Social Democracy vs. Socialism & Bernie Sanders
Through out the world there are many different forms of government, some have greater efficiency than others, and many have similar ideals, and many don’t. That is a great part of our world being able to learn, and observe the way people are governed. America is a democracy. Democracy as defined by Merriam-Webster is “a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections” However, within the umbrella of democracy America is considered a democratic republic. But the tides might be changing in the 2016 election around the corner.
Bernie Sanders is the running for the democratic party in the 2016 American Presidency that will be held in November of this year. This past week he has come neck to neck with Democratic forerunner Hilary Clinton at the Iowa Caucus. Mr. Sanders has been taking the nation by storm with his ideas and political views that have been hushed for years but now being talked about in daylight: socialism. There is a large difference between these two forms of governing.
Socialism is “a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.” (Webster) Where as social democracy is “a socialist system of government achieved by democratic means.” When analyzed the American public, specifically the millennial generation, there has been an overwhelming amount of support for Bernie Sanders, and agreement with his policies of equality and free education. This support is concerning many Americans about a new Socialist movement. However, using the definitions referenced above there is a known difference. Using democracy to vote for equality is the point Mr. Sanders is trying to make. Also actual socialist groups want Mr. Sanders’ to loose because he is not a “true socialist” just expanding the idea of a social democracy.
