Why are there no models of democratic socialism?
Although no country has fully instituted democratic socialism, the democratic socialist, social democratic, and labor movements of other countries have won many victories we can learn from. We can learn from the comprehensive welfare state maintained by the Swedes, from Canadas national health care system, Frances nationwide child care program, or Nicaraguas literacy programs. Lastly, we can learn from efforts initiated right here in the U.S., such as the community health centers created by the government in the 1960s. They provided high quality family care, with community involvement in decision-making. But hasnt the European Social Democratic experiment failed? For over half a century, the nations of Western Europe have enjoyed both tremendous prosperity and economic equality thanks to the policies pursued by socialist and labor parties. These nations used their relative wealth to insure a high standard of living for their citizenshigh wages, health care and subsidized education. Mor