Regarding “What do Democratic socialists want? We took a look at their platform” (July 30): Just as the Tribune Editorial Board asserts that diagnoses by the Democratic Socialists of America come “tantalizingly close” to correctly identifying and assessing the issues with our economy, the editorial board itself also comes tantalizingly close to truly understanding the increasing appeal of the DSA and its views. It describes the current downward economic trends for young people, and it even notes that these young people may understandably be frustrated by the fact that they played by the rules and now struggle to thrive or survive in society. Yet, the board accepts no culpability for arriving at this situation.
According to polling, young people favor socialism more than capitalism. Is this due to professors “with tenure and financial comfort” talking negatively about late-stage capitalism, as the editorial asserts, or is it due to the colossal failure of this country in convincing young people that this economy works for them? Relative to the influence of those professors, does the editorial board truly believe that the current discontent among young people has nothing to do with the possibility that they’ll be worse off economically than their parents, nothing to do with our pay-to-win system of politics, nothing to do with five decades of a stagnant median income, and nothing to do with the ever-expanding wealth inequality that is very obviously economically unsustainable for the long-term prosperity of the country?
Perhaps the heart of the matter is, as the editorial board suggests, the willingness of young people to trust government over private enterprise. Do I trust a well-funded government agency monitored by independent and empowered inspectors general and the Government Accountability Office? I trust it much more than a private entity that demands ever-expanding profit at the expense of anything and anyone else — I wouldn’t trust private businesses to lift a pinkie to help me without a financial reason to do so.
Maybe this is why trust in government is so central to the editorial board’s criticism of DSA. This difference of faith in the capabilities of competent government versus private entities has provided the space for the DSA to become more popular.
As corporate greed and unfettered capitalism run roughshod over the future prospects of young people both in the U.S. and abroad, perhaps the editorial board members should ask themselves how the implementation of their own beliefs have contributed to the destruction of young people’s faith in the U.S. economic system.
— Ethan Feingold, Chicago
CTU admiration of Venezuela
The courageous editorial on democratic socialism was much appreciated and much needed. I add that the mayor is not the only political force in the city leaning that way. A core of the Chicago Teachers Union very much admired Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro, and beyond that, it seems the CTU viewed it as a state worth emulating.
— Neil Gaffney, Chicago
Striking a balance is possible
The editorial about democratic socialists contrasts with the op-ed by Willie Wilson about food deserts (“Poor leadership has allowed food deserts. Urban agriculture can provide quick relief,” July 30). The Tribune Editorial Board decries the socialist positions as an attack on liberty. Wilson proposes government action to incentivize both private and public investment. I would like to see a more in-depth article by the Tribune.
Many countries have balanced social programs with business growth to the satisfaction of their citizens.
— Dave Hubert, Yorkville
What democratic socialists want
The Democratic Socialists of America is a group that has very little in common with those citizens who want to see more socialist policies in our country. America’s democratic socialists (note the uncapitalized words) support policies that would bring our economy closer to that of Scandinavian countries. Good, free public healthcare and education have little to do with ending capitalism.
The Tribune Editorial Board did a disservice to those Americans who want to improve public services and have just taxes on the uber-wealthy, by confusing them with the DSA.
— Bruce R. Smerch, Tucson, Arizona
Editorial exhibits ignorance
The editorial in Thursday’s paper was unconscionably ignorant. Democratic socialism is not the evil the Tribune Editorial Board made it out to be.
I can say this because a few months ago, I wanted to educate myself on this political and economic system, which I knew very little about. I turned to my local library (a “socialist” entity that is free to members of the community), and there I found many fine books on the subject. If you do a Google search on “social democracy,” you will find a clear and concise overview that bears little resemblance to the editorial.
If the editorial board doesn’t know about something, please educate yourself before either speaking about it or, especially, writing about it in a nationally recognized newspaper.
— Bill King, McHenry
Ceasefire is needed in US
In his letter (“Absurd,” Aug. 3), Sanford Stein makes the point that MAGA is just as ridiculous as the democratic socialists. I agree with him, but the letter also illustrates what’s wrong with America right now. We have two sides sniping at one another, arguing over who is the bigger jerk. This comes at a time when real issues are not being addressed. The U.S. government is approaching $40 trillion in debt, and Medicare and Social Security will soon be facing shortfalls.
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Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno have offered a bill to remove the cap on Social Security payroll taxes. I’m not a fan of either senator, but I love the fact that they came together to propose a practical solution.
There’s a lot of focus on attaining a ceasefire in the Middle East, but we also need a ceasefire at home. It’s time to come together on commonsense answers to real problems.
— Gene Sweet, Chicago
Fauci fixated on his legacy
It was rather amusing to watch Dr. Anthony Fauci’s lack of testimony when he appeared before a U.S. Senate committee. One thing is very clear, and that is Fauci is far more interested in preserving his legacy than he is in getting to the bottom of what really caused the COVID-19 pandemic. That is unfortunate, as we might have been better prepared and reacted more effectively had we been given the true facts about what to do and what treatments were effective.
However, I see no purpose in delving into something that happened years ago. The Senate hearing was obviously an attempt to discredit Fauci, which, while perhaps he deserved, was nonetheless a waste of time. It’s another example of why for the most part such hearings serve no useful purpose and why the public has such a negative opinion of Congress.
— Dan Schuchardt, Wheaton
Persecution of Fauci shameful
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and his committee should be ashamed of themselves for persecuting Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fauci has served the people throughout his entire career, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was the face of science, reason and true leadership, at a time when the man who was residing in our White House, who is again residing in what’s left of our White House, was urging people to drink bleach.
To interrogate Fauci now, for absolutely no coherent reason and completely without sense, is shameful and disgusting. I just hope that eventually the current administration and those who support it will finally face accountability and justice for their destruction of American mores and institutions.
— Barbara Lipkin, Naperville
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