You Can't Successfully Fight Them if You Don't Know What the Words Really Mean
Second in the Series: Stopping Election Theft
If you were an adult in the 50’s and 60’s, you remember the Army-McCarthy hearings, the “Red Menace” and fear of Communism. But most people weren’t, nor can they accurately define the term.
I apologize in advance to everyone who knows these terms. I’m going to define them (with source citations), then discuss what this means for all of us.
Here are definitions (alphabetically) of the terms we’ll be discussing:
Capitalism:
Capitalism is […] an economic system in which private actors own and control property in accord with their interests, and demand and supply freely set prices in markets in a way that can serve the best interests of society.
The essential feature of capitalism is the motive to make a profit. Source.
My notes on Capitalism: This is very different from corporatism, which is inherently bad. Capitalism is neither good nor bad. It used to be the economic system on which the US relied.
Communism:
Definition 1: Communism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for a classless, stateless society where all property and wealth are communally owned. Source.
Definition 2: A totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production. Source.
My notes on Communism: As a political or an economic system, it never works well in the long run. Definition 1 above is from the dogma of Marx and Engels, whereas Definition 2 is exactly what the current US fascist regime wants to be.
Corporatism:
The theory and practice of organizing society into “corporations” subordinate to the state. According to corporatist theory, workers and employers would be organized into industrial and professional corporations serving as organs of political representation and controlling to a large extent the persons and activities within their jurisdiction. Source.
My notes on Corporatism: This is the economic system we are working towards in the U.S. It started back in the 80’s with the first leveraged buyouts, where companies were bought by venture capitalists, sold off for parts, ruining good companies and screwing the employees to the betterment of stockholders. It’s evolved to Amazon where if you are a small company that wants to sell on the internet, you have to play by Amazon’s rules, and once again, good companies are ruined and employees are screwed to the betterment of stockholders. Another prime example is Walmart, which destroyed the Main Streets of way too many towns.
Democracy:
Democracy is a framework of governance built on the principle that power resides with the people. In a democracy, citizens exercise authority either directly or indirectly through elected representatives, ensuring that government decisions reflect the collective will of the people while protecting their individual rights. It is a living system that directly impacts your daily life, from local school board decisions to national policy directions. Source.
My notes on Democracy: I LOVE DEMOCRACY.
Democratic Socialism:
A movement advocating for both a democratically controlled political system and a socially owned economy, where ordinary people have a direct say in their workplaces and communities. It seeks radical economic reform through democratic institutions rather than revolution. Currently, some Democrats are running for office under the banner of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). More information on DSA.
My notes on Democratic Socialism: Domestically, the upshot of this movement can be seen in the accomplishments of Zohran Mamdani. This is the wing of the Democratic Party that believes in DOING. Internationally, you can see this in every other developed country in the world in terms of healthcare, and in many countries relative to social services.
Fascism:
Definition 1: Fascists espoused extreme nationalism and cultural parochialism. Fascist ideologues taught that national identity was the foundation of individual identity and should not be corrupted by foreign influences, especially if they were left-wing. Source.
Definition 2: A populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition. Source.
My notes on Fascism: If you compare the fascism definitions above to Definition 2 for Communism, you’ll see direct parallels. While the Orange Menace says Communism is a scourge and the worst thing ever, he actually likes it and wants to implement it here, in the Fascist way.
Socialism:
Definition 1: Socialism describes any political or economic theory that says the community, rather than individuals, should own and manage property and natural resources. Source.
Definition 2: Socialism is an economic and political philosophy advocating for collective or public ownership of the means of production, rather than private ownership. Its primary goal is to reduce inequality by ensuring resources are distributed based on human need rather than profit. Source.
My notes on Socialism: This is different than Democratic Socialism, in that Democratic Socialists are not opposed to individual ownership (like your house).
OK I Read all the Definitions — Why do I Care? What do I DO?
When the current fascist regime of the US calls regular people “communists” they are trying to convince them that the Democratic Party, if in power, would take everything from people, and put it in the hands of the government. I always laugh at this because it is psychological projection. The US government, under the current regime, has taken things from people, and they are starting to own the means of production.
An example:
The US government currently owns about 10% of Intel, which was a private company. This is nascent communism in that Intel is now partially a state-owned company. Intel is not the only company.
A partial list of others: MP Materials, Lithium Americas Corp., Trilogy Metals Inc., U.S. Steel Corporation, Westinghouse, Vulcan Elements, and Anderon. Full list plus financials at this link.
I don’t know about you, but it’s bad enough when the oligarchy owns large swaths of everything. It’s even worse when the fascist regime uses OUR TAX DOLLARS to join them, and personally profit from their schemes.
When someone tells you that because you are a Democrat, you’re really a Communist, rely on your definitions and say:
I’m not a Communist, I’m a capitalist. I think the government shouldn’t own private companies, unlike the current government which DOES own parts of companies, and wants to take over more.
If they come back and say that country is currently a capitalist country, correct them and give them examples of how we’re not capitalist, we’re corporatist.
When someone tells you that if the Democratic candidates win in November it will mean a Socialist takeover of the US government, rely on your definitions and say:
They will bring down the cost of groceries and rent. My kids will be able to attend preschool so I don’t have to pay for childcare. I’ll be able to see a doctor without fear of bankruptcy. It doesn’t sound so bad to me.
If they come back with anything like “They support open borders, letting non-citizens vote, and they want to force post-birth abortions.”, smile and ask:
Can you name one person in the Democratic Party who has argued for any of that? By name? Or do you only know that because the Republicans have told you it’s true? You’re a smart person, find ONE CANDIDATE and a video of them saying any of it. It doesn’t exist.
The bottom line is that most people don’t know much about political and economic systems. They don’t know much about history. They feel completely let down by their leaders because their salaries haven’t gone up more than inflation in a long time. They cannot afford to buy a house. They are having trouble feeding their kids. They are struggling and afraid.
The Orange Menace wins because he says “THOSE PEOPLE are at fault for what’s wrong in your life.”
“Those people” are women, people of colour, immigrants, non-straight people, and basically anyone who isn’t a white, Christian nationalist.
What YOU can do, with your friends, family and neighbors, is show that it isn’t us vs. “them”, it’s ALL OF US against a corrupt economic system propped up by an even more corrupt government. You can say that you won’t be swayed because you know what the words mean, and you know that they’re lying to you when they use them incorrectly.
If you have specific questions you want to be able to answer, please put them in the comments.
Tomorrow: proving you’re who you think you are.
Thank you for the Lecture and source based definitions Prof. Jess. I will keep this Substack handy for future reference.
Yes. I also will print this out! Thank you.