Democratic socialism

Democratic socialism is the belief that socialist goals, such as greater economic equality, public provision of basic goods and democratic control of major economic decisions, should be reached through elections and civil liberties rather than revolution or one-party rule.

In the United States it is associated with Eugene Debs, Norman Thomas, Michael Harrington and, more recently, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Socialists of America. Typical proposals include universal health insurance, tuition-free college, higher taxes on high incomes and wealth, stronger unions and public ownership of some utilities. Its relationship to "social democracy" is debated: social democrats usually accept a market economy with a strong welfare state, whereas democratic socialists often aim at changing ownership.

Conservatives argue that democratic socialism leads to an expanding welfare state, higher taxes, slower growth and restrictions on liberty, and that it ultimately depends on central control; they often link it to the record of other socialist regimes. Supporters point to Nordic countries and say their goals are compatible with democracy and markets. Many Americans use the word with different meanings. See also progressivism and communism.