The S Word

   The yammering punditocracy has begun using the term "the S word" when speaking of Bernie Sanders and his economic social welfare policies. And they delight in describing the presidential candidate as a "self-proclaimed socialist." But this acknowledges the decades-old Red Scare that gripped America during the Cold War, and stokes the fires of fear that the U.S. would be conquered by the dictatorial Communism as practiced in Soviet Russia.
   But the reality remains that socialism has been in place in America for nearly 80 years, in the form of social welfare policies such as Social Security, unemployment compensation and protection for unionized workers, and more recent programs including Medicare and Medicaid, as well as universal education and other programs, plus the movement toward universal health care.
   Much as radical conservatives rant about government intrusion into citizen lives, would they dare abolish these social welfare program? They talk about it, warning of potential government control of individual rights, but what they really fear is government limitations on corporate abuses and efforts to close the income gap, which enables an elite few to increase their wealth at the expense of the many.
   Meanwhile, as the Democratic candidates try to insert some comments on economic policy into their debates, Republicans rattle on about government interference on individual rights -- especially the right to carry assault rifles in public, even for teachers to carry guns in schools -- little if anything is said about economic policy, except demanding that the health care program and other social welfare systems be abolished.
   All in the name of protecting American citizens from "authoritarian socialism." But we already have a growing, beneficial social welfare program in the U.S., and it's happening without the alleged "authoritarian dictatorship."
   It's the old "straw man" strategy. Set up a fearsome-looking figure, accuse it of having nefarious intentions, and then attack it as a looming danger to society. But while a scarecrow may frighten hungry birds from a cornfield, people recognize a dummy when they see it.