By Paul Rozycki

With the victory of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York, the activism of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Abdul El-Sayed’s recent Michigan primary win, the rise of the Democratic Socialist/progressive wing of the Democratic Party seems evident around the nation. And while the movement has inspired a number of voters, it has also caused division within the party and raised concerns from traditional Democrats over electability this November.

Some Republicans have already begun to label the Democratic Party as the Socialist Party, and as a result of the recent primaries I expect one of the featured charges in fall campaigns will be that electing Democrats will bring “SOCIALISM” to the nation. 

For some, that charge conjures up visions of Russian peasants breaking rocks in one of Stalin’s Siberian Gulags or vast armies of toiling Chinese farmers chanting the words of Chairman Mao as they harvest rice. 

Yeah, those guys were socialists – but if every form of government activity is socialist, that includes a lot of things far short of Stalin or Mao.  

So what is socialism? The Encyclopedia Britannica defines socialism as the social and economic doctrine calling for public ownership and control over property and natural resources. Beyond that there are a number of other definitions and nuances, but in its most basic form a socialist government does a lot of “stuff” – including providing many services and playing a significant role in the economy. What that stuff is can vary greatly from one nation to another, and many of those who cringe at the “socialist” label might find that some of that stuff, and many of those services, are things they appreciate and expect from today’s U.S. government. 

In a nod to Jeff Foxworthy and his lauded 1990s comedy routine, “You might be a redneck if…” below are a few things that might actually make you a socialist of one variety or another.

You might be a socialist if….

  1. You think that Medicare and Social Security are working out okay for your grandparents.
  2. You feel that the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is a good idea.
  3. You are glad that there are programs for the poor such as SNAP or subsidized housing.
  4. You support the right for unions to organize.
  5. You appreciate the fact that there is unemployment insurance for those who need it.
  6. Your children attend public schools.
  7. You make good use of the county or city library.
  8. You like to take a walk at For Mar, go to Crossroads Village, or any of the other Genesee County parks.
  9. You appreciate the safety and protection your local police and firefighters provide.
  10. You think the interstate highway system is a pretty good way to get around.
  11. You attended a state university or community college.
  12. You think the Army, Navy or Air Force do a great job of protecting the nation.
  13. You saw Ken Burns’ National Parks documentary on public TV and think the national parks really are “America’s best idea.” 
  14. You are happy to hear that the government is acting to protect the environment.
  15. You watch public TV or listen to public radio.
  16. You are glad to have regular trash pickup at your home.
  17. You appreciate that snow is plowed from your street after a heavy winter blast.
  18. You were relieved over the action the government took when General Motors and Chrysler faced financial challenges.
  19. You really get a kick out of the Blue Angels at the summer air shows.
  20. You are glad they are finally “fixing the damn roads.”
  21. You are a veteran and receive educational or medical benefits.
  22. You are glad to have the mail delivered to your door every day.
  23. You appreciate the fact that you can mail a letter to Key West, Florida or Barrow, Alaska or any point between for the same price.
  24. You are glad there’s a city bus system to get you around.
  25. You were proud when Americans first landed on the moon. 
  26. You’re glad there’s a place to lock up the bad guys and courts and prosecutors to put them there. 
  27. You are glad that there is emergency help for those harmed by floods, hurricanes or other natural disasters. 
  28. You appreciated the response to the Flint Water Crisis, however flawed it may have been. 
  29. You are reassured to know that the government can regulate data centers (and other businesses) in your area.
  30. Heck, you might even be a socialist if you think that selling Bibles, gym shoes, and gold coins out of the White House is a good idea. 

And the list can go on from there.

The number of nations that can be considered democratic socialist is substantial and includes many democratic countries that are not dictatorships, such as Finland, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, France, Portugal, and Spain among many others. While these nations all vary in the services the government provides, all still have private enterprise, market economies, and are vital democracies.

Perhaps you already get my point here: Just because the government provides something for people hardly makes it a model for Soviet or Chinese Marxist/Leninist dictatorships, which grew from a history of violent revolutions rather than democratic elections. Like any organization, governments of any type can do some things well and others badly. 

There are certainly many things right and wrong with current U.S. government programs – and any program deserves a fair examination and evaluation to assure it delivers the promised results. But the discussion is not helped with overblown charges that anything the government does must somehow be “socialist” and will lead the nation to become another Soviet Union or Communist China dictatorship. My hope is that we all can remember that as this election season continues.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in East Village Magazine’s August 2026 print edition.