From the point of view of democratic socialism, capitalism and socialism are not mutually exclusive. Democratic socialism views capitalism as legitimate to the extent it contributes to the improvement of the life of society, and doesn’t become self-absorbed and predatory enriching a narrow privileged few at the expense of the populace — such as, the condition we faced with the depression of 2007-08 and continue to see again developing since the Wall Street big banks’ bail out.

This is the central point of the Sanders campaign and the notion implicit in the democratic socialist challenge. It’s a challenge of value and principle that suggests the excess of capitalism must be reigned in — that the growing income inequality and poverty, and shrinking quality of life of the middle class, cannot be sustained without resulting in increased and unacceptable suffering and conflict. We already see this in the political polarization that has emerged, and the racist nationalistic language coming from leading republican presidential candidates. Wall Street, big banks and corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent continue to enrich themselves at our expense, and increasingly control our political processes for their own sake with millions in campaign contributions to political PACs.

The central question for Americans (as citizens of a world that depends on our example and leadership) is this: Is capitalism going to earn its legitimacy by operating for the people — living for us; or, are the people going to be relegated to living for capitalism, forfeiting our resources, labor, our environment, communities, our souls — ultimately, freedom and democracy itself? Do we submit to the imperatives of an out-of-control capitalist system bent on using our democracy to pursue its special interest agendas and sustain its own privilege? Income inequality — the growing gap between rich and poor — needs to be resolved if, in fact, we are to reassert an American democracy that is of, by and for the people. Here in the best sense, the values of Christian,democratic and socialism overlap and is a space for unity and common ground.

 

Mike Kelly

Albert Lea