Check out the dictionary

Regarding “Democrats’ leftward turn was a reaction to Clinton” (Outlook, July 3): Jonah Goldberg tried to tie Democrats to socialism without a true understanding of what socialism really is. According to the New Oxford dictionary, socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. I have not found any democratic candidate for president advocating for socialism as it has been defined for decades.

What I have heard Democrats advocating for is equality and justice in the particular way that America engages in capitalism and democracy. To advocate for qualities that are called for in the U.S. Constitution is hardly socialism. To advocate for justice and equal opportunity and treatment under the law is hardly socialism. To advocate for a tax system that fairly distributes the burden of government among all people is hardly socialism. To advocate for an education or health care system that provides basic human needs in a fair and equitable manner is hardly socialism. To advocate for a system of laws that regulates guns is hardly socialism. To advocate for a comprehensive immigration law that protects the poor, hungry, desperate people who seek our shores just as much as the wealthy, educated people who seek our shores is hardly socialism. Bill Turney, Houston