Japanese Communist Party and Bernie.

The Japanese Communist Party is the oldest political party of Japan and one of the biggest communist parties in the world, but the question to ask is are they even communists?

Historically speaking, yes! The party does have a history of actual socialist thought and I must applaud them for that, and before I trash on them let me put some praise to them for their efforts on peace and progessivism. Now time to trash on them a bit, I do not believe they are actually communist, nor what could be called socialism, with them more leaning towards social democracy.

While I am not a citizen of Japan, I do have an idea of what people seem to think of the party. The first hurdle of the party is being called a communist party, people, especially freedom loving, g*d-fearing Amerikans, will scuff at the idea of communism, and I heard the whole 'they are just like Communist China, damn Commies!' (even though they denounced China). And the whole sterotype of the sensitive leftist, which the party has failed to move past from, with I seeing many articles attacking them for stances on issues like "suggestive" women in media.

The main problem to focus on for the Japanese Communist Party and other socialist parties is the problem of reformism, while I do see why there is support for reformism and see it as a good option, these parties may face the problem of trying to appeal to bourgeoisie politics, with them barely fighting for any ecomonic alternatives or any real change, instead playing into a more water-down democratic socalist stance.

My point is not asking for a planned economy, socialist market, or even some extreme socialist plan for all socialist parties, but rather to warn of the watering down of socialist politics. I say vote for the party or politcian that represents you the best, and if a party like the Japanese Communist Party does then go ahead, but give them some accountability for their views and try making a change. Playing into more liberal politics is a dangerous route, because the parties and people really become more like them and that is the reality of social democrats.

As a note, when talking about social democracy, I am refering to the more modern understanding of it, with it being basically a more friendly capitalism or a market mixed economy. This is an attack on any socialist that believe in something that can be considered a mixed of socialism and social democracy or am I trying to attack anyone.

Bernie Sanders, the topic that Amerikans will be more familiar with. I will be nice with Bernie Sanders, as I see the good in him, he does seems to aspire making change and tries making a more Amerikan friendly socialism, but... he is another rich politician who does not understand a lot and wants to keep a lot of the system in place. He really wants to make the United States into the next Denmark or the nordic model, which is a discussion I will try to make someday.