Social democrats are not socialists

Now that the NDP leadership race is taking shape, John Gormley is wasting no time in trying to negatively “brand” the NDP leadership contenders, in order to colour how people perceive what those targeted individuals have to say (Saskatchewan NDP’s future, leadership on line, June 23).

For example, he refers to some as being inspired by the policies of “U.S. socialist Bernie Sanders.” According to Wikipedia’s entry on democratic socialism: “The U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont described himself as a democratic socialist (not socialist) but his political positions and admiration for Nordic capitalism correspond with that of a social democrat.”

John Gormley should therefore look up the difference between “socialism” and “social democracy.” Socialism is against capitalism.

Social democracy completely supports capitalism. It’s simply capitalism as the economic engine, and government that serves society and the middle class instead of serving the wealthy corporate and billionaire campaign donors. It just takes the “crony” out of “crony capitalism.”

Also, socialism is government or collective ownership of the means of production. Bernie Sanders’ policies have been detailed online, point by point, for a long time. Not one of those policies involves government ownership of the means of production.

Equal outcome = socialism. Equal opportunity = social democracy. Are you starting to see the difference yet, John Gormley?

Hopefully, John Gormley will in future refer to Bernie Sanders by an accurate term “social democrat,” instead of marking him with the incorrect and pejorative label “socialist.”

And hopefully he’ll correctly refer to the NDP candidates as social democrats, rather than making attempts to misrepresent them by insinuating they are “socialists” or “against capitalism.” Don Gunderson, Regina