The new socialists thus want the state to dictate the prices of many goods and services, especially essentials such as food and rent. Where money is required it will come, almost exclusively, by squeezing the very wealthiest. It is a form of retail politics that appeals not to notions of the common good, as in prior waves of socialism, but to people’s narrow self-interest. Lower my rent! Cut my bills! Give me free buses! Protect my job! The solutions are naive, and often unworkable. But the message is so simple, and so attractive, that this Gen-Z socialism is gaining adherents across the democratic world.
None of that is socialism. it’s social democracy (aka gentler capitalism) at best. lower rent, lower bills, free buses, and job protections are not “selfish”, they apply to everyone.
It’s an Economist article. They write from the perspective of capital owners. Of course they’re going to belittle socialist ideas, because they present a threat to their wealth. If they were smart they would support social democracy in order to preserve the capitalist system, but American capitalists are arrogant and shortsighted.
It is a form of retail politics that appeals not to notions of the common good, as in prior waves of socialism, but to people’s narrow self-interest.
And what form of retail politics predicated it? Oh that’s right, a type of politics for the narrow self-interests of <1% of the country. Lower my taxes! Cut me a tax break for my private jet! Give me a bail out! Protect my company!
this article is so stupid.
None of that is socialism. it’s social democracy (aka gentler capitalism) at best. lower rent, lower bills, free buses, and job protections are not “selfish”, they apply to everyone.
As opposed to what? The ultra wealthy’s narrow self- interest?
Whoever wrote that quoted bit is an asshole and fool.
“Tool of the capitalist state” was the first phrase that jumped to mind. “Enemy of the people.” was another.
“Fuck that person” was what I settled upon
Aren’t all of those things the common good? It is not my, my, my… It is our, our, our.
I agree, yet another economist L
It’s an Economist article. They write from the perspective of capital owners. Of course they’re going to belittle socialist ideas, because they present a threat to their wealth. If they were smart they would support social democracy in order to preserve the capitalist system, but American capitalists are arrogant and shortsighted.
We had this in Germany and it worked, until they invented “new social democracy” which is just no social democracy.
social democracy’s inherent weakness is that it’s still capitalism, so capital is always trying to undermine it
Fuck that article so much.
And what form of retail politics predicated it? Oh that’s right, a type of politics for the narrow self-interests of <1% of the country. Lower my taxes! Cut me a tax break for my private jet! Give me a bail out! Protect my company!