73 Years of (Ha, Ha) Progress
Socialism may be the most successful political movement in America.

By Michael Long, a director of the White House Writers Group.
April 11, 2001 9:10 a.m.

n 1979, Milton and Rose Friedman delivered the seminal book Free to Choose. One of its most remarkable elements is the now-famous "Appendix A," listing the 14 economic planks of the Socialist Party platform of 1928. The Friedmans noted that every goal in that document had become a part of American law. The list includes federal initiatives that are today neither attacked nor even seriously questioned by even the most hard-boiled conservatives: nationalization of natural resources, maintenance of public employment agencies, regulation of the workday, and federalization of certain transportation concerns and utilities. Much of the agenda was enacted into law within twenty years of the Socialists' announcement — and twenty years past that, their accomplishments had become an unquestioned part of the political landscape.

It used to be that the looniest ideas of the Loony Left lived only in the Socialist Platform. And when guys like Bernie Sanders needed the company of fellow travelers, they had to show up at somebody's cell meeting with a password and a dog-eared copy of Mao. But these days, Bernie et al can feel right at home with the Democrats, who are borrowing pretty heavily from the proletariat playbook.

So what are the Socialists campaigning for today? It seems wise to take a look at their agenda, because twenty years from now, we could be living it — and twenty years past that, conservatives may even be applauding it. After all, it has happened before. So consider these highlights from the 2000 Platform of the Socialist Party USA — and, while you're at it, marvel at how many of these goals are also supported by the Democrats.

Animal Rights
We call for a ban on animal experimentation for product development….

Campaign-Finance Reform
The Socialist Party supports the public financing of candidates for public office….

We call for the closing of the loophole sanctioned by the Supreme Court under which candidates can spend an unlimited sum of their personal wealth on their own campaigns.

We call for equal access to media for all political parties.

Children and the Family
We support the expansion and full funding of 24-hour childcare facilities….

We call for one year's paid leave to be shared by new parents or in its entirety by a single parent.

We support the rights of … all other caring adults [emphasis mine] to share in the child-rearing process.

We support public childcare starting from infancy, and public education starting at age 3….

Economics
[W]e call for public ownership … of all our natural resources….

We call for a minimum wage of $12 an hour, indexed to the cost of living.

We call for … a 30-hour work week at no loss of pay, with six weeks annual paid vacation, and one year parental leave for new parents at no loss of seniority.

We support the provision of a livable guaranteed annual income for those outside the work force.

We call for … a maximum income of no more than ten times the minimum.

We call for increased unemployment compensation.

Education
[We call for] an end to all public funding and subsidizing of private schools.

We oppose tying teachers' pay to student performance, [and] forcing schools within a system to compete against each other….

We support multicultural, multilingual, experimental education at all levels.

Gun Control
We support federal buyout programs for arms….

[We support] prohibiting weapons whose sole purpose is not hunting or self-protection.

Health Care
We support a single-payer National Health Program … publicly funded through progressive taxation….

Immigration
We oppose all efforts to declare English an official language.

We call for an unconditional amnesty program for undocumented people who should be accorded the same civil rights that other members of society possess.

Military
The Socialist Party stands for unconditional disarmament by the United States….

We call for … rapidly reducing the military budget to less than 10% of its current level.

We call for the disbanding of NATO….

We call for … an end to military recruiting in educational institutions.

We support efforts to organize all workers, particularly … enlisted personnel in the Armed Forces….

Racial Preferences
[Recognizing] the intimate link between racism and capitalism … [w]e strongly support affirmative action ….

We call for the overhaul of the Constitution of the United States in order to achieve a diverse legislative body.

Seniors
We defend the right of seniors to a generous, publicly funded retirement income.

We call for a National Pension Authority to hold the assets of private pension funds….

Women's Issues
We support comparable-worth laws and affirmative action for women.

… And a Few Words to Dream on
We call on all citizens of the world to fight the U.S. military-industrial complex….

We call for children's allowances in order to satisfy every child's basic rights and needs in a stimulating, empowering, and caring environment.

We oppose measures that increase responsibilities and penalties on youth ostensibly to curb crime.

We call for … public ownership of all large databases….

We call for an end to the expansion of the interstate-highway system in conjunction with the reduction of combustion-engine/auto-based transport.