Editor,

I read with interest Mr. Kiser’s letter, “Democrats revealed their ignorance with Sanders,” in the Wednesday edition of The Record. His attitude toward Sen. Bernie Sanders is not, however, what concerns me. What concerns me is his failure to understand that elements of socialism are built into our constitution and are reflected by several laws that many of us benefit from. Note that I said elements of socialism. I receive Social Security and benefits from Medicare. Both of these are government programs paid for by current wage earners. Some view social Security as a savings account.  It’s not.

Those making an income today pay for it the same way I paid before I retired. The same is true with Medicare. Both qualify as socialist programs using Mr. Kiser’s definition and any other definition I know of. As I understand it, and my studies taught me, socialism is government involvement in the means of production through direct production or by hiring private capitalist firms to complete such work.

We live in a mixed economy. The Constitution empowers Congress to establish Post Offices and Post Roads. Clause 2 allows Congress to borrow money on the credit of the United States and finally, clause 18 provides the right of Congress to make all laws necessary and proper for executing the powers vested by the in and by the Constitution. What all this would appear to mean is that Congress has the power to authorize building roads, establish post offices and to pass any other laws that it believes will benefit the welfare of the nation and its citizens. These laws may reflect either capitalism or socialism or a combination of both.

The examples of socialist failure used by Mr. Kiser are extremes of such a practice whether Nazi or Marxist.  Whether or not Bernie Sanders presents realistic plans for the nation is debatable. The ignorance of those who voted for him in the primary is not, nor should it be, in question.

GEORGE WESTERGAARD

Clinton