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The history of the socialist movement in the United States spans a variety of tendencies, including anarchists, communists, democratic socialists, social democrats, Marxists, Marxist–Leninists, Trotskyists and utopian socialists.
- Category:Socialism in the United States - Wikipedia
Socialism is an economic system characterised by social...
- List of socialist members of the United States Congress
The following is a list of members of the United States...
- Category:Socialism in the United States - Wikipedia
Socialism is an economic system characterised by social ownership and control of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy, and a political philosophy advocating such a system.
The following is a list of members of the United States Congress who have declared themselves to be socialists or have been a member of a socialist organization in the United States.
- Overview
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To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions, go to ProCon.org.
Socialism in the United States is an increasingly popular topic. Some argue that the country should actively move toward socialism to spur social progress and greater equity, while others demand that the country prevent this by any and all means necessary. This subject is often brought up in connection with universal healthcare and free college education, ideas that are socialist by definition, or as a general warning against leftist politics.
While some politicians openly promote socialism or socialist policies (Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for example), others reject the socialist label (now Vice President Kamala Harris said she was “not a Democratic Socialist” during the 2020 presidential campaign) or invoke it as a dirty word that is contrary to American ideals (in the 2019 State of the Union, President Trump stated the United States would “never be a socialist country” because “We are born free, and we will stay free”).
To consider whether the United States should adopt socialism or at least more socialist policies, the relevant terms must first be defined.
Socialism is an economic and social policy in which the public owns industry and products, rather than private individuals or corporations. Under socialism, the government controls most means of production and natural resources, among other industries, and everyone in the country is entitled to an equitable share according to their contribution to society. Individual private ownership is encouraged.
Politically, socialist countries tend to be multi-party with democratic elections. Currently no country operates under a 100% socialist policy. Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, while heavily socialist, all combine socialism with capitalism.
•The US already has many successful and popular socialist policies.
•The job of the US government is to enable and protect all of its citizens. More socialist policies can work with capitalist structures to undo the harm done by unfettered capitalism.
•The US already has too many costly socialist entitlements.
•The job of the US government is to enable free enterprise and then get out of the way of individual ingenuity and hard work. The government should promote equal opportunity, not promise equal results.
•The American public supports a capitalist economy.
This article was published on January 21, 2022, at Britannica’s ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source . Go to ProCon.org to learn more.
Oct 15, 2021 · In the United States, several socialist parties formed, particularly in the 1870s as economic depression and stagnation occurred. This included the rise of the Socialist Labor Party of America (SLP) and others, with the SLP still in existence.
Aug 21, 2018 · While socialist ideology was developed in England, with the notable contribution of certain Germans, like Marx and Engels, it wasn’t long before the idea gained a following in the United...
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Yet in the early 20th century a vibrant Socialist Party and socialist movement flourished in the United States. Created in 1901, the Socialist Party of America unsurprisingly declared its primary goal to be the collectivization of the means of production.
