On November 4th, America overwhelmingly elected Barack Obama over John McCain in the mist of a financial crisis. According to the National Journal, Barack Obama is the most liberal senator in the US Senate. Indenpendet and self described democratic socialist, Bernie Sanders, ranked 4th on the list, but was not a liberal as Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden. (http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib.htm)
What does this mean? An African American with a terrorist sounding name with policies more liberal than that of the only socialist in congress was elected to the highest office. Hopefully America has thrown aside its fears of socialism in the same way that many have thrown away their fears of African Americans when they elected a black president.
Its no secret that democratic socialism is the most popular idealogy in the world, if political preference testing tells us anything. Test yourself: (http://www.politicalcompass.org/) Unfortunately, the right-wing has had a monopoly on social issues in America for decades, telling Americans to put up pictures of Jesus in church while they continue to grow the gap between rich and poor.
But as of late the free market has failed us, and unlike 1939 there is no ultimate government stimulus that can get the economy back on its feet. Not suprisingly, while the West was bogged down by the free market, the economic 'poor' houses of Germany and the Soviet Union rose from the ashes to become superpowers with their different forms of government controlled economies.
Its time for the American government to assume more control over our economy. We need public works programs that improve the quality of life while creating jobs. We need socialist education so that all students who wish to improve their lives and make more money for the economy have the opportunity to go to college. We need a universal healthcare program that provides us with better quality and cheaper healthcare, just like much of Europe has done. We need the government to further assume ownership opportunities in the banking sector.
And dont let the right-wing inscribe fear in you and keep you away from these noble goals. Do you trust CEOs over elected officials who answer directly to you. I could similarly ask, do you trust your friends more than complete strangers. In both cases, we have more trust the people we choose (friends and elected officials) over people we are unfamilar with and have no control over (CEOs and complete strangers).