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

[SocialDemocrat61]

30. Happy Anniversary

And thank you for your thoughtful and well researched posts.

[Celerity]

35. thnaks so much

[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.

[Fiendish Thingy]

23. It's more than semantics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_socialism

Democratic socialism is contrasted with Marxism–Leninism.[22] Democratic socialists oppose the Stalinist political system and the Marxist–Leninist economic planning system, rejecting as their form of governance the administrative-command model formed in the Soviet Union and other Marxist–Leninist states during the 20th century.[23] Democratic socialism is also distinguished from Third Way social democracy[24][nb 1] because democratic socialists are committed to the systemic transformation of the economy from capitalism to socialism,[nb 2] while social democrats use capitalism to create a strong welfare state, leaving many businesses under private ownership.[30] However, many democratic socialists also advocate for state regulations and welfare programs in order to reduce the perceived harms of capitalism and slowly transform the economic system.[30]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy

In the 21st century, it has become commonplace to define social democracy in reference to Northern and Western European countries,[41] and their model of a welfare state with a corporatist system of collective bargaining.[42] Social democracy has also been used synonymously with the Nordic model.[43] Henning Meyer and Jonathan Rutherford associate social democracy with the socioeconomic order in Europe from the post-war period until the early 1990s.[44] Social democratic roots are also observed in Latin America during the early 20th century; this was the case in Uruguay during the two presidential terms of José Batlle y Ordóñez.[45]

While the welfare state has been accepted across the political spectrum,[29] particularly by conservatives (Christian democrats) and liberals (social liberals),[46] one notable difference is that socialists see the welfare state "not merely to provide benefits but to build the foundation for emancipation and self-determination".[47] In the 21st century, a social democratic policy regime[nb 3] may further be distinguished by a support for an increase in welfare policies or an increase in public services.[43]

[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.

[Fiendish Thingy]

24. And, believe it or not, as president, Biden was the closest to a Keynesian since LBJ.

Of course, most of his Keynesian policies were sabotaged by Manchin, Sinema and Josh Gottheimer and the Problem Solvers Sabotage Squad.

[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.

[Auggie]

25. That word can rally their troops. Like your idea -- stay home.

[Boo1]

26. Doesn't mean you have to call yourself one

Nothing but limiting the places when you could compete and the main reason DSA will never be more than a distinct minority of the Democratic caucus.

[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.

[Celerity]

27. The Liberal Party of Canada is not a social democratic party, the New Democratic Party is the social democratic party.

Mark Carney Shows Us His True Colours

From cuts to health care, to details around the sovereign wealth fund, to privatizing airports; Mark Carney is turning out to be just another conservative Prime Minister.

Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro
01:02 Avi Lewis reaction
03:26 Health care cuts
06:55 MAID & mental health
09:06 Sovereign wealth fund
16:25 Privatization of airports
20:54 Mark Carney’s perspective


Mark Carney’s Approval Is Dropping As He Moves Right

New analysis of polling data shows that Prime Minister Mark Carney's approval rating has taken a hit since becoming more overtly conservative.

00:00 Intro
00:51 Health care
03:22 Canada for sale
08:33 Pesticide policy
11:45 Approval drops

[Fiendish Thingy]

29. Small "L" liberalism

The Canadian Liberal party is nowhere near the ideologies of the Social Democracies of Europe, with all three major parties (Libs, Cons and NDP) being controlled by, or under the thumbs of, the dominant industries of Canada: fossil fuel extraction, the FIRE industries (Finance, Insurance and Real Estate), and natural resource extraction (lumber and mining).

Canada itself is an aspiring, but struggling, Social Democracy.

Despite his short comings, I hope Carney’s efforts to make Canada less dependent on the US will draw it closer to the EU and it’s more seasoned Social Democracies.

[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.

[Exp]

28. Too many FASCISTS in the U.S! Remember in WWII, it was the fascists who REALLY hated the socialists. eom

[SamuelAdams]

31. Absolutely.

This is why I don't understand why some insist on calling themselves socialists. Why use an unpopular label instead of simply arguing for popular policies? We can run on a much more robust welfare state and tougher regulations. But running on socialism leaves it ambiguous if you want to end private property or at least private businesses.

[SocialDemocrat61]

32. I have a confession to make

I consider myself a Social Democrat. Surprise 😉

[Bluetus]

33. Pretty sad when affordable day care, affordable rent, and affordable transportation are called "socialism".

I mean, these are the bare necessities for people to raise a familily that will provide the workers for all the capitalist operations. WTF use is capitaism if it can't even provide for the resources it needs?

[BaronChocula]

34. Krugman is tops

Watched Tur's segment where she interviewed him. Now I'm no economist, but I've been saying for years that it seemed to me, Big Business tried to stymie the economy during the OBAMA RECOVERY by not investing with the excuse of uncertainty. They claimed they were uncertain about the future of their tax rates. They claimed they were uncertain about the strength of the recovery. I'm betting their reluctance was part of why that recovery was frequently described as "anemic."

Krugman brought up "uncertainty" in the interview today framing it as an excuse during the Obama years and compared it to today's environment where Big Business is paying to play with a president whose policies cause nothing but real uncertainty. Yet none of them publicly express any trepidation about his agenda like they did under Obama. The racism and hypocrisy are glaring.