Socialism and democracy

This is in response to the letter from Rod Sink of Elgin in the December Daily Herald, in which he gives examples of "failed socialism," naming a number of dictatorships. He also believes that socialism is contrary to our system of government. Socialism is an economic system and democracy is a political system, and they are not mutually exclusive.

I would like to ask Mr. Sink if he would give up national parks, public libraries, subsidies to the oil, gas and agriculture industries, Social Security and Medicare, all of which are socialist programs?

What such thinking fails to realize is that the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Denmark and Sweden) are all socialist democracies (emphasis on democracy) and, in many ways, are better off than we are in the United States. Maybe such individuals should start their own socialist democracy.

Michael Lee

Wheeling