Politically Pomp

By Patty @ Politically POMP

There’s been a huge uptick lately in people using the words “democratic socialism” and “communism” interchangeably, usually as an insult, a scare tactic, or just a misunderstanding. And since this is the political lane I identify with, I figured today is the perfect day to clear the air.

Let’s break this down simply, honestly, and without the panic language that dominates social media.

✅ 1. Democratic Socialism = Democracy FIRST, Social Safety Nets SECOND

Democratic socialism isn’t about abolishing democracy — it’s about deepening it.

It says:

• People should have a real say in the major decisions that affect their lives
• Basic needs like healthcare, education, and worker protections shouldn’t depend on wealth
• The economy should work for the people, not just the wealthiest corporations

It’s democracy + a moral framework for the economy.

Nothing more dramatic than that.

✅ 2. Democratic Socialism ≠ Government Owning Everything

Communism argues for abolishing private property and replacing markets entirely.

Democratic socialism does not call for that.

Most democratic socialists support:

• Small businesses ✔️
• Private property ✔️
• Markets ✔️
• Entrepreneurship ✔️ (you’re literally an example of this, Patty!)

What they don’t support is:

• Corporations writing our laws
• Healthcare being a profit machine
• Billionaires paying less tax proportionally than teachers
• Monopolies controlling prices and wages

The goal isn’t to eliminate private ownership, it’s to stop corporate capture of the government.

✅ 3. If you like Medicare, Social Security, firefighters, public roads, or public libraries… congratulations, you already support democratic socialist concepts

A democratic socialist worldview says:

“If we can pool resources for roads and fire departments, we can pool resources for healthcare, childcare, and housing stability.”

Most people already agree with that; they just don’t like the label because they’ve been told it’s scary.

✅ 4. Nordic Countries? Yes, That’s the Model — But With Important Context

People love to shout “NORDIC COUNTRIES ARE SOCIALIST!!!”

Except they aren’t:

They are social democracies, which means:

• Markets exist
• Businesses thrive
• Taxes fund universal benefits
• People enjoy massive economic freedoms
• Inequality is low
• Corruption is low
• Standard of living is high

Most democratic socialists in the U.S. want to move toward that model, not copy it exactly, but adopt its underlying principles.

✅ 5. Democratic Socialism Doesn’t Mean “The Government Controls Your Life” — It Means Corporations Don’t

This is where the fear-messaging gets wild.

Democratic socialists want the opposite of government overreach:

• They want government out of reproductive decisions
• They want government out of your bedroom
• They want government out of banning books, silencing teachers, or criminalizing speech
• They want government working for the people instead of working for donors and lobbyists

The entire ideology is about distributing power, not concentrating it.

✅ 6. And No: It’s Not Communism

Communism, historically:

• Eliminates private property
• Eliminates markets
• Requires a single-party state
• Has no democratic structure
• Centralizes power radically

Democratic socialism:

• Relies on democracy
• Protects voting rights
• Allows private property
• Supports markets
• Rejects authoritarianism
• Fights for worker and citizen participation

The difference isn’t small, it’s foundational.

✅ 7. Why I Identify With Democratic Socialism

For me, democratic socialism represents what I believe our country should aspire to: a system where ordinary people, not corporations, not political dynasties, not billionaires, have a real say in the future of this nation.

I believe in universal healthcare. I believe in accessible education. I believe in fair wages, worker protections, childcare support, and a government that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens over the profit margins of its wealthiest donors.

To me, that’s not radical. That’s common sense.

✅ 8. The Bottom Line

If democratic socialism were as extreme as its critics claim, then:

• Medicare would be communism
• The fire department would be communism
• Public schools would be communism
• Roads would be communism
• The military would be communism
• Social Security would be communism

But because all of those institutions benefit everyone, we simply call them “public services.”

Democratic socialism argues that healthcare, housing stability, and education deserve the same treatment.

And that terrifies people in power, not because it’s authoritarian, but because it threatens their unchecked influence.

Let’s talk about what these words actually mean instead of what social media tells us they mean.

Patty
Politically POMP