*Fox News (banned) – Page 29

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ win over Rep. Joe Crowley in the New York Democratic Congressional primary last week has people talking for several reasons. First, Crowley was a long-standing incumbent. Second, Ocasio-Cortez is a millennial; she’s only 28 years old. But most notable (and disturbing, to some) may be the fact that she’s a Democratic Socialist.

As with Bernie Sanders, many Americans simply refer to Ocasio-Cortez as a socialist, not acknowledging the differences between socialism and democratic socialism. Since Socialism has historically had a negative connotation (to say the least) in American politics, and remains misunderstood by many, some are alarmed at Ocasio-Cortez’ victory. Though it’s true that both socialism and democratic socialism share the goal of reducing economic inequality, they also differ significantly.

Many Americans jump to the conclusion that all socialists (including democratic socialists) advocate an authoritarian government. They envision a tyrannical, state-controlled society with oppressive central government control of business and industry, and forced redistribution of wealth.

Though socialism aspires to fully replace our capitalist economy with a socialist economy, democratic socialism does not list this as its goal. It would, however, aim to grant employees more rights and a higher minimum wage, as well as place some limitations on corporations and large business owners, such as how much CEOs can make in comparison with their employees.

And though socialists hold that all parts of the economy should be centrally run, democratic socialists support the idea that some parts of an economy are better democratically run. Hence, the word democratic as a modifier of socialist.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) stress that they are committed to Democracy. They hold that changes in government and policy should be a result of fair elections. They also support the empowerment of workers in the workplace and in the economy, and they aim to create more equitable gender and cultural relationships.

Generally, “socialists believe the government should provide a range of basic services to the public, such as health care and education, for free or at a significant discount” (Business Insider).

Ocasio-Cortez, in fact, sees housing as a right, advocates Medicare for all, and calls for tuition-free college. It also calls for the de-militarization of police departments and the abolishment of for-profit prisons.

Senator Bernie Sanders, a Democratic socialist, said, “I think [democratic socialism] means the government has got to play a very important role in making sure that as a right of citizenship all of our people have healthcare; that as a right, all of our kids, regardless of income, have quality childcare, are able to go to college without going deeply into debt; that it means we do not allow large corporations and moneyed interests to destroy our environment; that we create a government in which it is not dominated by big money interest.”

Though Americans, particularly conservative Americans, find the idea of democratic socialism in the U.S. to be horrifying, we should note that a number of successful democratic socialist nations exist, including Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Not all democratic socialist countries have been successful at remaining democratic, however. Whether we’re on board with democratic socialism, or whether we feel it should be avoided at all costs, it would be wise to observe and examine the spectrum of democratic socialism in practice.

Judge Jeanine: The rise of socialism | Fox News [2018-06-30]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: There’s Room For Democratic Socialists In The Democratic Party | (HBO) VICE News [2018-06-28]

In May 2018, the Trump Administration announced a “zero tolerance” policy against adults who try to cross the Mexican border into the U.S. irregularly, even those who would be seeking asylum. Those caught trying to cross the border are placed into custody and face criminal charges for illegal entry. Consequently, any children coming with those adults will be separated from them and held in detention centers; children – even infants – are taken forcibly from their parents. During a six-week period recently, enforcement of the zero tolerance policy resulted in the separation of nearly 2,000 children from their parents at the border.

According to Donald Trump, the zero tolerance policy was put in place by “the Democrats,” and can’t be rescinded unless the Democrats “cooperate.” On June 5, 2018, Trump tweeted: “Separating families at the Border is the fault of bad legislation passed by the Democrats. Border Security laws should be changed but the Dems can’t get their act together! Started the Wall.”

Attorney General Jeff Sessions stated that the practice of separating children from their parents while the parents tried to cross the Mexican border illegally was the law. “If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law … If you don’t like that, then don’t smuggle children over our border.”

In reality, however, this zero tolerance policy was not only not enacted by “the Democrats,” it’s not even a law. According to Snopes, “There is no federal law that stipulates that children and parents be separated at the border, no matter how families entered the United States. An increase in child detainees separated from parents stemmed directly from a change in enforcement policy repeatedly announced by Sessions in April and May 2018, under which adults (with or without children) are criminally prosecuted for attempting to enter the United States.

“A cluster of rumors about the controversial separation of families at the border held that the policy came before the Trump administration, either stemming from a 1997 “law” or purported policies of previous administrations. Those claims were false. No federal law required or suggested the family separation policy announced by Attorney General Sessions in several sets of remarks during April and May 2018.”

In an unusual moment of solidarity, all four living American first ladies spoke out against the zero tolerance policy. Even Melania Trump spoke her mind about it, saying that she “hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together to achieve successful immigration reform.”

First lady Laura Bush, in an op-ed for the Washington Post, commented that the camps where the children are housed were “eerily reminiscent of the Japanese American internment camps of World War II,” and called them “immoral.”

Hillary Clinton tweeted “What’s happening to families at the border right now is a humanitarian crisis. Every parent who has ever held a child in their arms, every human being with a sense of compassion and decency, should be outraged.”

Michele Obama shared Laura Bush’s op-ed piece, and wrote, “Sometimes truth transcends party.”

But sometimes, truth is transcended by party and its agenda. The zero tolerance policy of separating children from their parents at the border is not based on any truth, because until now, illegally crossing the border for the first time was only punishable as a misdemeanor. But now, even those with legitimate reasons to seek asylum in the U.S. are being punished as if it were a felony. It appears that Trump’s policy of zero tolerance will hold children hostage, as it holds the Democratic party hostage, until they agree to go along with immigration policy as dictated by Trump and friends.

President Trump: Separation Of Immigrant Families ‘Forced Upon Us By The Democrats’ | NBC News [2018-06-15]

Families separated at the border: what’s really going on? | Fox News [2018-06-15]

Category: *Fox News (banned)

Democratic Socialism and Socialism: Are They the Same?

Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy: The “Law to Separate Children?”