American Socialist Voter

The single question, from the title, has been a leading dumbfounding that has never worked for any side in a political fight of words. We could ask the same question of every form of politics from history:

• Give me an example of a successful nationalistic government from history?
• Give me an example of a successful communistic government from history?
• Give me an example of a successful republican government from history?
• Give me an example of a successful democratic government from history?
• Give me an example of a successful feudalistic government from history?
• Give me an example of a successful theocratic government from history?
• Give me an example of a successful monarchistic government from history?
• Give me an example of a successful _____________ government from history?
• Give me an example of a successful pure formation thereof government from history?

We all can say there was this or that formation of government, but no one can say one was better than the other as the ebb and flow of politico changes to meet their (peoples') needs, wants, hopes, culture, faith, and so on. This is what, how, when, and why socialism is in every form of life. Socialism is more an idea than and actual ideology that has been co opted by many over several hundred years. This is why so many people are finger pointing to the left and their right these days. One has only to look at the many types listed here on this website to see even so called or self-allied socialists do not agree on what socialism is or is not and name calling in the pejorative of a correct form abound.

A main focus of American Socialist Voter is to address such circular arguments. Those here for the most part don't like all the name calling or endless straw man fights. Believe it or not, we even red bait ourselves from time to time in that communists tend to like calling actual socialists "social democrats" or "neo-liberal" and claim they are not socialist enough due to their lack of "revolutionary" tendency. And the same is true of socialist in the USA that have for years (since 1919) fended off internal attacks from communistic elements that continue to co opt socialism by use of the very word. In other words, they try and tell voters and real socialist where they stand on the Marx-o-meter scale how "socialist" they really are when, in fact, no one can say how socialist another is with any degree.

To echo the record of history, socialism was long thought about and written about long before Karl Marx was born and added materialism and egoism into his works and life. No person can or should stand in judgment of another for their degree of beliefs. This is in fact as un-American as making a personal attack on someone's inalienable right to practice their faith. Even Senator McCarthy learned this after loosing ground over time for his hate against progressive change where a center of human dignity was reached half a century later.

Facts are, when asking the same old tired question, "Give me an example of a successful socialist government from history?" the answer might surprise many. All governments since - or before - Biblical recorded times have had or it can be argued that socialism existed in one form or another and within each to degrees. It is a timeless idea with many concepts that should next be held to a candle against another. They will never match, but each must be respected for where they worked for the betterment of the people and altered as needed where they did not meet the needs, dignity, and respect of the people. However, if need be there have been socialist types of governments that have had great success in Europe and Scandinavia, but for all the good they did there has been equally bad moments in other parts of the world such as autocratic "socialist" (term used loosely) in Africa, where tribalism is just as paramount and problematic. If all else false in the face of understand, know this, socialism is more about everyday lives as Norman Thomas once referred to American socialism as "creeping socialism." Maybe it's in the red tape bureaucracy or like gnaphalium on the ground; either way, it is here to stay and in many ways we are all socialists.

Now reverse the question to ask, what government, party, or such has withstood the test of time, culture, distance, faith, and such to have lived for time immemorial? Only people themselves have and this with their ideas are the basis for socialism as a whole. Expand your minds people and the world will expand with you.