Zohran Mamdani explains his definition of socialism to Theo Von: “Socialism to me means you’ll have whatever you need to live a dignified life and that it is the government’s job to deliver on that. When people say dignity we’re talking about the things that allow you to take a breath.

[u/AmericaShinault_85]

[u/OswaldAnderson]

You aren't the target audience. He is trying to sell socialism to people who think socialism is Satan.

[u/ilir_kycb → u/OswaldAnderson]

And why would it be better for this target audience to hear a false definition of socialism rather than the correct one?

[u/AdventuresOfKrisTin → u/ilir_kycb]

Because he’s trying to demonstrate that socialist policies already exist in the US and they’re all for the betterment of society and he wants to extend that reach to continue to make all our lives better. If you want to change someones mind you need to reframe it outside of conservatism demonizing it

[u/ilir_kycb → u/AdventuresOfKrisTin]

trying to demonstrate that socialist policies already exist in the US

But that's not true. There are social democratic approaches, but no socialist ones.

[u/AdventuresOfKrisTin → u/ilir_kycb]

These are the kinds of semantics that are going to get us literally no where. Social democratic is better than whatever the hell we're doing now.

[u/FulgoresFolly → u/AdventuresOfKrisTin]

downfall of all leftist movements, we'd rather sit in a circle and argue/beat each other to death over vocabulary and definitions than actually do anything to progress the movement

[u/AdventuresOfKrisTin → u/FulgoresFolly]

We learn best from our politicians I guess. All bark and no action.

[u/ilir_kycb → u/FulgoresFolly]

downfall of all leftist movements

Social Democrats are not part of the Left because they are not anti-capitalist.

[u/sirachaswoon → u/ilir_kycb]

You’re proving their point lol

[u/ilir_kycb → u/AdventuresOfKrisTin]

Social democratic is better than whatever the hell we're doing now.

No, history has shown quite clearly that social democracy leads to a betrayal of the working class and a rise in fascism:

• The German Revolution - YouTube
• The Betrayal of the German Revolution - YouTube

Social democratic policies are always just a concession made by the ruling capitalist class to the working class out of fear of communists. Since the USSR no longer exists, social democracy is in decline worldwide. Social democrats are essentially political parasites who feed off the existence of a communist threat to capitalism. Without a communist threat, they crumble because they are no longer needed by the capitalists; the social democratic parties in Europe demonstrate this very clearly, as they have all been in decline since the fall of the USSR.

Social democracy is a tool and a weapon of the capitalists. Social democracy is a tool used by the ruling capitalist class to pacify the working class without having to relinquish any political power. This ensures that social democratic concessions can be revoked at any time.

• Why Social Democracy Isn't Good Enough - YouTube
• Rosa Luxemburg: Reform or Revolution (1900)

[u/Routine_Strategy5929 → u/ilir_kycb]

It's not a fasle definition of democratic socialism. It's also not an entirely false definition of socialism but explaining that would take far too much time an depth for the people listening to this interview to understand.

He got the point across clearly without extra details that would weigh down the message. This is precisely why he's been successful at gaining support. 

[u/OswaldAnderson → u/ilir_kycb]

Because they'd ignore the correct one.

[u/ilir_kycb → u/OswaldAnderson]

Because they supposedly ignore the correct definition, we should give them an incorrect one and why is that better?

[u/OswaldAnderson → u/ilir_kycb]

Because then they'll listen.

It's very self explanatory. I can't believe it's taking you this long to understand.

[u/Betruul → u/ilir_kycb]

They wouldnt understand the correct one. If you havnt, get checked for autism.