Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks during a campaign stop, Jan. 21, in Peterborough, N.H. (Matt Rourke, The Associated Press)
Re: “The middle class and taxes,” Jan. 17 letter to the editor.
Letter-writer Doug Wilhelm submitted a quote from Margaret Thatcher: “The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.” But thatap true with capitalism as well.
Time for some clarification. I refer to my trusted Webster’s dictionary:
Socialism: The advocacy of government ownership, control and distribution of goods and wealth with no private property.
Capitalism: Economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods. Value and availability are determined by private/corporate decision rather than state control.
Progressive: One believing in moderate political change and social improvement by government action. This was a minor party that split from the Republicans in 1912.
My takeaway: being socially minded is not socialism. Even if Bernie Sanders calls himself a socialist, he’s more accurately a progressive. Progressives promote fairness for all people.
If the very wealthy feel put-upon when expected to pony up or level the playing field, they should see it for what it is: a correction in the marketplace.
Patricia Scott, Denver
This letter was published in the Jan. 22 edition.
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