it's all gotta start with reclaiming the word

when I think to myself, “socialism,” I usually see a dangerous mix of what I believe in plus the negative connotation that lingers out there in general public of scary communists used as enemies to support made-in-America movie heros. The essence to improving this world is to start to get people to accept that “socialists” are just as legitimate citizens as “capitalists.”

Word association goes further. No one seems to question “capitalism” anymore – well, maybe we should start. We should be calling into question what “capitalism” stands for and showing people that, the average citizen is not a capitalist, nor do they want to be. They know what it’s like to live paycheque to paycheque, be short on cash to pay the bills, have to work overtime to make it through imposed holidays invented by corporations (this Saturday remind anyone of Hallmark first and foremost over love?) Thus, they know where they stand ideologically. They have just been misinformed about what it means to be a socialist.

A socialist, to me, is someone who cares deeply and truly for the condition of all the citizens in a community. This care goes beyond caring for the poor and downtrodden; it is a care for the security of every middle-class prankster to the education they are going to need in order to succeed in the world. It is a care for the seniors that built up the land we call “ours” (but it’s really not) and making sure they have the attention, protection and healthcare necessary to live out their last few years. It is a care for the middle-class worker who struggles to get through each month (or even doesn’t struggle) but wishes for a better life for their family.

And a socialist definition does not include the rich. We all know we’re going to need their money to pay for the revolution. We need them to keep earning their big bucks to pay back into a fair and equitable tax system – and come on, really, are you so attached to that 42″ HDTV that you can’t spare a few extra dollars each tax season so that some inner-city youth with no family history of achievement can access an after school program where they can hang out and feel safe and welcome? Honestly, are you REALLY going to say no to that because of your greed?

Reclaim the word. It’s worked successfully for social movements of all stripes. The right has co-opted many of the best ones – “Reform,” “Common Sense,” et al. Let’s take back socialism and make it something to be proud of.