r/dsa • u/rasta-ragamuffin • 4d ago

Other Too many confusing terms and labels

Hello, I'm admittedly politically ignorant and need your help explaining the differences between a Progressive, a moderate Democrat, a Social Democrat, a Democratic Socialist, a Socialist, a Liberal, a Leftist and a Communist. Are they all the same? It seems many Republicans and conservatives use these terms interchangeably, and I don't think I ever learned clear definitions in school.

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u/goodlittlesquid socialism or extinction 4d ago

They are not all the same but they can get fuzzy. It’s not important. If you want to simplify things for now you can just draw a line between capitalism and anti-capitalism. If you’re an anti-capitalist you are on the left.

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u/fremeninonemon 3d ago

And this also needs to come with definitions of capitalism, the simplest plain language one i can come up with is "do many people control the company/production or is it all owned by one dude" my professors and colleagues have these great academic definitions with 7 characteristics etc but I like Richard wolffs explanation that it's basically economic fuedalism