don’t have to worry about us banding together to fight them.
So, sure, global poverty rates have fallen in the era of capitalism and neo-liberalism, but much of that progress is due to public investment, labor organizing, and social programs—all things that capitalists actively fight against. We believe we can do better than a system that lifts a handful of people up while leaving billions behind.
What’s the difference between Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy? Aren’t you just progressives?
Democratic socialism and social democracy share common goals, like protecting workers and expanding rights, but they differ in vision. Social democracy seeks to regulate capitalism and make it a little less cruel through reforms like welfare programs. Democratic socialists believe capitalism itself—the system of exploitation that puts profits over people—will always create inequality and instability.
We want to move beyond capitalism entirely, building a truly democratic economy where workers and communities have real control. So we happily work alongside progressives for immediate reforms, but our long-term goal is a deeper transformation into a society based on cooperation, solidarity, and human dignity.
Isn’t socialism just about giving people free stuff at the expense of hardworking taxpayers?
Socialism isn’t about "free stuff"—it’s about working to ensure that basic human needs like healthcare, housing, education, and a living wage are guaranteed rights, not privileges tied to wealth. Right now, our system already redistributes wealth—more often than not upward, through corporate subsidies and tax breaks for the rich, leaving the working class to foot the bill. We believe working people should benefit from the wealth they help create, rather than watching it be controlled by a handful of fatcats.
How do you expect to pay for all these socialist programs?
It depends on what you mean by “socialist programs.” At the local level, much of our work is and will be funded by dues paid to the DSA organization, as well as good old-fashioned fundraising along the lines of bake sales, yard sales, and things of that nature.
As for the policies we advocate for on a societal level, we think that as long as we’re clawing our way out of the brutal mess created by capitalism, such programs should be funded by making the wealthy pay their damned taxes. If we in the U.S. simply collected the taxes already owed under current law, we could end poverty tomorrow without raising the marginal tax rate a bit. Imagine what we could accomplish together if we went farther and demanded that billionaires actually pay their fair share.
Won’t higher taxes hurt the economy and drive businesses away?
Higher taxes on the wealthiest individuals and corporations won’t hurt the economy—in fact, you could argue they could strengthen the economy by creating a more stable society. When workers have access to affordable healthcare, education, and housing, they have more purchasing power, which drives demand and economic growth. Taxes on the wealthy help fund these essentials while reducing inequality.
As for businesses, those that thrive in a fair economy with strong infrastructure and a healthy, educated workforce are the ones that succeed in the long run. It's about building an economy that works for everyone, not just the oligarchs.
Why should the government be involved in things like healthcare and education?
When left to the private sector, healthcare and education almost always prioritize profit over people, leading to much poorer outcomes for almost everyone. Public investment ensures that everyone has access to quality services, regardless of income. Countries with universal healthcare and free or affordable education—like those in Scandinavia—are healthier and better educated, not to mention happier. As much as we’re not fans of government in general, at least in the form in which it currently exists, public funding and administration ensures fairness, reduces inequality, and guarantees that everyone can thrive.
Isn’t capitalism more democratic than socialism because people vote with their dollars?
Capitalism isn’t more democratic, since it gives power to those with the most money, not the majority. “Voting with your dollars” means those who can spend more have greater influence over the way our society is run, while the rest of us have limited power. True democracy means equal participation, not economic hierarchy.
For that matter, capitalism isn’t even more democratic for the capitalists! Most corporations don’t have the power to actually operate in an ethical way, because shareholders would make a fuss if profits weren’t higher this year than they were last year. The line has to go up, and as soon as it stops going up, capitalism falls apart. So, in a sense, capitalists are slaves to growth, whether that growth is good for the company, good for its employees, good for the community, or good for the world.
Why do Democratic Socialists align with the Democratic Party instead of forming their own party?
The way our political system is rigged, it’s almost impossible for third parties to get a toe in. Ballot access laws, first-past-the-post elections, and the Electoral College create major barriers. As a nonprofit activist group, though, we can push for real change within existing power structures. Our real goal is a multi-generational, multi-racial mass working-class movement that can render these capitalist political parties completely null and void. A lofty goal, sure, but you’ve gotta start somewhere.
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