There are different forms and degrees of socialism, from the Democratic Socialist governments of the Scandinavian countries, to the extreme form we know as communism. Those with truly democratic principles enshrined in constitutions designed to protect the welfare of the people — such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland — work very well. In fact, they are consistently ranked at or near the top of the “happiest countries” lists each year.

Others — the Soviet Union being one of the clearest examples — are “socialist” in name only, having devolved over time into tyrannical autocracies.

It was clearly the latter example that George Orwell had in mind when he wrote the following:

“It was possible, no doubt, to imagine a society in which wealth, in the sense of personal possessions and luxuries, should be evenly distributed, while power remained in the hands of a small privileged caste. But in practice such a society could not long remain stable. For if leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves; and when once they had done this, they would sooner or later realise that the privileged minority had no function, and they would sweep it away. In the ongoing run, a hierarchical society was only possible on a basis of poverty and ignorance.”

– George Orwell, “1984”

The difference, of course, is in the leadership. Today, when Democrats in the U.S. advocate for social programs such as affordable health care, child services and education, or DEI programs, the MAGA base immediately begin screaming “Socialism,” when what they are actually yammering about is Soviet-style communism.

But a social safety net, properly structured and administered to protect against abuse, is not socialism per se . . . and it most certainly is not Marxism-communism (“from each according to his ability, to each according to his need”). However, it can be made to appear that way by those who would create Orwell’s “hierarchical society . . . on a basis of poverty and ignorance.”

It all depends on who’s doing the talking.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/3/26