There Are Very Few Socialists in America: Krugman

[applegrove]

There Are Very Few Socialists in America

July 2, 2026 at 6:40 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 118 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2026/07/02/there-are-very-few-socialists-in-america/

Paul Krugman: “The fact is that very few Americans — even among politicians who call themselves ‘democratic socialists’ — are really socialists.”

”What many, I’d say a majority, of Americans support is what Europeans call social democracy — an ideology that is OK with living in a mostly market-driven economic system in which some people make much more money than others, but one that advocates policies to tame markets and inequality with progressive taxation, safety net programs, and regulations.”

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. He's right

I can’t speak to the ideology of the DSA organization itself, but the vast majority of people who call themselves “Democratic Socialists” are, in reality Social Democrats, which is distinct and different from Democratic Socialism.

[Celerity]

16. I have been saying this over and over for the 8 years (today is my 8 year anniversary) I have been on DU

[Farmer-Rick]

17. What's the difference?

I call myself a socialist mostly because I think capitalism is the devil's invention. A system designed to reward those born into wealth and punish those who were born without leftover capital from a dead relative. Much like feudalism but without a supreme king.

But honestly the difference between Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy seems like semantics.

[AZProgressive]

2. I agree

I favor Social Democracy policies in Europe and especially in the countries which rank among the happiest in the world which is Denmark and Scandinavian countries.

I actually favor Keynesian economics like we had under FDR and other Western nations. It was the popular economic theory at the time which came after trickle-down economics. Trickle-down economics came back under Reagan but it was rebranded as "Supply-side economics" and we have had that mostly since then, especially during Republican administrations.

I feel the DSA and similar candidates bring us back closer to the Keynesian economics we had under FDR.

[betsuni]

3. Like when the Danish PM reminded someone that Denmark's a market economy, not socialist.

Same people who pretend FDR was a "democratic socialist" so they can claim New Deal policies are socialist and therefore they are the only REAL Democrats, the 21st century Democratic Party being, like, gross corporate capitalists (pretending both parties have the same unregulated economic policies) who only go to cocktail parties and leave with money (let me look up the quote ... "they go to nice cocktail parties and walk out with a hundred thousand dollars." )

I love Paul Krugman.

[AZProgressive]

7. That reminds me of a quote from Tom Souzzi

“People who do not support the DSA wring their hands at cocktail parties, while the DSA is organizing.”

— Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), quoted by Axios.

https://politicalwire.com/2026/06/24/bonus-quote-of-the-day-2383/

[BlueTsunami2018]

4. More of us every day.

No matter what we do we’re always going to end up right back here again under capitalism.

It’s the nature of the beast.

[Emile]

5. Socialism represents public power. Of course

their going to attack it.

[Oneironaut]

6. Absolutely, and, I'm tired of the bad faith false choice.

If you are not for the unregulated capitalist hellscape of the US now, you are a Communist who wants complete government control of the markets and who wants authoritarianism.

People are being propagandized by the billionaire class to reject ideas that would improve their lives. Humans are not supposed to be treated like robots, and then left to starve when their usefulness to the parasite class has ended.

[ChicagoTeamster]

8. But MAGA morons believe Fox, and Trump, and SInclaire radio, NewsMax etc. They're dumb and hateful people

They believe it without proof because they need to believe in things that back up their hateful worldview

[Auggie]

9. Great, just please stop using the term "socialist." Say "Democrat." Period.

In many districts, anything that hints of "socialism" is asking for disaster.

[SurfLiberal]

10. Doesn't matter

They're going to call you a Socialist anyway. Anybody who believes that can't be convinced.

Our strategy needs to shift from winning RWNJs over, to convincing them to stay home and not vote.

[Joinfortmill]

11. Sorta like the Nordic model

[Celerity]

13. social democracy is a foundation for our Nordic Model (I am in Sweden)

[ananda]

12. The elephant in the room that is not being addressed here..

is the rabid, unfettered need for white male supremacy.

Our country was founded on white supremacy and the
importation of slave and cheap labor.

When the imports start to outnumber the whites, then
you get fascism and the use of ways and means to reduce
the nonwhite population and exploit the rest.

[applegrove]

15. It is called liberalism in Canada.

[31j20b3]

18. Liberal and Socialist have been tainted by the Rs and their Big Media

People who care about people might consider operating under a new name. Of course they shouldd choose their own name, but I'd encourage them to choose something that points to their operational goals

Something like, perhaps, party for FAIR-DEALERS

That isn't to say dump the name Democratic Party, but rather use media interactions to press an new association of democrats with the concept of emphasizing policy that produces fair-deals for US citizens.

DEI fits under fair deals. Social Security and Health Care fit under fair-deals. Protecting the poor from the ravages of coporate domination fits under fair-deals.

A little imagination could make the R's jobs a bit more challenging that calling out 60 year old memes from John Birch

[anamnua]

19. John Steinbeck quote

"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires."

[ToxMarz]

20. As soon as the Govt starts bailing out failed "free market" Capitalism, any argument against Govt social programs

for the poeple is just moot and disengenuous greed. Capital just wants Govt taxpayer money for thier profits. Taxpayer moneys should benefit the taxpayers and they should decide how it is spent. Trickling down from the billionaires is not benefiting anyone but the billionaires.

[applegrove]

22. Right you are. Tax breaks for corporations is just a direct

pipeline of government money to rich people.

[Cirsium]

21. It doesn't matter

Sooner or later anyone who opposes the dictatorial rule by the wealthy few and/or opposes the white nationalist agenda in any way will be called a "Communist" no matter what they say or do.