Thread by @multiplexer

1) I want to talk about this Socialism thing because I find it uniquely annoying.

First, anyone who screams "Socialism!" sounds like some old fuddy from a still from the Great Depression. As a pejorative, It sounds _old_ and the people screeching it sound _old_.

2) In the strict Das Kapital sense, socialism where the government seizes all property and means of production and redistributes it evenly to the workers. There is no strict socialism in the US. There never has been.

3) Even in the times of the 1910s and with Eugene Debs (go look him up, he ran for President) and massive labor riots, the US had a real weak sauce version of socialism compared to Europe. Still does.

4) So what does the @GOP mean when they say socialism?

They mean: "The common people have learned how to run for federal office and win and we are scared and we have to protect our donors."

That is what they mean.

5) Throughout all of history, allowing the working classes get lawmaking powers has scared the bejesus out of the moneyed and propertied class. Whenever that becomes a risk, they screech all sorts of things, "socialism" among them.

6) Has the US passed some Socialist-themed laws? Yes, it has. We have public schools, public roads, public parks, a National Weather Service... these are all services paid for by taxpayers. We have 8 hour days! 5 work days a week! SOCIALIST!

7) But what the @GOP means when they say socialist is not "your freeways." They mean, "the brown people are coming for our jobs."

It was racist code 100 years ago, and it is racist code now.

8) So keep in mind, conservative-based socialism in the US means:

We are afraid of brown skinned working class women from Brooklyn who will talk and pass laws to make lives better for brown skinned working class women from Brooklyn and not our billionaire donor class.

9) We know this because this is always what it means when conservatives say socialism.

No one, and I mean no one, is coming for your property to assume it into a five year planned economy. No one is talking mass countrywide strike. No one is forcing everyone into unions.

10) I am a big fan of capitalism but by this definition, since I am committed to the enlightenment principal of representative democracy, I am also a committed socialist.

Also, I'm learning Russian? Maybe I am brainwashed bourgeoisie? Long live the revolution?

End of rant.

11) Ok, last one --

This is why @aoc scares everyone so much. She is young, smart, latinex, social media saavy and working class. A proletariat has been spotted on Capital Hill! If we get one, there will be MORE. Destroy it with fire!