#1293 Debating Democratic Socialism and How to Get There (Repost)
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Jay Tomlinson
4.5 • 3.4K Ratings
🗓️ 16 March 2021
⏱️ 78 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Air Date 7/30/2019
Today we take a look at the ongoing debate about socialism between socialists and non-socialists alike, including discussion of tactical strategies on where to set our goals and how to get from here to there
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SHOW NOTES
Ch. 1: John Nichols on Bernie and Socialism - Start Making Sense - Air Date 6-19-19
Bernie Sanders gave an important speech on socialism last week, and our John Nichols spoke with him about it -- beforehand.
Socialism has grown a lot because of demonization. The Left has a war to lose - left policies are the direction of progress and the world is leaning that way - but without proper education and fighting it will take a lot longer.
In the long run, democratic socialism wants to end capitalism - to empower working people. It's not just New Deal liberals - its pushing further. Massive momentum is on the Democratic Socialist side and collective action will win.
The main alternative to neoliberalism is the proposed renewal of social democracy, such as in the form of Bernie Sanders' proposals. But to move forward we need to discuss the limits of a welfare state that ultimately does not change class relations
Was the New Deal socialist? Yes and no. Bernie is pointing to the central model of most democratic socialist-style governments - he points to the good policies of democratic socialism instead of strict definitions.
Bernie's solutions, while admirable and helpful, are merely reforms of a fundamentally broken and contradictory system. Reforms set us up for inevitable roll-back by the powerful as we've seen since FDR.
Ch. 7: Bhaskar Sunkara on the possibilities of socialism in America - This is Hell - Air Date 5-21-19
Bhaskar Sunkara explores a path to socialism in America - as capitalism collapses and pulls politics towards the right, the promise of a worker-driven, democratic society built on equality and justice can be won by a broad, working-class movement
Bernie is calling out the massive power disparities in the US and what policies we can work towards - an Economic Bill of Rights.
VOICEMAILS
Ch. 9: Fighting climate change means fighting capitalism - Jesse from Boston
FINAL COMMENTS
Ch. 10: Final comments on the connection between political debates and parenting advice
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
- Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr
- Over the Fence - Delray
- Cicle Veroni - Cicle Kadde
- PolyCoat - The Cabinetmaker
- The Rampart - Castle Danger
- Wingspan - Bayou Birds
- Stale Case - Darby
- Turning - Lathe
- Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
- Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent
SHOW IMAGE
Lorie Shaull , Flickr | License
(Modifications: Cropped)
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This program is made possible by members and donors to the show in supporting the work |
| 0:07.1 | we do. |
| 0:08.1 | Only $2 a month gets you an ad-free version of every episode, while full membership gets |
| 0:12.9 | you that plus members only bonus content with extra clips and commentary. |
| 0:17.3 | You can sign up at patreon.com slash best of left or visit the contribute tab at bestofleft.com. |
| 0:24.6 | Now welcome to this episode of the award-winning best of left podcast in which we shall learn |
| 0:29.2 | about the ongoing debate about democratic socialism in America, including discussion |
| 0:33.8 | of tactical strategies on where to set our goals and how to get from here to there. |
| 0:40.1 | Now before we get started, I have just a couple of thoughts to take with you. |
| 0:44.4 | Although the first is purely logistical, I was alerted by a listener and I heard the |
| 0:49.8 | message today that an episode, some wires got crossed in a way I have never seen before. |
| 0:57.1 | I am completely baffled by it, but if you tried to listen to our recent episode from, |
| 1:02.6 | I believe about a week and a half ago about climate activism and what actually came through |
| 1:09.8 | was a rerun about white supremacy that has been fixed. |
| 1:15.6 | So I think some listeners got the episode as intended. |
| 1:20.1 | Others may not have. |
| 1:21.7 | It's very confusing. |
| 1:22.7 | I don't understand it. |
| 1:24.4 | The bottom line is I fixed it, check your feed. |
| 1:26.8 | If you missed the climate episode, definitely go back and listen to it. |
| 1:30.2 | It's especially horrible that that's the episode that got messed up because it's one of |
| 1:34.7 | the better, more positive, more inspiring episodes I've done in. |
... |
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