History of Socialism in America

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"Socialism" is one of THE most divisive words in America and it has been for a long time. With Democratic Socialism gaining more and more popularity, Danielle takes a look back at the long history of Socialism in America. From the Utopian Socialist communities of the 19th century to the labor strikes and Anarchist Bombings of 1919 that helped fuel the Red Scare, we explore America's complicated history with Socialism.
Special thanks to our Historian Harry Brisson and Archivists Rachel Brice, Mathilda Murray, and Jafra D. Thomas on Patreon! Join them at / originofeverything
Created and Hosted by Danielle Bainbridge
Produced by Complexly for PBS Digital Studios
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Origin of Everything is a show about the undertold histories and cultural dialogues that make up our collective story. From the food we eat, to the trivia and fun facts we can’t seem to get out of our heads, to the social issues we can’t stop debating, everything around us has a history. Origin of Everything is here to explore it all. We like to think that no topic is too small or too challenging to get started.
WORKS CITED:
www.newyorker.com/news/dispat...
Eugene V. Debs: Citizen and Socialist Nick Salvatore
Socialism and America Irving Howe
time.com/5762312/bernie-sande...
/ 601443120433348
www.history.com/topics/indust...
www.npr.org/2020/03/18/817837...
www.nytimes.com/2019/06/12/us...
news.gallup.com/opinion/polli...
• How Did 'Socialism' Be...
www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...
www.pbs.org/newshour/politics...
nymag.com/strategist/article/...
www.history.com/topics/indust...
www.history.com/news/5-19th-c...
www.washingtonpost.com/politi...
www.businessinsider.com/alexa...

[@officialgritty4740]

AOC and Bernie describe themselves as democratic socialists, but they would be better described as social democrats, at least in terms of policies they run on and push for in Congress. Democratic socialism is explicitly anti-capitalist. Collective means of production, but more or less preserving our current model of government. Social democracy is seen in a lot of Western countries: capitalism, but with significant regulation and social welfare programs in order to reduce poverty and exploitation.

[@xCorvus7x]

Many of these have actually undermined their social welfare over the last couple of decades with neo-Liberal reforms.

[@Hermes_Agoraeus]

Yay--I found the _other_ person on KZbin that understands this! Sidebar: Publicly, I agree that Bernie is a self-described Democratic Socialist promoting Social Democrat policy, but also believe he'd go full Democratic Socialist if that became increasingly acceptable.

[@tacobell.gourmand]

This is fine but isn't necessarily true, social democratic reforms can advance the socialist project. AOC is part of Democratic Socialists of America and has helped bring other socialists into office, and Bernie has been a large part of the resurgence of actual socialists in the US. Does that not make them socialists? Even if they advocate for social democratic reforms in office, they can still be part of the project of the movement for socialism.

[@FINNSTIGAT0R]

@@tacobell.gourmand The US is headed into direction where actual socialism is the better choice. And that means the direction is NOT GOOD.

[@officialgritty4740]

@@tacobell.gourmand Social democracy itself is still not socialism. And that's why I clarified "at least in terms of policies they run on and push for in Congress." Social democrats are considered far left in America, so that's about as far as they can even go. I can't know what they personally believe.

[@captainhaddock6435]

This video is interesting, but sadly a bit short and lacking, it skips some very interesting elements of American Socialism: It's just not true that people like Sanders are a novelty in American politics. The fact is, what constitutes "socialism" shifted dramatically over the years, and if you look closely, you really can't find a difference between the politics of FDR and Sanders. The only reason that stuff like Obamacare is considered "leftist" is because the general economic tendencies in US politics since the times of Roosevelts New Deal (which was in essence Bernie's Democratic Socialism, funny how nobody considers FDR a "radical leftie") moved so much to the right that every kind of social safety net is considered radical communism now

[@anffyddiaeth]

"The only reason that stuff like Obamacare is considered "leftist" is because ..." Not disagreeing with the wrong-ward partisan shift in socioeconomic views, but I'd submit that Americans lack the universal healthcare enjoyed by other Western nations because profit-protecting middleman industries (insurance, hospital organizations, big Pharm) have paid to CON Americans into fearing that the "undeserving" might benefit from (much less expensive) socially-supported medical coverage.

[@jso6790]

@@anffyddiaeth Martin Gilens wrote an excellent book called "Why Americans Hate Welfare" back in 1999, to explain the Clintonite welfare "reform".. which incidentally, when Clinton and his DLC people embraced those issues, they gave credibility to right-wing talking points and helped shift the center more rightward than any Repubs had been able to do. After all, Clinton smashed members of his own party like Gephardt to get NAFTA passed.

[@Redactedlllllllllllll]

FDRs socialism excluded minorities, they cant do that anymore so no go on social safety nets, gotta keep those welfare queens from breeding.

[@CreoleLadyBug]

@@Redactedlllllllllllll - You have more whites on welfare than anyone else in this country. Just saying.

[@matrinoxtm]

It’s like the US keeps shifting to the right any time there’s progress. Blacks get freedom then reversed after reconstruction; US gets more socialism, then cut back slowly after the economy thrives. It’s almost frustrating. Watching the US is like watching an addict almost get their life together before falling apart and going on binges again.

[@lyleevans5921]

Why not bring up the history of black socialists in the 19th and 20th centuries? I know Debs is very popular, but we should remember that the global socialist movement was very well represented in the black community, especially during the civil rights and black power movements.

[@itsbeyondme5560]

Yes. I forgot

[@lyleevans5921]

@Eugene Fisher The organizers of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (Bayard Rustin and A. Phillip Randolph) were literally socialists. So was WEB Du Boise, Stokely Carmichael, Dr. King (read his letter to Coretta Scott King in 1952), and many like Rosa Parks were involved tangentially with the US Communist Party, who often did legal work for protestors. This is not to mention the Panthers and other leftist black groups that grew later. It's not an infiltration of the civil rights movement, the civil rights movement was a leftist movement. And so is the #BlackLivesMatter movement today.

[@lyleevans5921]

@Eugene Fisher I don't understand that logic at all. It's why you probably need to reexamine the system we live in and actually listen to the critics of the system, this includes engaging in the criticisms levied by Karl Marx, which I recommend people actually read.

[@lyleevans5921]

@Eugene Fisher This is an interesting comment. Starting with your second comment, on the one hand, you do not believe in collectivism, but you also acknowledge a black collective can have a well being. This is contradictory. The first point is also interesting, as you are probably looking at examples of decolonial revolutionary socialist states outside of the context of their birth, examples that come to mind are probably Russia, China, Vietnam, ect. But, this ignores the fact that all socialist attempts haven't been revolutionary in nature, hence the democratic socialist labor movements that swept Europe and created the modern welfare states and US socialists like Eugene Debs that fought for worker rights. It also ignores the repression by the US and other capitalist countries against these revolutions when the occurred, see the murders of Patrice Lumumba, Salvador Allende, Amilcar Cabral, Kwame Nkrumah, and I can honestly continue forever. Socialism, whether it's revolutionary or democratic in nature has always been harshly repressed by capitalist countries, and has only been able to survive in places it does exist marginally in via a militaristic build-up, or they have been slowly encroached by capitalistic interests or both (example being China and Vietnam here). The critics of socialists and Marx are therefore quite valid. and probably deserve a little more of a read from you. On the comment of George Washington Carver, do you mean Booker T. Washington? Carver wasn't a socialist, but he also wasn't very politically focused he was a scientist, but Booker T. and WE Du Boise had real political disputes about how to organize society and how black people should fight oppression, I fall more on the side of Du Boise, though his theories on the "talented 10th" have always vexed me. Finally, Marx was not a racist, he was an abolitionist and actively wrote to Lincoln (they were born in the same year) to abolish slavery and take a harder stance against the south. His writings are actually widely available on the topic since he wrote for the New York Tribune in the 1850s and 60s.

[@lyleevans5921]

@Eugene Fisher Cuba isn't a homogeneous country, neither is Russia, China, Ghana, Chile, Bolivia or any other country that tried to establish socialism. Homogeneity is a myth, and people are capable of organizing on more than just racial/ethnic lines. Examples of cross racial solidarity movements have existed even in the United States, the original rainbow coalition being an example, and also trade union movements like the knights of labor.

[@daveyc02909]

Thank you for speaking at a normal pace, unlike so many similar videos on KZbin nowadays! And thanks for the video, ofc :)

[@somecuriosities]

Yes. This!

[@libertariancommunistameric2699]

We are libertarian communists and advocate building a society based on the following principles; 1) Socialism. Socialist economy, public property, planned economy, the absence of the bourgeoisie, the rule of the working class and the struggle against the world capitalist and imperialist system. Defense of the oppressed and ruthless struggle against the oppressors. 2) Democracy and personal freedom. Developed civil society, workers' self-government, high social activity of the population and politicization of the broad masses. Freedom of religion, freedom of movement and freedom of choice. If only these freedoms do not contradict the foundations of libertarian socialism. 3) Spiritual development. Instilling in people a cheerful, liberated, gentle, harmonious, good-natured, open, relaxed, emotional, sophisticated and aesthetic mentality. We also advocate gender equality, tolerance for sex minorities, the fight against machismo and patriarchal socio-cultural attitudes. 4) A healthy lifestyle and the desire to preserve your youth and beauty. 5) Environmental protection and animal protection. 6) Striving to move the world and society into a state of harmony. Harmony is when everything is in a logical and consistent combination with each other. When everything is in a state of clarity, serenity and simplicity. 7) creating a cheerful, aesthetic and ecological environment in society. For this, it is necessary to carry out large-scale propaganda work to promote libertarian socialist values ​​and conduct mass cultural programs where people could have fun, take part in active games and get instilled in our values ​​and libertarian socialist way of life. It is also necessary to build and create organizations and infrastructure facilities in which people could engage in their spiritual and physical development, receive physical and mental pleasure, do things pleasant for themselves and be able to enjoy life in its entirety. Such objects and organizations should be water parks, sports complexes, health centers, amusement parks, healthy food centers, crisis centers, clubs of interest and movement for joint travel. It is also necessary to bring aesthetics and beauty into everything around; those. in the construction and decoration of settlements, everyday life, interior, etc. And also in your appearance. Residents of a libertarian socialist society should lead a healthy lifestyle and watch their attractiveness and beauty. It is also necessary to protect the environment, and cities and other settlements must have a high degree of greening and environmental friendliness, so that it would be pleasant to live in them. 8) denial of economic determinism and faith in the spirit. We, being libertarian communists, do not believe in the omnipotence of economic and material factors, as Marxists and liberals do, but are guided primarily by such concepts as spirituality, harmony, sacredness, aesthetics, emotions and feelings, spirit, faith, ideal and lofty values.

[@032319581]

Danielle is always fair and straight forward. I enjoy her videos.

[@Ryan-nd4kc]

Hmm... this was such a good, nice video. Hope I don't see any uncivilized comments down here....

[@nyronmorris5702]

I am a Jamaican and self professed supporter of "Socialism". Loaded irony i find it hard to not see the US Government's global policies as "authoritarian" Searching your presentations for US vs Cuban Socialism.🤔

[@johnscanlan9335]

Mr. Morris socialism is an inherently authoritarian system where government agencies make fundamental decisions for individuals.

[@pompitousoflove]

@@johnscanlan9335 so i take it you didn't watch this video or do any research on the history of US (and present day lol) besides what you learned in school.

[@johnscanlan9335]

@@pompitousoflove I happen to have a very detailed education on the history of socialism in the United States and around the world. The attempts made in the lands that subsequently became the U.S. and within the various states all falled relatively quickly because without an authoritarian government enforcement of "the rules" socialist communities simply collapse!

[@radioheadlover09]

@@johnscanlan9335 vladimir stalin venezuela 100 gazillion dead animal farm 1984

[@dave_riots]

@@johnscanlan9335 Your jokes aren't funny.

[@EclecticoIconoclasta]

In my view the perfect socialism is machines, robots and algorithms doing all the work while everyone does free activities all day without bosses or the pressures of earning a salary #FullyAutomatedLuxuryCommunism

[@DiMadHatter]

Automation under capitalism is replacement while people starve. Under socialism, it is freedom.

[@DiMadHatter]

@Shawna W not working is not the same as "doing nothing all day long". So naive of you to think humans, with all their basic needs met, will do nothing. People will flourish, self-discover themselves, do things they like, etc.

[@bri1085]

@Shawna W Companies wouldn't exist as private enterprises under socialism, instead being communally owned by the community

[@bri1085]

@Shawna W I don't think you know what you're talking about, marxism is simply a framework on how to eventually implement communism, it's essentially communism's justifying ideology just as liberalism is capitalism's justifying ideology

[@outboardgull5285]

This seems like a sort of anti-work idea of Socialism. I'd imagine there would still be work & labor under Socialism, it would just be for the benefit of people, not for profit. (Think CCC of the New Deal or co-op grocery stores & collectivly owned media like MeansTV) Imaging that a technocracy & AI/Algorithms will fix our current ails is IMO foolish.

[@motosaulo]

Talk about U.S. intervention in Latin and how it destroyed democracies. I'm not only talking about the Cold war, but also theses days.

[@redemptionz5012]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZzaY2SPm9ujeM0

[@av201]

Hmm. Let's make a COMMUNITY and RESPECT one another. Let's SHARE what we can, and love one another. Oy, sounds like Jesus was a Commie! ;-)

[@av201]

@Brains00007 I am grateful that the poor Mormons are helped out. I just wish it wasn't a huge Masonic cult fronting as Christian.

[@TGCHighGuard]

Thats why I'm a Christian Socialist.

[@louisebean2744]

As she briefly mentioned in the video, Catholic Marxists, and more broadly, Christian Socialists have been important political forces in America's progressive reformation periods!

[@xCorvus7x]

There is also liberation theology, or whatever theological school(s) is/are have given rise to reddit.com/r/radicalchristianity .

[@TGCHighGuard]

@Matt Guitar Who hurt you my brother? Why must you forsake the welfare of other humans? Why must you be so selfish and closed-minded? Who told you these lies? Why would you let the Enemy deceive you into turning against your own flesh and blood? Capitalism is the system of corruption, exploitation, greed, and evil. Forsake the lies of the Enemy and reevaluate your views in line with actual facts and, because you need some, basic human decency. Go in Peace, and God Bless.

[@williamblack4097]

The socialist have brought us every good thing that we take for granted like Social Security and the 40 hour work week. Every since then the capitalist have attacked or taken back every crumb that was won and fought for. Now capitalism is in another major crisis in which it failed big time with 200,000 plus deaths and counting. This type of failure we can only hope will have revolutionary results.

[@dandylionsloth446]

+

[@ragingbull94mtx]

@Lizzie Allen To answer your first question, the Great Depression. To answer your second question, see the answer to the first question. If that doesn't satisfy you, then I suggest you look into IRS Form 4029. It may be of interest to you.

[@bri1085]

@Lizzie Allen same reason people's taxes go towards funding a mikitary that theey hold no power over

[@bri1085]

@Lizzie Allen except most of the money isn't going towards protecting the interests of American citizens. You're being very willfully ignorant here. Most military spending simply isn't going into protecting Americans, having drones out in Pakistan isn't making you any safer. Social Security isn't about giving money to you as an individual, but rather the welfare financial welfare of the country, making sure there isn't a famine sweeping the country, due to extreme inequality.

[@bri1085]

@Lizzie Allen Maybe if tax dollars weren't going into blowing up brown people, social security might be even more beneficial to its benefactors.

[@0megasamuraistuff]

Nice video (⌒‐⌒) Speaking of "the means of production", I think it would be p nice if you would do a video which defines some of these basic terms clearly, such as "means of production", "capital", the marxist definition of class, etc. I know I at least didn't understand these terms for a long time, until I did some serious reading on my own, and I think it would be cool for it to be presented in a summarized form like these videos.

[@kimobrien.]

See The Militant or Pathfinder Press. Means of production is just that the tools and machines needed to produce. The word Capital requires context to understand meaning it generally means money but can also mean money value or stocks , the people who own capital or machinery (capital goods) . Class is generally defined by how you make your livelihood.

[@KKMDStyle]

As a child in the early 70’s I remember asking my teacher what communism was because during that time, there was so much propaganda telling us that it was the boogeyman. My teacher was not able to provide an answer that made any sense. Today when I ask friends to define socialism, it’s the same thing... everyone has a different definition but the similarity is that think of it as the boogeyman. Welcome 2 America!

[@vinyltapelover]

Michael Byrdsong Your teacher and friends did you a disservice . I dare say, that what you did, well intentioned as it was, was to have someone spoon feed you, or myself if in your position, their answers or impressions, as opposed to information and best available facts. To be best helpful to your inquiry, they should got you started by directing you sources to read up on. Then you are beginning to be your own researcher, your own historian, as my college professor would say. Understanding may not be immediate and it may even take awhile with further readings and researching. However, the upside is that You or I, would return to the teacher or friends with knowledge, gained on your own, to share and ask questions of what is not understood or grasped. So when you are similarly asked, you will not be parroting someone elses' partial or incorrect answer to include the spectre of a "boogeyman". I submit, that this is not a unique, "welcome 2 American" behavior or issue, rather it is a human to human thing that can be encountered any where in the world. If you lived outside the U.S. and asked a Russian, a Venezuelan, a Cuban what was Capitalism and Democracy about, you may encounter varying answers from people and instructors, along with their version of the"boogeyman". If the teacher or your friends employ the "boogeyman" in their conversation, it is possibly done to dissuade others, distract from the subject or create unneeded anxiety or fear. The rewards of knowledge acquired, on ones' own efforts and self initiative is pushing back the cloud of uncertainty and dispensing the "boogeyman". That is the conscious choice you should like to make...in my humble opinion.:).

[@KKMDStyle]

@@vinyltapelover my reference wasn’t about how I was educated (learned) it was about how the masses were educated (learned). When I had questions, I conducted research to obtain information… objective truths.

[@vinyltapelover]

​@@KKMDStyle Your "reference" was not quite that clear and open to misinterpretation. What you said and what you meant were two different sounding things. ; If in including your more recent remarks to your initial statement, it would have given much better clarity to your journey in knowledge and information gathering. With that said, it seems we are closer in thought than I was initially given to understand. Cool!

[@KKMDStyle]

@@vinyltapelover that’s what happens sometimes on KZbin,,. Who’s got time to write dissertations in this venue :-) take comments as they are and leave it there :-)

[@vinyltapelover]

@@KKMDStyle Your are right about dissertations in this venue, however it you would have taken a few extra keystrokes, you would have been better understood. If you prefer to be vague in your thoughts or have [your]comment taken as they are and left there, readers are not mind readers and would prefer to be on the same sheet with you if you desire to share an ibsightful thought . .If any of us, including myself, chooses to do otherwise, then we have to suffer the "slings and arrows",lol.

[@Owlbearwolf2]

Great video. American Socialist history is a lot to cover, but I would have liked to see mentions of Thomas Paine, Oscar Wilde's "The Soul of Man Under Socialism", Gene Roddenberry's work, and Martin Luther King Jr. and his interest in starting a working class party.

[@limalicious]

My family just had a long discussion the other day about McCarthyism and the Lavender Scare, comparing the mindset of then to the Republicans of today.

[@mikailalbritton5247]

A

[@Heyu7her3]

Republicans and Democrats have a "red scare" issue.

[@mrpumperknuckles1631]

@@Heyu7her3 not really communism has a bullying issue that tries to overstep their authority.

[@RobHowell1]

AOC wants equal money for everyone meanwhile drives a 100k Tesla 😂 c’mon man!

[@dave_riots]

@@RobHowell1 Because she isn't a Socialist. She's a Social Democrat.

[@NotHPotter]

If workers don't control the means of production, it's not socialism. Also, Bernie and AoC aren't democratic socialists, they're social democrats. Neither is calling for worker ownership of industry.

[@possession2]

That's communism. You can have socialism in a free market economy

[@EclecticoIconoclasta]

In my view the perfect socialism is machines, robots and algorithms doing all the work while everyone does free activities without bosses or the pressures of earning a salary

[@wintermiller4845]

@@possession2 Communism is a stateless, moneyless, classless society. Socialism is worker control over the means of production.

[@pantsfortwo4611]

sneezer the traditional purpose of socialism is to arrive at communism

[@possession2]

@@EclecticoIconoclasta When we have replicators like in star trek and theres an abundance of everything and money is pointless then luxury communism follows.

[@mildredmartinez8843]

I like the way you treated a topic so large in such a short while. Very balanced clear. I encourage you to talk slower so we don't miss out. I think this is due to the fact that you have to cran in a lot of infirmation in such a short amount of time. Good work.

[@TrapLordSupreme]

Any able to identify the music in the background??

[@magovenor]

This was right on time, very beneficial, clear and concise presentation. Thank you. And I look forward for another one. Oh yeah this is one of my favorites.

[@soulplexis]

"The USSR is oppressing religious groups.. how awful!" "Mr president, what should we do about all the veterans and unemployed people starving on the streets?" "NNNOTHIN!"

[@hankgoresich6836]

So dumb

[@fa1con730]

Nice Oversimplified reference.

[@neilifill4819]

It’s always concerning how we educate people to believe only parts of any concept. Us = good; them = bad. Generations of Americans have grown up believing things about systems that aren’t wholly true. So their understanding is skewed, even though their passion is high. They’ve been kept ignorant by leaders who benefit from their ignorance. It’s sad, really.

[@valerietaylor9615]

Americans have drunk the Republican Kool-Aide for several generations now, but I’m glad to hear that the younger people are beginning to wake up. I’m in my sixties, have voted Democratic all my life, but I intend to register as a Democratic Socialist when the next election comes around. I’m disillusioned with the Democratic Party as I don’t believe they support the interests of the 99% any more.

[@jonohanks8933]

This was really educational. Definitely appreciate it!

[@BifronsCandle]

I’m surprised you didn’t touch on the racial aspect of socialism. There were black activists in America making the link between capitalism and racism, such as MLK or Fred Hampton. Eugene Debs in particular advocated cooperation between black and white workers (though he still held racist views). All over the world, persecuted ethnic minorities look to Socialism as a means of combatting oppression, with mixed result (ie ethnic chauvinism and repression in the USSR). Ironically, Marx and Engels, being men of their time, held bigoted views toward Slavs and Africans.

[@BifronsCandle]

Ma Pa Not necessarily something exclusive to Third Worldist thought.

[@jalenatkins4993]

Can you do one of the Origins of Dating, that would be amazing and helpful and I think it could lead to a change in the approach of how people get to know each other.

[@Dentsun4228]

yes, this is my favorite. very informative discussions and very professional and likeable host.

[@zachmilton9561]

You need socialism to get to communism. Venezuela turn socialist in the past decade and look where they are. In the communist manifesto they literally use the word utopia so I guess Venezuela is utopia how many y’all agree

[@politika8087]

I'm glad PBS made this, and I'm glad that the YT algo (finally) recommended it for me to watch.

[@gotem370]

refreshing to see intelligent people talking about things that matter. thank you.

[@grahamturner1290]

A very well timed topic for discussion!

[@TheJayman213]

Sadly, the way you defined utopian socialism did little to clarify the difference between it and scientific socialism.

[@Glory_to_the_undead_King]

It's divisive to the people who can't pass a high school government class.

[@Glory_to_the_undead_King]

Make that 3rd grade. Just homeschooled a 3rd grader on the branches of government. I was laughing at that notion in my head.

[@av201]

Ethics. Live your values

[@av201]

@Eugene Fisher All opinions on this type of matter to me are equally valid...though I am not G-d so I don't know who is correct.

[@Cannibal713]

You are indeed a better, more intelligent person because of school.

[@flymypg]

Minor production issue: A simple echo removal pass should have been done on the audio.

[@markmeri4247]

Such an educated and passionate lady, I really appreciate this intriguing explanation.

[@PatrickHogan]

Anarcho-communism is what I’d love to see in this country, but I’d definitely settle for a socialist state. :)

[@PatrickHogan]

Matt Guitar I highly recommend watching Non-Compete’s playlist on how anarchism could work for more details. It’s *far* too much to type in a KZbin comment, but he sums it up nicely.

[@PatrickHogan]

Matt Guitar Ararcho-communism is a form of stateless communism. It is an anarchist viewpoint. And he definitely touches on all that in the playlist. Pretty much all of society would be contract-based.

[@PatrickHogan]

Matt Guitar So basically, the tl;dr version is that necessary labor is rotated (you drive the bus this week, run the register at the store next week, et cetera) in small communes that work in cohesion with other communes. All services are free as needed. All schooling is free as needed. All human necessities are free as needed and everyone works together to make sure everyone has what they need. Personal property still exists (none of that absurd argument about sharing a toothbrush) meaning you still get a home and bed and nice things to enjoy, but private property, meaning things like hoarding food or water or anything like that is abolished. I assure you, you’re focusing too much on the word communism being in the term anarcho-communism. It’s not Soviet Russia. It’s just what it’s called. So yes, you enter into a contract with your commune and they agree to give you all necessities if you agree to do x amount of hours of labor. If you don’t have a specialized skill, like medicine, then you can do necessary jobs for the community. Nonsense capitalism jobs like being a customer service representative would become unnecessary because the communities would be small enough that everyone would know each other and would know who to contact, but also since all necessary jobs would be on rotation, those basic skills would be known anyway. There’s a whole lot to it, and I’m not a political theorist so I don’t have the vocabulary to explain it all perfectly.

[@PatrickHogan]

Matt Guitar kzbin.info/aero/PLCcemL_x8RtdtFuib1Wl6VwyuYOEDb5Wv

[@GuliversTravelocity]

I look forward to these I always learn something new.

[@GDMiller419]

Okay, with the club mix playing under the narration!

[@fruitflynoyes]

i dd the survey because you and your show are amazing! I'd be to tired tonight for anybody else. Keep it up!

[@DougGrinbergs]

1:27 nineteenth-century utopian socialism 2:32 New Harmony, Indiana 3:39 Eugene Debs... 4:13 diverse expression of socialism. 5:29 Russian / Soviet authoritarian communism U.S. socialism, but... Red Scare ☹️ 7:23 Wisc. Sen. Joseph McCarthy 😡

[@TheQvintus]

Hi I just wanna say I'm really enjoying the content and presentation. So thanks for the great content

[@razzenvythebest9248]

Girl I just plain appreciate you nn your work

[@kay3333ify]

You forgot the part where Marx's idea of Socialism left over 150,000,000 corpses in the 20th Century.

[@Beautifully_Chaotic3109]

I believe they use these platforms to influence ppl who only know some of history

[@headsworthtg3585]

ah yes, socialism bad. Therefore let’s do no socialist politics that is the reason that standards of living in so many countries are far higher for so many, than they would be otherwise

[@radioheadlover09]

venezuela vladimir stalin mao 100 gazillion people animal farm 1984

[@headsworthtg3585]

@@Beautifully_Chaotic3109 who’s they?

[@j2daakob]

@@radioheadlover09 mfw George Orwell was a Socalist ●°●

[@pantsfortwo4611]

Socialism is diverse, which is what makes it challenging to unify, but its also why it can actually work. The world is complicated, and we will need different organization strategies for different situations. But socialism is about having the freedom to assemble in the ways you want, that empower you in your life and work. Largely, its just about removing much of the exploitative superstructure of capitalism (stockholders, bankers, speculators, etc). Through that step alone, you can begin to have workers directly receive the profits of their labor, have much control over their day-to-day lives (deciding own schedule, helping decide what products to make/sell, voting on when to expand or when to increase wages, and deciding whether or not you should be careful about poisoning your own water supply, etc etc). This still leaves so much room for diversity of industry, networks of stores, farms, free-lancers, etc etc, and puts the worker(s) in co-equal control of their buisnesses. You know, the people on the ground who know what’s going on. The people who actually come in and stand for hours and deal with bullshit - they should get every little scrap of what their sweat made. We are all smart enough. We are all capable enough. We deserve to control our own destinies.

[@louisebean2744]

👏👏👏

[@DeRien8]

I live within a half hour of Red Bank, NJ, so I felt compelled to pause the video to look up more about the piece of local history. Of course it's actually in Colts Neck, but I guess Red Bank is better known.

[@av201]

red hook even

[@BeauBirkett]

When you give out goodies, the diverging opinions create a power struggle, fragmenting the groups as they are all out for themselves

[@palomabrighton9756]

so much clearer than my college prof!

[@nickmasuen1859]

According to the history looking and the asking that I have done every now and then, the primary reason that I have found on why so many Baby Boomers combined Socialism with Communism is because the 50's, the Red Scare, is when they where schooled about it during a vary early age all the way to high school. and the idea of the two being the same thing, just two different words, stayed for quite some time even after that.

[@valerietaylor9615]

I’m a Baby Boomer in my sixties. My parents were older than most, members of the Greatest Generation that survived the Great Depression of the 1930s, and fought and won World War II. They ( my parents) were also life-long Democrats, socially somewhat conservative but economically liberal, because it was in their economic self-interest to be so. I remember, when I was about six years old ( it was an election year, 1964, when Lyndon Johnson ran against Barry Goldwater), asking my mother what the difference was between Republicans and Democrats. She answered, “ Republicans just want to help rich people, but Democrats want to help people like us.” That answer turned me into a Democrat long before I was old enough to vote. But now I plan to register as a Democratic Socialist in the next election, because I believe the Democratic Party has sold out to corporate interests,and no longer supports the needs of the 99%.

[@HiltonHoskins]

I love it, great explanation of socialism, everyone needs to watch this.

[@komalahayes1535]

About time! Finally a friendly show about a greatly misunderstood concept. May use this for my class...👍

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

I believe that socialist and capitalist institutions can co-exist. I hate it when fellow right-leaners and right-wingers bash socialism. It is why I always say 'marxism' or 'communism' when I criticize absurd leftist welfare or tax schemes.

[@12D_D21]

Ohh thank God, someone else has a brain...

[@TheSuzberry]

Totally off topic: Hope you are doing well in isolation.

[@CH-bu6pu]

This is helpful. Thanks.

[@brandonk.4864]

Eugene Debs was the greatest American hero.

[@rhob5730]

Excellent analysis

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

thanks, well done.

[@jellyrcw12]

Love your channel!!

[@francosoliman103]

Very informative video. Thumbs up to this young Lady.👍👍

[@TheT74]

Thanks

[@laabitres]

This is very informative and important, but sadly the people calling socialism communism (ie the people that need to watch this video) wont watch it.

[@laabitres]

@Johnny Doeboy exactly such a shame

[@grandma.p]

This is interesting. Is there a book about this that doesn't read like a dry text book?

[@vitamincenjoyer3729]

There is a miss conception of communism and socialism being 2 seperate things generally a simplification of it is communism is the end goal where a labor is voluntary, capital doesn't exist, and having essentially no government or heirarchy. To achieve communism you need a transitional state that's socialist, anarchist, stalinist, e.c.t. So all communists are socialists but not all socialists are communists.

[@MrNYCman530]

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. 2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. 3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. 4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it! 5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

[@somecuriosities]

'Merica: Egads! SoCiAlIsM!!! Rest of the Developed World: Seriously dude? You need to chill... Majorly.

[@somecuriosities]

@Lizzie Allen 1. Your reaction just kinda proves my point. Thanks sugar. Such a sweetie 😘💘 2. You get a Straw man! You get a staw man! And you get a straw man! Everybody gets a straw man! 🚗 3. 'Socialist shitholes' Lizzie? My gosh! Better fire up the bat-beacon, get on the phone to the Commissioner and tell the folks in... oh I don't know, Western Europe? The Commonwealth? Japan..? Or really any other developed nation for that matter... I'm sure they would want to know how they are in danger of becoming 'socialist shitholes' with their dasterdly low cost/free healthcare & tertiary education schemes, and villainous union & workers rights policies... By the way, out of interest, when you were carefully considering your stellar examples there Liz, did you consider the neoliberal dystopian hell hole that is Chile where literally the whole country is in revolt? Something tells me that somehow the answer is no. Wonder why you didnt Lizzie? Hmm.... Why oh why might that be? Hmm indeed... 😔😂😂 But seriously Liz, if you are reading this and have a modicum of good faith in your soul, maybe go youtube the situation in Chili... And especially look into how things got to that state of affairs. It'd be real fascinating stuff if the truth wasnt so horrific 😱

[@davelove9891]

Good work.

[@brendanwhelton]

Thank you!!

[@pastryprince1]

Love these OoE videos!

[@TheChuckleBunnies]

Brilliant video!

[@adammetzger4182]

Before watching the video I imagine the comment section to be very civil

[@Steve-zc9ht]

What world are you living in nothing is civil these days

[@adammetzger4182]

@@Steve-zc9ht look up the word sarcasm in the dictionary.

[@Steve-zc9ht]

@@adammetzger4182 well the comment didn't seem very sarcastic

[@fwpghxs4047]

Anyone else here preparing for thanksgiving?

[@TheDtfamu89]

Socialism is an incredibly broad term. We need an agreed upon definition first. Is it Communism? Authoritarianism? Or is it an FDR type new deal agenda? What does it mean in the United States?

[@edam5112]

Dang these comments are SPICY!

[@brownlettuce1810]

Cain who killed his brother Abel was the first communist / socialist.

[@itsbeyondme5560]

Good precise deep video

[@ElenaKomleva]

Wait, USSR was never communist. It was socialist. It is even in its name: The Union of the Socialist Soviet Republics!

[@j2daakob]

By this logic The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a democracy. The USSR successfully adopted socalist aesthetic, but even if you believe it is socalist (not saying the USSR was a good thing) it had one of the largest economic growths ever seen at the time.

[@skybluskyblueify]

Authoritarianism can be from right wing political groups too, so why do people assume it is all left wing? Are they simply making these judgements based on slogans and headlines alone?

[@12D_D21]

Yes, they are. Why do you think so many people say fascism is equal to communism? If anything, right-wing is the definition of authoritarianism...

[@borgata23]

Selling goods and not making a profit, in other words ....FREE

[@av201]

PS LOVE YOU SISTER! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND A QUEEN!

[@tristanneal9552]

This was very interesting! Communism as an idea does not inherently necessitate authoritarianism, but nevertheless basically every major attempt at communism has devolved into fascism/a dictatorship. I'd be very interested to see this channel go into why that is.

[@Owlbearwolf2]

Vietnam, Kerala, Rojava, and Cuba beg to differ.

[@tristanneal9552]

Micah Schweitzer Aren’t those Socialist countries?

[@Owlbearwolf2]

Vietnam and Cuba have Communist Parties that oversee elections. Kerala is an openly communist province in India. Rojava is basically anarcho-communist, though they call themselves their own thing.

[@tristanneal9552]

Micah Schweitzer I’ve never heard of the latter two, I’ll have to read up on them. Thanks!

[@ScenariosOfDrea]

My parents lived an authoritative communist regime in Romania, I hate the fact people confuse, universal health care, and universal schooling, etc with communism or socialism they are two different things. People idealize Marx (Socialist ideologies) because on paper his ideas are great unfortunately his ideas have never been acted out correctly, hence communism in Romania, Cuba, Socialism in Venezuela, etc. Now what works in Canada, Europe, and Nordic countries Social Democratic Corporatism, and those work and can work in the USA but it's different from Authoritative communism and socialism.

[@christiansoldier77]

Andrea But it doesnt work in those places .

[@ScenariosOfDrea]

@@christiansoldier77 correct it always is taken by some greedy person who will want only to rule and refuse to make it work.

[@lescobrandon9539]

Capitalism makes, socialism takes.

[@lescobrandon9539]

@Pack -A- Punch ?

[@harristonmiller4399]

You could argue that the bible has socialist concepts such as love and care for others as well and equality for all people

[@bri1085]

The bible says a lot of things, you could use it to justify just about anything if you wanted to put in the effort

[@harristonmiller4399]

@@bri1085 yes indeed but other belief systems also has the concept of socialism but not necessarily related to politics

[@bri1085]

@@harristonmiller4399 Basically socialism us the political conclusion of a lot humanist beliefs, unless you follow a religion that so blatantly calls you to act egotistically, your faith should justify socialism to some degree.

[@harristonmiller4399]

@@bri1085 that is true. it is where social security systems have been part of life in europe including where I live in England and have proved very popular with citizens in this region for decades. There is no reason why such a concept cannot work in he USA which would bring your country together as a nation and your United State lives up to its name which have not been the case throughout its history

[@BasicLib]

@@harristonmiller4399 Not necessarily. Something so divisive does not tend to "bring people together" and any such thinking is simply wishful

[@antonia6648]

Growing up in socialist East Germany in the 1980s, I believe that connecting socialism with authoritarianism is absolutely justified. The red scare was real, and it blows my mind and is disappointing that Americans criticize and ridicule America's historical aversion against communism and socialism today. America liberated East Germany through their active resistance against socialism and we are more than thankful. But the prophet has no honor in his own country. What modern Americans who advocate for socialism don't seem to understand, and I'm disappointed that PBS is getting this wrong as well, is that socialism has nothing to do with free college and free healthcare, nor is it required to provide those benefits (the "Nordic" countries that Sanders loves to remind us of have functioning capitalist systems). You can't divorce a word from it's history, and simply suggest that this means something else in America. (Even if you combine it with the term "democratic" to make it more acceptable - "democratic" socialism again has nothing to do with the Nordic countries but was coined by Michael Gorbachev in the Soviet Union in the late 80s, and was not very democratic). Historical Socialism is based on the idea that there is no such thing as individualism and that your life is pre-determined in the way that you live for the community. Everything is collective - which is not easy to grasp I guess if you grew up in an individualistic society such as America and can't see how much liberty comes with the right to live your life according to your own dreams and hopes rather than a collective plan. True socialism only works if everyone is living and working for the community - working, and sharing what you own - everything. It requires an altruistic world view that is not easily forced unto people, which is why every truly socialist system requires authoritarianism - to destroy the ego of the individual to make them more altruistic. In East Germany, people for example went to jail if they missed work more than three times (everyone has to work to make the system work - the money has to come from somewhere). Whoever was struggling with alcohol- or drug addiction was forced into rehab (escorted by police) for the same reason. The socialist system is set up to invite governmental abuse of power, which is why it quickly turns into totalitarianism. Capitalism has no doubt imploded in the US and needs some regulation and interference. But I do think that socialism is inherently even more dangerous than capitalism. Politicians who use the term deliberately from my point of view do so because they know that it has a certain effect on people with a revolutionary / altruistic nature (and therefore brings them popularity and votes from people who are especially compassionate, or simply desperate).

[@thebear6078]

I don't blame people born in the cold war times to be against socialism. Living in a scary time an seeing what the USSR did can make anyone be against that. I personally am against it from just reading about it but id cut these older folks some slack.

[@mr_jeff2932]

This is my favorite

[@patanegra1984]

Ya'll never been hungry

[@jeshwemmy1634]

Socialism is when hungry

[@AaronWilkerson]

Danielle put red on at the end and all of the conservatives had a conniption over PBS' "communism" 😂

[@kerycktotebag8164]

Nice

[@Cobralalalala]

Thanks for another quality video. I definitely need to read up more on Debs.

[@marilougushwa8270]

P.B.S (pinko broadcasting system )

[@brucewilson1958]

You are very bright and cover critical topics. That said, I think that you speech to fast. It seems rushed and is difficult to follow. It is not natural. Please try slowing down even if you have to sacrifice some content.

[@Dayglodaydreams]

Weren't there ties between International Socialism/Socialist Parties and the Abolitionist movement and the anti-segregationist movement?

[@justiceriser8970]

Usa socialism is socialism with american characteristics basically like China version of socialism

[@Tricolour1947]

Do you even know anything about Socialism?

[@justiceriser8970]

@TheIndianNationalist1947 well socialism can used and Define in many different ways I prefer socialism for everybody not just the workers but everybody

[@kimobrien.]

@@justiceriser8970You don't get socialism by using capitalist methods like in China.

[@dugdrilly]

its the expansion of villages into towns

[@Username-xd3qx]

America: "Socialism! You son of a -." Seriously, how has nobody made a reference to Predator yet with that scene used as the video picture?

[@stoodmuffinpersonal3144]

Wait. The concept has origins that far back?

[@malcolmfreeman7802]

she omitted the cost to macarthyism like the hollywood 10,directors out of work

[@SuperTonyony]

Words have ACTUAL definitions, whether we like it or not. Socialism is worker ownership of the means of production. THAT is the definition, no matter what fascists may tell you.

[@pluspiping]

The only word applicable here is "prescriptivist" - the idea that language is given a meaning by an authority or experts that other people must follow. Interesting that you'd back prescriptivism and not descriptivism - the idea that language is given meaning by how it is commonly used and understood. And with an abstract idea like "socialism", this is a descriptivist explanation of how that usage and understood-meaning has changed.

[@elinathan8363]

Great video! One thing though, by 'communism' in the Soviet Union 'bolshevism', 'marxist-leninism' or 'state capitalist' would have been more accurate from what I know and have gathered from reading leftist theory :)

[@pluspiping]

Apparently we need a "History of Socialism in Europe" because the comments section is teeming with people who don't know how to say anything but "USSR Venezuela Never Works Bluh Bluh Rich People's Money".

[@EmmettAbatiDoe]

What About: Wayne Bertram Williams? Getting Away with Murder part 1 The Atlanta Child Murders: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYSqaqJ_n7l1paM