Harry Truman: socialism is what they called .....

[applegrove]

Last edited Sat Nov 22, 2025, 08:10 PM - Edit history (2)

Socialism is what they called public power.

Socialism is what they called social security.

Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.

Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.

—Harry Truman, 1952

— Robert Reich (@rbreich.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T17:15:27.760624Z

[Diamond_Dog]

1. Of course. That's why Rethugs hate it.

[GreenWave]

23. Magats are so stupid they don't even know "nazi" means national socialist.

It was added to make their party popular with the people back then.

[soldierant]

24. Yeah, but don't tell them.

They'll believe that authoritarianism is socialism, when in fact authoritarianism and socialism are not even in the same continuum.
https://www.politicalcompass.org

[summer_in_TX]

25. Authoritarianism is compatible with socialism.

Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro both are / were authoritarians.

It's also compatible with capitalism as well as communism.

Same with the concept of a public good or commonwealth, which are also called a concern for the social welfare, a concept baked into American thought from the very earliest days. It's compatible with any monetary theory, and co-existed for all this time with capitalism, but is related to socialism and communism in some ways also.

BUT, it has never been linked with authoritarianism as far as I know. (Admittedly I haven't studied the topic.)

I wish, how I wish, democratic socialists would realize what they really mean is best described by a concern for the public good, the commonwealth.

Their persistence with the word socialism is sheer denialism. They think they can change people's minds. Nope. Socialism, while it can be used in positive ways, has also historically been used by very repressive regimes.

[soldierant]

28. Of course they are compatible

What they are noy is linked inevitably. That's the point of the link. Most people have no idea.

[leftstreet]

2. DURec

[hvn_nbr_2]

3. "Government ... for the people" equals evil socialism

Anything that government does for the people is evil socialism to these nuts because, in their view, the purpose of government is to give money and power to the rich.

They actually despise the idea of "government for the people."

[twodogsbarking]

4. He wasn't filthy rich, or filthy, or rich.

[Martin68]

5. Shared on FB.

[mountain grammy]

6. Truman was the man

Executive Order 9981!

Probably the most important executive order since the Emancipation Proclamation.

[markodochartaigh]

14. Desegregating the armed forces

was certainly a major push for equality, not only in government action, but in the minds of the general population.

[Autumn]

7. I wish the Democrats would be more like Truman. Instead of like the billionaires.

Now it's Socialism for the rich and Capitalism for the poor.

[applegrove]

15. Deserves to be an OP then maybe someone will pick it up and make a meme of it and put it on Blue Sky.

[BradBo]

8. MAGAs to stupid and racist to understand that.

[BurnDoubt]

9. Ironic that ...

They condemn Socialism because we associate it with overbearing repressive regimes imposing their policies of the point of a sword and targeting and harassing vulnerable groups. For those not paying attention, it should be noted that we're already heading that way under the MAGA JACKBOOT.
Poo Tee Weet.

[Lanius]

13. Socialism is an economic system, not a political philosophy. Most Americans are confused over that.

[NNadir]

10. Harry! Harry! Harry! (I named my cat after him.) On unexpectedly great man who rose to the occasion!

[Hotler]

11. Conservatism is selfishness.

[Wednesdays]

16. "The modern conservative...

...is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness".

-- John Kenneth Galbraith

[lastlib]

22. Also from Prof. Galbraith (my favorite economist):

"Liberals sometimes do the wrong thing for the right reason. Conservatives do the wrong thing for no reason at all."

Two of the best books I ever read: The Affluent Society and The New Industrial State. Profound works of erudition.

[Mr.Bee]

12. Think of the main word in 'Socialism'

is SOCIAL

[Wounded Bear]

17. It's Red Queen territory...

If Repubs call something socialism, that's what it is.

[UTUSN]

18. knr

[BattleRow]

19. Just my humble opinion..but..I thought

Jesus Christ was the original Socialist...

[Quanto Magnus]

21. oh but....

the right prays to Republican Jesus, not the biblical one

[summer_in_TX]

26. I always thought Jesus Christ was the original exemplar of someone who work for the common good.

Not identical to the economic system of socialism.

[Quanto Magnus]

20. Wealthy/banks/auto companies getting bailed out

is socialism

[Rhiagel]

27. Give 'em hell, Harry!

Even from the grave.