Seven Reasons for Supporting Social Democracy

The highly original argument of Seven Reasons for Supporting Social Democracy relies heavily on historical wisdom and socio-economic evidence, as well as on the irony, paradox and whimsy of turning traditional terminology back on itself. Conservatives claim to value community and the family, but have embraced neoliberalism and therewith policies that threaten both. Liberals value the freedom of the individual, but do not object to conservative policies or capitalist activities that subvert that freedom for millions of individuals. Conservatives and capitalists value property and object to “nationalization”, yet corporate capitalism has taken more property from private individuals than governments have even dreamed of doing, Democracy and capitalism grew up together as partners, but in recent decades, no agent has been responsible for more assaults on democracy than has been global capitalism. A careful reading of any sacred scripture will quickly show the lack of support for capitalist greed and rapaciousness and the very real exhortation to aid one’s neighbour in distress. No socialist party today talks much about nationalization, but all actively work for the benefit of the individual, the family and the community, for something approximating equality of opportunity, and for the extension of liberty to every individual. Why, then, are Canada and the United States the only economically advanced democratic nations never to have enjoyed a social democratic government at the national level? Why do both countries have so much systemic racism, such large prison populations, such wide-spread poverty? Why is the United States so different from every other advanced country with respect to social welfare, gun control, health insurance, capital punishment, conversion to metric, knowledge of politics, history and geography? Seven Reasons for Supporting Social Democracy concludes with responses to these questions. Social Democracy is not the panacea that will resolve all problems, but it will help us better understand their causes and envision the path towards a better world. In short, Seven Reasons for Supporting Social Democracy makes a persuasive case for supporting the political Left, for extensive social reforms improving the lives and opportunities of the majority, for a better-informed and more sophisticated political culture, and for placing substantial restraints on global capitalism.