Unfortunately, thanks to nearly a century of Corporatist propaganda, most Americans have very poor idea of what Socialism is — but then so do most socialists. The terms socialism and communism long ante-date Karl Marx, and even he disavowed some of his followers interpretations of his ideas.

Bolshevism — which is what most Americans think is socialism — was a fringe movement until the Germans secretly sent them into Czarist Russia to sabotage the Allied war effort in WWI. American socialism goes back at least to Thomas Paine. The Republican Party was founded by socialists. American socialism has often had a religious tinge to it — witness the Shakers, the Amana Colony and Dorothy Day. Credit Unions were created as a non-capitalist alternative to banking and remains a legitimate and successful alternative — and are NOT ‘too big to fail.’

In fact, what passes for the “free enterprise system” in this country is really a form of socialism — just a very very bad form of it, one which enthrones a handful of ultra rich at the expense of everyone else. Corporatism, where the government serves and subsidizes the billionaire class, is the worst form of socialism and while it masquerades as a right wing economic philosophy, it is in fact that “state socialism” you fear so much, only with the 1% controlling the government, not the other way around.

If you pay attention to what Bernie has to say, he is largely against state socialism. He is for social justice, democracy and honesty in government. Contrary to the Shillery propagandists, he is quite capable of reaching out across the isle to cooperate with honest politicians — it’s just there aren’t too many honest politicians left in politics these days. Did you know Bernie cooperated with Ron Paul to pass a bill forcing the Federal Reserve to conduct an audit? Consider having an honest politician in the White House; you might find a lot of Libertarian programs will find an honest hearing for a change.