Why Bernie and AOC are not Socialists

This is probably pointless to write, as very few people will read it and the majority of those who will will already know this, but it still feels important to do, as the level of misunderstanding surrounding socialism in American political discourse is just insane. Politicians like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have popularized the term and increased support for broadly progressive policies, but they have also helped to introduce many moderates and progressives to a nonsensical view of socialism and a lack of understanding of what it is. Despite the fact that members of this progressive wing are easily the best figures in American politics, they are not socialist, and it is important to understand what socialism is and why it should be supported.

A very basic definition of socialism is a system in which the means of production are owned collectively, rather than individually. Under capitalism, capitalists own the means of production (factories, land, etc.) and use the labor of workers to extract profit for themselves. Under socialism, the means of production are owned collectively, (usually in the form of a centralized state), and then resources are used to benefit the community rather than the capitalist, who has been removed from the equation. Under capitalism, workers work for the capitalist, but under socialism, workers work for themselves.

Now, anybody who claims to be a socialist MUST support such a system at at least a very basic level. There are, of course, other important qualities of socialism, but this is the bare minimum to be able to call yourself a socialist. In the United States, however, socialism has come to mean "big government does more stuff". Now, of course, free healthcare and education are important parts of socialist systems and are worthy goals, but maintaining the current capitalist system will only serve the rich and continue to oppress workers at home, and, to a much larger extent, the global proletariat. 

Members of this progressive wing of the Democrats also do not hesitate to condemn the USSR, China, Cuba, and any other successful socialist experiment, claiming that their "democratic socialism" follows the path of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Of course, these countries are not socialist, but capitalist countries with extensive welfare systems. While welfare systems are good and benefit the citizens of the country that has them, the real victims of capitalism do not live in the wealthy countries that can afford such systems, they live in the Global South, and the countries that follow the Nordic model fund their programs through the same system of global capitalism that the United States uses: imperialist war, oppression of the global proletariat, resource extraction to the detriment of poorer countries, etc. And, of course, the Nordic countries still maintain the most fundamental aspect of capitalism: private ownership of the means of production, which always serves the rich at the expense of the poor. Any system that has these qualities is inherently unethical, and, of course, capitalist, no matter how good the programs it funds are.

The progressive "socialists" also always are quick to differentiate their positions from the Marxist-Leninist variety of socialism, as "democratic socialism". This is actually a redundancy, as socialism, being a system that is for the people, is inherently democratic. Worse than being meaningless, however, the term is also inaccurate, as it is not socialism at all, but social democracy, which amounts to nothing more than a kinder, gentler form of capitalism. 

Of course, this was only a very general overview of the issue, and one that I think has already been done much better by people much smarter than I am. This isn't controversial at all, and it's easy to find these things being said by others who are much more deserving of attention. However, I want to start writing more on here about socialism and I think that this is a good place to start. I don't expect anyone to read this, but if you did, let me know and tell me what you thought. I'll try to start writing here more consistently if there's anyone who will read it.