Editorial: Socialism alive and kicking

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

IN THE bizarre way that only it can, the interminable US presidential race is proving riveting for we political junkies.

And it is not just "the fascination of the horrible" provided by Donald Trump. Last week we had the first primary vote in Iowa, and one of the big stories was the success of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, who is up against the more favoured Hillary Clinton.

What is shocking about Sanders is that he is regarded as a "socialist", and it is a label he does not refute.

A socialist doing well in a US poll ... what has happened to the land of the brave and the free and the bigoted?

For some reason, the term "socialist" has had a stigma attached to it in certain countries. In the United States with its "Commie-phobia" obviously, but also in New Zealand.

In Europe, socialist politicians are quite acceptable. Before the last UK election, the Liberal Democrats, formed in part from the Social - yes, Social - Democrats, were sharing government.

But here in NZ, socialism seems to be a dirty word, those tagged with it presumably having no table manners and bad body odour.

Yet, in reality, socialism is about some sense of equality and fairness in society, some sense of the people - via a democratically elected government - having control over the economy and the services which the country provides by means of taxation, and having some counter-balance to the power of private wealth.

In other words, we might regard New Zealand as a fairly socialist country, and John Key as, at least, a fellow traveller.

It is interesting how words are used and invested with meaning, often for political ends.

Other writers in the Chronicle have noted attempts to turn "activist" into an offensive and derogatory term. It is usually done by those in power who fear they may be the targets of that activism.

Those opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership have been called activists as though it was a bad thing. Some of them are probably socialists, too.

"Socialist": Someone concerned with the greater good of society, rather than their own personal gain.

"Activist": Someone who takes action to change aspects of their society which they believe are wrong.