LETTER: Don’t fall for scare tactics: socialists aren’t communists

To Ozaukee Press:

With the Wisconsin primary coming up in August, as well as the mid-term election in November, I believe it is important for the voting populace to be informed about recent monikers falsely attributed to some Democratic candidates. Despite what you may read or hear, none of the candidates currently running for office are communists. Democratic socialists are most assuredly not communists. There are striking differences between the two ideologies.

By definition, democratic socialists support capitalism and private ownership, while some industries, such as infrastructure, are owned and operated by the state. They believe in multi-party free and fair elections. They promote social programs aimed at reducing income inequality, such as individual rights, progressive taxation, welfare programs, workers’ rights, unions and universal health care. The U.S.  Constitution is, in many aspects, a democratic socialist-inspired document, although the term did not exist 250 years ago.

Communism, by contrast, is typically a single party government with collective ownership of businesses. The state controls all means of production. Private ownership of businesses and land are not permitted. Individual rights are subordinated to the needs of society as a whole and are dictated by the state.

If you want further proof of the benefits of democratic socialism, research the three former socialist mayors of the city of Milwaukee. At the time they were elected, they ran for office as socialists, but their actions and beliefs closely resemble what we now call democratic socialists.

Emil Seidel, Daniel Hoan and Frank Zeidler collectively served the City of Milwaukee for 38 years. Under their tutelage, Milwaukee was admired for having an honest and efficient government. Among many other achievements, they were responsible for ousting a corrupt city government, implementing an eight-hour workday for municipal employees, building the municipal sewer and water systems, creating parks and instituting several social programs that benefitted the youth population and the residents of the city as a whole.

We will soon be bombarded with political advertisements. Please do not be misled by negative rhetoric that has no basis in reality.

Mary Meins

Sheboygan