The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has been in the news lately as people who proclaim to be a DSA member are running and sometimes winning elections to be the representative of the Democrat Party. The DSA recently issued their platform for the United States so I read it.
DSA wants to discard the U.S. Constitution by eliminating the Senate and expanding the House of Representatives. This new body would select the President and judges and would have the power to remove them if these appointees did not do what this new body wants. – no more independent executive or judicial system. How could a DSA member if elected to Congress take the oath of office required for all members that they would support and defend the Constitution?
The country would have completely open borders and would not deport anyone. Everyone who resides in the country could vote – citizen or not. Everyone in the US would also have free medical care and free education from pre-K thru college. Everyone would have a Federal job guarantee with a 32-hour work week and paid a living wage, established by government. The largest corporations and those in essential industries (listed as food, education, energy, medicine and transportation) would be owned by the government and operated as a non-profit.
Does anyone really think the government can operate companies better? The DSA desire is to fully abolish the police and prison system. The Department of War will be defunded and all overseas military bases will be closed. Retirement would be publicly funded. The website also says that you won’t have to pay a mortgage or have a landlord because comfortable housing is human right.
To pay for all this, taxes on the rich and corporations will be increased so they pay “their fair share”. I have never seen anyone who is able to define that term. In 2023, (the latest year I could find) families that had income over about $55,000 were in the top 50% of earners and those taxpayers paid 97% of the Federal personal income taxes. Corporations will see their payrolls increase as employees will work fewer hours and probably get paid more. Companies only receive revenue from sales, so if wages and taxes go up, I believe prices will have to increase or the companies will eventually become unprofitable and close.
Socialism has been tried many times in the world and has yet to succeed. The DSA says their proposal is needed because crooked politicians and business people have too much control to the detriment to the rest of us. However, they want to have a ruling body that would have more control over Americans than these groups have today. I believe capitalism, even with its faults, is better than socialism because those who have desire, ability, etc. can and have succeeded in making life better for all.
I disagree with all the major DSA proposals and also question where the money will come from to pay for all these changes. Now that DSA has published their platform, thankfully a few “traditional” Democrats say they cannot support all of these changes either.
Ken Stonebraker, Franklin
