“Socialism” is one of the absolute fuzziest terms in political science. It can mean almost whatever you want it to mean. When Republicans use it, they mean it as an insult directed at Democrats and Democratic policies.
However, many aspects of the United States are already “socialist.” Medicare. Social Security. A taxation system that in theory at least on paper hits wealthy people harder (but probably not hard enough, given all the exploitable loopholes). Many of those policies are quite popular, even amongst Republicans!
Righties love to invoke Cuba and Venezuela, but many countries considered “socialist” by some definitions actually do a great job. Like the Nordic countries. When Bernie Sanders talks about “socialism,” he has these successful countries in mind as models.
It’s plain that the term “socialism” needs further refinement before being hurled around as an insult.
I’m a definitions guy. When I say “Banana Republic,” here’s what I mean. A system of government with some or all of these characteristics:
—Cultish support for a charismatic “Dear Leader”
—Claims to represent “the people,” gives them nothing but crumbs
—Rewards for loyal party hacks, demotions to competent people who fail to toe the line
—Lack of commitment to democracy, perhaps the sham outward appearance of it undermined through elections whose outcome is never really in doubt (like Saddam Hussein claiming 100% of the vote).
—Contempt for or outright muzzling the free press, uncritical or invented party-line propaganda in its place
—Brain drain as smart people flee the country due to lack of opportunity and repression
—Fails to invest in the future, preferring short-term looting of the country and its people
—Overreliance on natural resources and fossil fuel industries due to the cratering knowledge economy
I submit that the GOP shares as many of those characteristics as you like.
Caption this Meme 
