Socialist Fears are Alive and Well

Socialist Fears are Alive and Well

     Some Bernie supporters have suggested distributing pamphlets to overcome misconceptions about Socialism/Communism. Good idea but I would love to see the reaction from Republicans when those pamphlets are distributed in different places. Can you imagine the reaction when someone tries to distribute pamphlets extolling the virtues of Socialism at public schools?

     It will take more than a pamphlet to overcome 50 years of propaganda against Socialism/Communism. Baby boomers remember nuclear drills and hiding under school desks. They recall Nikita Khrushchev pounding a shoe on a desk at the UN promising to bury us. 98,000 died fighting Socialism/Communism in Korea and Vietnam. Memories of 10,000 nuclear weapons threatening to kill all of us, prevail. Boomers are still alive and they vote.

     Many have taught their children to fear Socialism. The word, in Republican minds, is not synonymous with a perceived utopia's in Europe. It is still an evil word. Socialist fears defeated Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, Kerry and it will defeat Bernie.

     Fear of Socialism is stronger than racial, gender or sexual orientation fears. Hillary will be accused of being a socialist but she will never call herself a Socialist the way Bernie has. Nobody in America, wanting to be elected to political office, proclaims themselves a Socialist. Bernie is a rare exception. It is still political suicide to embrace that mantra. Being a Socialist won’t come into vogue for another twenty years, if at all.

     Fear of Socialism will not subside until the Baby Boomers die off and disappear from the political scene. Until then, Bernie Sanders is a lightning rod guaranteeing a political victory for Republican Fascists. Nothing will bring out more Republicans to vote than the fear of Socialism. It’s just a simple fact of modern day America.

     The fear of Socialism has its roots in the Cold War days and there is validity in those fears. However, the Cold War has been over for a while. Yet the fears so carefully manufactured in the Cold War years still persist.