I reject the notion socialism is at work in the Democratic Party. Even Bernie Sanders is not a socialist. The Republicans try to place the STIGMA of socialism on Democrats and it is a lie. Democrats are capitalists in the best way.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Liberal. I defy her to say differently.
I would like to point to the presidency of William Jefferson Clinton. Bill Clinton came into office because the USA economy was failing. It was failing the Middle Class which we know does best when unions are abundant and strong. But, Bill Clinton took a unique approach to the economy with his first term, he expanded opportunity and that is exactly what Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is trying to do.
By the end of Bill Clinton's first term, there was a record number of female millionaires. The reason was the opportunity presented to them to build small businesses. Women did well because of the administration of Bill Clinton. These millionaire women employed people and did things that Wall Street would later emulate, like on-site childcare.
However, there was still a quotient of poor in the USA and it bothered some people. I remember an interview where President Clinton was asked with all the growth of small business and economic opportunity why were there still some poor in the great USA. His answer was more than interesting. He stated there will always be some poor in the USA and most any country in the world. That is because of the personal circumstances they face, such as disability and limits that prevent them in functioning in an economy that works for the majority of people in the USA.
Bill Clinton was and continues to be brilliant and he is a great man. He is also an Oxford grad and it was obvious during his administration. He knew how to make it all work. But, the idea that some people are unable to succeed in an America where most do is the responsibility of the country. In admitting there will always be poor in the USA, Bill Clinton did not turn his back on them and instead sought to focus on the arts and increasing involvement of Americans to the arts. Why? Because the arts can reach people that normally are unreachable. So, the ideas that Bill and Hillary Clinton brought to the country during their administration were important for many reasons.
Today, the extremist right wing of the Republican Party is continuing to hang on to old ideas because they oppose ideas that are known to help the least of Americans. Instead, they seek to demean and ridicule others through name calling and oppressive labels, hence, the rise of bullying in our school systems.
The return to Liberal values through the eyes of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is refreshing and necessary in this country. We have a responsibility to protect life and provide for quality of life and that interprets differently in 2019 than it did during the Clinton years.
The Democrats are not socialists. They are not interested in nationalizing business to be run by a government bureaucracy. What they want is for the USA to return to "normal" in that people have health care that provides quality of life and returns disposable income to the Middle Class. That is not socialism, that is GOVERNANCE.
To be specific, Liberals are openminded and seek to preserve what works but aren't afraid to change what doesn't.
