Using the word "Socialist" as though it means something is a bad idea.

Or rather, using it as though it only means one thing, and expecting people to understand what you mean by it, is a bad idea.

To the American right, pretty much any provision of public services by the state is socialism. To the Chinese and Soviet Russians, it's mostly a synonym for communism, and opposed to capitalism. Tony Blair claimed that he was a socialist; Ken Livingstone claimed that he wasn't. Various political parties in various places call themselves socialist; some are communists while others are Keynesian capitalists who use the word "socialism" specifically as an alternative to communism.

Anyone who says "The word socialism definately does mean this nothing else, and all these other people are using it wrong" is being silly.

Sadly, the word has lost all value. If you want to use it in political discourse, you need to define what you mean by it first, and once you've defined your term adding the name "socialism" to it probably just gives it extra baggage you don't want.

The only sensible answer to "Are you a socialist?" is "by some definitions".

You have two cows, the government takes both of them and then rations some milk to you. That's communism.

You have two cows, the government takes a portion of the milk they produce and uses it to insure that every one has some milk. That's socialism.

You have two cows, the government leaves all cow owners alone to fight over grazing and feed resources. That's capitalism.


The rest is just people trying to present themselves in the best, local, light they can.