In last week’s column, John Balentine vehemently denounces the Democratic Party as socialists. The truth is more nuanced, but the Democrats, especially the Democratic Socialists, have done a poor job explaining their political philosophy.

The commonest understanding of socialism is that the government seizes the factories, banks and farms and manages the whole economy. For good reason, the theory repels most Americans. It would be foolish to discard the wealth-building power of capitalism, which has brought prosperity to so many, but it is a power that must be controlled. It leads inevitably to extreme income and wealth inequality, which can destabilize a republic, a problem that the Democratic Socialists have correctly identified. A strong, active government is needed to curb the excesses of capitalism and mitigate its brutality through regulation and social programs to help those who have trouble keeping up in our highly competitive economy. Medicare is an example of a social program that has been shown, by 50 years’ experience, to work well in a capitalist economy without diminishing personal ambition and energy or impeding free enterprise, and there are good reasons to extend it to everyone, as the Democratic Socialists have advocated. Capitalist and socialist ideas can complement each other.

It is unfortunate that Bernie Sanders et al. insist on calling themselves socialists. It is not likely that they adhere to the definition given above, but they have not actually denied it. Making themselves more clear might gain them even more followers.

Michael P. Bacon
Westbrook

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