If you mistakenly believe the Russians, and then the Soviet Union, tried Socialism, you’ve unfortunately been misled, like 99.9% of Americans. That’s why you don’t know what Socialism is.

Would you be willing to stand up in a room full of people at a political meeting and give them the definition of Socialism? Can you explain the difference between Socialism, Marxism or Communism?

Of course not, because you were never taught that in school. You were not allowed to hear about it. Your teachers would have been fired if they even mentioned it.

Why your Kids Need to Know What Socialism is

The Sun Zu, the Chinese Art of War, has a central tenet for winning battles:

“To defeat your enemy, you must first understand him.”

That means that before you go into battle, if you want to win, you need to know if your enemy has more cavalry or infantry. Does he have artillery? What is the quality of his troops? What about morale? Are the commanders any good?

So, if you want to defeat the Left, you must first understand them and their capabilities.

What is Socialism?

Socialism has nothing to do with a government making economic decisions and deciding that everyone gets the same.

Socialism is actually a way to run businesses. It’s an economic – not a governmental – system. It means the workers (you) have more say in how the cars at a factory will be made, how they will be advertised, when the conveyor belts will be repaired or replaced, what employee benefits (like vacation time and dental insurance) will be, what the work hours will be, etc.

What did I NOT mention? The government.

Lenin Immediately Abandoned Socialism

Vladimir Lenin was a Russia revolutionary who led the Bolshevik party, which overthrow of the Russian royal family and government. He came to believe that the Russian peasants were not smart enough to run the factories, so he instituted a state-run economy.

The state decided how many cars would be made, what colors they would be, what the prices would be, how much the workers would be paid, etc. Everyone got an apartment and an education and health care.

That has nothing to do with Socialism.

Lenin believed the real Socialist revolution would take place in Germany which had educated citizens, a strong economy, art, culture and sophistication, according to historians. THAT’S where he wanted to try Socialism, which he couldn’t do in Russia.

So, he smashed the local worker’s councils in Russia and created a state-run, top-down, totalitarian system.

Linguist and activist Noam Chomsky explains this better in this video (after the crazy lady stops talking). You can start listening at 3:07.

Why Do We Believe Socialism Happened in Russia?

The Socialists of Lenin’s time told him to stop calling what he was doing Socialism. They said he was defaming Socialism.

Lenin, however, wanted the peasants (called serfs) to follow his leadership, so he continued to tell them they were getting Socialism, which had a positive reputation back then.

This is how he was able to cling to power and remain a leader for life. This is how he and Stalin and Trotsky and others kept their power.

Your Grandparents Wanted Socialism

During the Great Depression that occurred in the U.S. in the 1930s, American workers wanted more say in their working conditions. They wanted the right to unionize without being fired.

Remember reading the Grapes of Wrath in high school about Oklahoma farmers wanting better working conditions?

American labor unions grew strong and started lobbying for more Socialism, or more employee input in the workplaces.

The American government and Wall Street were afraid of this, so they started a media campaign to tell American citizens that Socialism was what was happening in Russia.

This is one of the few examples of the U.S. and Russian government agreeing on a message to their peoples (for different reasons).

Bernie Sanders Isn’t a Socialist

Bernie, Liz, AOC and other far-left Democrats wouldn’t know a Socialist if one sat their laps and kissed them on the mouth.

They are New Deal Democrats.

During the 1930s, when our grandparents started asking for more Socialist programs, the U.S. business community and government made a deal with them. They said, “We’re not moving toward Socialism, but we’ll give you a New Deal.

New Deal programs included a federal minimum wage, a new program called Social Security, the legal right to talk about and form unions without being fired, the right to strike without being fired and a large public works program that created many jobs during the Depression working on roads, bridges, national parks, etc.

In the 1960s, two New Deal programs, Medicare and Medicaid, were added.

Do you believe in programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and the right of Americans to join a union? Then you believe in New Deal programs.

Where you probably disagree with far-left Democrats is the extent and number of New Deal programs, such as free college for all, a national health care system, the Green New Deal and a universal basic income.

That’s Why you Don’t Know What Socialism Is

In short, the corporate media has tricked us into believing that Socialism was what happened in the Soviet Union (including the KBG and gulags).

That’s why it’s so difficult to counter far-left arguments – because you don’t know what they’re really talking about.

This is why it’s important that we at least teach high school students what Capitalism, Communism, Mercantilism, Socialism and Marxism are.

Remember, “To defeat your enemy, you must first understand him.”