Soviet Democracy…I Mean Socialist Democracy…I Mean Democratic Socialism (Part 2)

Back during the 2020 presidential primaries, Bernie Sanders was asked for his reaction to Donald Trump calling him a Communist. He replied by saying he was Democratic Socialist, and then said, “Obviously, I’m not a Communist. Maybe President Trump doesn’t know the difference.” Okay, so what is the difference between a Communist and a Democratic Socialist? For that matter, what is a Communist? To be honest, I really don’t think too many Americans really know what “Communism” really is. I think for most Americans, “Communist” simply means, “Those evil Russians who really loved Stalin, thought the gulags were a super way to get free labor, and who really wanted Ivan Drago to break Rocky.” Therefore, since that seems to be the level of understanding of Communism, I’m sure Bernie Sanders is being totally honest when he says he’s not a Communist—that’s what most people think of Communism, and Sanders certainly isn’t that.

Of course, I suspect that if we went back in time, most rank-in-file Communists in the USSR probably didn’t fit that stereotype either. And what makes all this even more complicated for me is that when I read the book Soviet Democracy that I had picked up in the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan, the way the Soviets themselves described Communism isn’t like that stereotype. In fact, what I learned is that the way the Soviets described their Communism was to call it Socialist Democracy—which sounds just a tad bit like Democratic Socialism. Furthermore, the values and goals espoused in the book really do sound a lot like the values and goals I’ve been hearing from the likes of Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and others in the “progressive wing” of the Democrat party. Therefore, I want to do two things in this post. First, I’m simply going to summarize the values and goals espoused in Soviet Democracy—I don’t imagine I’ll have to explain how they are like the values and goals of Sanders’ and AOC’s Democratic Socialism. It will be pretty obvious. Second, I want to explain why, despite its lofty and well-intentioned goals, the system of Communism/Soviet Democracy/Socialist Democracy/Democratic Socialism—whatever you want to call it—simply doesn’t and will never work.

The Values and Goals of Soviet-Socialist Democracy
So, how did the Soviets themselves view their own society and government? How did they define their own Communism? For one, as I’ve already said, they viewed it as a socialist democracy. One of the main purposes of the book Soviet Democracy is to articulate just what the values and goals of the socialist democracy of the USSR were. Here is a rundown of the highlights, with little or no commentary from me:

1. Their socialist democracy was able to come about when private ownership was replaced with public ownership. In fact, they viewed their socialist democracy as a “victory over the oppressor,” namely private business owners and capitalists. This overthrow of the old order was the necessary first step in building a socialist democracy.
2. Related to that, they viewed capitalism as nothing more than “consumerism, self-seeking, and money-grubbing.” Those things are “alien to socialist democracy and to the social consciousness of the Soviet people.”
3. The goal of this socialist democracy is to build a true socialist state and advance toward social homogeneity, meaning a society where all people are equal in every way, but primarily in economic terms.
4. In fact, as the book quotes Leonid Brezhnev, “…genuine democracy is impossible without socialism, and that socialism is impossible without a steady development of democracy.” Hence, the only “genuine democracy” is one in which all citizens are economically equal.
5. In order to move society toward that ideal social state, though, requires an all-powerful central government that possesses the authority to pull all the necessary levers of political and societal machinery to get society to that goal. That is also why there is no division of power in the government (as there is in capitalist countries like the United States). That division of power prevents social progress from happening. As long as there is division of power, then politicians will act in their own selfish interests, and not on behalf of the working man. There simply has to be an all-powerful party and government that speaks on behalf of the working man and can bring society to true social homogeneity, and therefore genuine democracy.
6. An all-powerful central government in a socialist democracy will then have the authority to guarantee the inalienable rights in the socialist state: (A) The right to a guaranteed job; (B) The right to either low-rent or free housing; (C) The right to an adequate standard of living; (D) The right to free primary, secondary, and higher education; (E) The right to free health care; and (F) The right to equal pay between men and women.
7. On top of all that, the central government in the socialist state can pay out money and benefits to its citizens that cover up to 33% of their entire expenses.
8. Indeed, Socialist democracy guarantees social justice and social equity. It is a dynamic process that seeks to perfect the forms and methods of government to achieve these Socialist goals and guarantee these Socialist rights: “Socialism is a socio-political order which presents ‘…an opportunity which rarely occurs in history of ascertaining the period necessary for bringing about radical social changes.’” This can only happen in a society that is “not at the mercy of uncontrollable economic and social forces” (i.e. free markets).
9. In order for that to be achieved, there must be an all-powerful workers’ party (Communists) that “determines the general perspective of society’s development” and bases it on advanced scientific theory.
10. According to Soviet Democracy, the USSR had indeed achieved, or at least was advancing in achieving, all these Socialist goals: “We have created a society of people who are equal in the broadest sense of the word and who do not know any social, property, racial or other privileges, a society which not only proclaims human rights, but also ensures the possibility of their implementation.” –No kind of unequal “privilege” that gives any individual or group an unfair advantage over another.
11. Along with that, the very word “my” in the USSR had taken on a different meaning. No longer was it used to “denote personal ownership.” The word “my” now had a collectivist meaning that expresses the “pride of a citizen who concerns himself with everything that is happening in his great Socialist home.”
12. Near the end of the book, one more right is mentioned: the right to choose and pursue your own vocation. Of course, there is, though, one caveat: this right to choose your own vocation “must also conform to the requirements of society.”

Thoughts and Observations
I don’t feel the need to go through each of these twelve things, one by one, and explain how these values, goals, and attitudes mirror many of the values, goals, and attitudes of more “far-left progressive” Democratic Socialists like Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among others. The general negative attitude toward private property, the view of capitalism as the root of all evil, the stated goals of the central government supplying things like “free” education, health care, housing, etc., the calls for “social justice” and “equity,” and the hostility shown toward anyone who questions any of their social programs, calling them “oppressors”—let’s face it, all of these things are swirling around in the current cultural climate in the United States (and elsewhere…I’m looking at you, Canada).

Given that, you can see why Bernie Sanders’ self-description as a Democratic Socialist and claim that Democratic Socialism is a totally different thing than Communism ends up being rather confusing. The sheer fact is that the Communists who wrote Soviet Democracy back in the USSR in 1977 describe Communism as a “Socialist Democracy” and their stated values, goals, and attitudes regarding their Socialist Democracy are virtually identical to the stated values, goals, and attitudes of Democratic Socialists like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. So…Democratic Socialists are totally different than Communists…who call themselves Socialist Democrats…and who espouse and champion the exact same values and goals as Democratic Socialists.

Does that make sense to anyone?

Now, let me be crystal clear that I do not think for one second that Bernie Sanders, AOC, and “the Squad” really want to install a Stalinist regime, or have plans to set up American gulags where they can engage in the genocide of all Republicans and Christians. That is just plain stupid. But I am saying that it is quite clear that their stated goals, values, and attitudes regarding what “true democracy” looks like are virtually identical to that the actual Soviet propagandists who wrote Soviet Democracy. It’s clear as day.

Also, I said it before, but I want to reiterate that I don’t think too many of the “original Communists” really were looking forward to totalitarianism, the gulag, and genocide either. If you know anything about the establishment of the USSR (as well as many of the other Communist countries), you know that the reason they were able to eventually gain power was because the stated goals of Socialist Democracy/Democratic Socialism sound really good! They are good goals to have. Even if we don’t go the entire “It’s free!” route, everyone wants to live in a society that has well-paying jobs, affordable education and affordable health care. Everyone wants to live in a society with a certain amount of social homogeneity, at least in the sense that you feel everyone shares the same core values—meaning you want basic social unity. Most people really do want true equal rights. Nobody wants social injustice and corruption.

The pressing question, though is, “What is the best way to achieve those goals?” And equally important to that question must be the realization that those goals are never going to be 100% achieved in any society, EVER. And the thought that it really is possible, if we just allow a highly centralized government have absolute authority and power to set up that Socialist democracy. Therein lies the fundamental problem with Socialist Democracy/Democratic Socialism. There is this utopian assumption that if we just “get the right system” set up, if we allow a singular authority to do it, then those goals can be met. The picture that they paint is hopelessly idealistic and utopian—meaning, out of touch with reality and unattainable.

And when you have that mindset, and when along with that mindset you develop this conviction that “capitalism is evil” and lies at the heart of racism and inequality in America, when you are convinced that the American system is hopelessly corrupt and racist and that the only cure is to tear it all down so we can start building that Democratic Socialist utopia—you are setting up society, not just for failure, but for hell on earth. That is why there is not one Communist or Democratic Socialist country/regime that has ever NOT resulted in totalitarian oppression of its people.

If you have that idealist hope for a Socialist utopia, but never have any actual plan to improve society (this is as true of Marx’s propaganda as it is of AOC’s Green New Deal)—if you buy into this rosy picture of achieving that utopia, but are hopelessly light on details—you know what happens? Things start to fall apart really quickly, but since you have already demonized everything that smells of “capitalism” or “private business,” and you can’t admit that your idealistic utopian vision has no plan, you panic, you start trying to shut people up who are pointing out your failures, you start calling them “enemies of the people” or “oppressors,” or “capitalists,”—whatever you call them, you convince yourself that they are the reason why things aren’t going well.

And before you know it, that’s how Communist countries end up with work camps, gulags, censorship, and absolute government control. That’s not what was intended…but that’s what always ends up happening. And I’m sorry, but no… “this time” it isn’t going to finally work. And let’s face it, a lot of the things we are currently seeing throughout the United States—attacks on free speech, using the public education system to push woke ideologues instead of sticking to actual education, censorship, the “woke cancel culture,” the list can go on—all of it is eerily similar to the same mentality that in many Communist countries. History shows that things can fall apart really quickly.

Now, I think there is plenty of corruption in our current political and economic system in America. There’s no denying that. But what I am saying is that it is pretty clear that Democratic Socialism isn’t the answer. Democratic Socialism is Socialist Democracy, which really is Communism—and it always ends up the same way. I know this because I know history…and I literally read the book on Soviet Democracy.