3 ms·
> socialist (the Scandinavian kind) Surely there exists better terminology for this than a highly regionally contextual qualifier. Perhaps democratic socialist
by vinay427 6y ago
> socialist (the Scandinavian kind)
Surely there exists better terminology for this than a highly regionally contextual qualifier. Perhaps democratic socialist, or social democrat, or something involving welfare? Overloading the word with other meanings just adds fuel to the fire of inaccuracy and hyperbole in political discourse, perhaps recently most often in the US.
- nsajko 6y agoThat is not overloading, rather you are the one who is using the term overly specifically. Maybe it would be better to say Leninism or something.
- vinay427 6y agoThat's a fair point actually, thanks.
- Taniwha 6y agoI think the word you wanted to describe the USSR was "communist", there west is full of countries with socialist social welfare systems that genuinely care for their citizens
- vinay427 6y agoYep, I replied to the other comment but I'll concede that I was using this term too specifically and inaccurately. In any case, my point wasn't in opposition to the social welfare systems in Scandinavian countries, for instance, as I'm at least reasonably familiar with the services they provide to citizens which generally seem to genuinely work as you said.
- kmonsen 6y agoI totally agree with you, but it is not useful when talking in the US today. Socialist/socialism means communist here and is mostly just a swear word. The distinction between capitalist socialism and authoritarian communism is often ignored although the systems really have nothing in common.