It was added to make their party popular with the people back then.

They'll believe that authoritarianism is socialism, when in fact authoritarianism and socialism are not even in the same continuum.
https://www.politicalcompass.org

Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro both are / were authoritarians.

It's also compatible with capitalism as well as communism.

Same with the concept of a public good or commonwealth, which are also called a concern for the social welfare, a concept baked into American thought from the very earliest days. It's compatible with any monetary theory, and co-existed for all this time with capitalism, but is related to socialism and communism in some ways also.

BUT, it has never been linked with authoritarianism as far as I know. (Admittedly I haven't studied the topic.)

I wish, how I wish, democratic socialists would realize what they really mean is best described by a concern for the public good, the commonwealth.

Their persistence with the word socialism is sheer denialism. They think they can change people's minds. Nope. Socialism, while it can be used in positive ways, has also historically been used by very repressive regimes.

What they are noy is linked inevitably. That's the point of the link. Most people have no idea.

Anything that government does for the people is evil socialism to these nuts because, in their view, the purpose of government is to give money and power to the rich.

They actually despise the idea of "government for the people."

Executive Order 9981!

Probably the most important executive order since the Emancipation Proclamation.

was certainly a major push for equality, not only in government action, but in the minds of the general population.

Now it's Socialism for the rich and Capitalism for the poor.

They condemn Socialism because we associate it with overbearing repressive regimes imposing their policies of the point of a sword and targeting and harassing vulnerable groups. For those not paying attention, it should be noted that we're already heading that way under the MAGA JACKBOOT.
Poo Tee Weet.

...is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness".

-- John Kenneth Galbraith

"Liberals sometimes do the wrong thing for the right reason. Conservatives do the wrong thing for no reason at all."

Two of the best books I ever read: The Affluent Society and The New Industrial State. Profound works of erudition.

is SOCIAL

If Repubs call something socialism, that's what it is.

Last edited Wed Nov 26, 2025, 11:23 PM - Edit history (3)

Jesus Christ was the original Socialist...

the right prays to Republican Jesus, not the biblical one

Not identical to the economic system of socialism.

is socialism

Even from the grave.