Welcome to the show, Matt Bruenig! We’re glad to have the inspiring policy analyst and leftist political thinker on the show to talk about the big-ticket question: what socialism looks like in practice. Answers to the question can be found everywhere from Marxist writings to real-life examples across the globe, depending on who you’re asking. We’re going to Matt with this big question because his research on the policies that make for a strong and supportive social welfare system — single-payer healthcare, child tax credits, parental leave, just to name a few — help illustrate and ground our discussion in programs that improve quality of life for everyone, not just for the rich.

We know we can’t flip a switch and institute socialism. But how long that process will take and what its end result will be is a debate that often polarizes the American left. Matt and others have spoken and written in favor of adopting something like the Nordic model, which centers on a strong welfare state. He also sees value in the example of Alaska’s social wealth fund and in worker co-ops, supporting ownership of your own workplace. This is to say that in Matt’s view, we can find elements of the socialist society we want to build in the world as it exists today. It’s “nothing crazy” — these policies and programs have huge support and remain important institutions for the public good in the communities where they have been established.

As socialists, we might find it easier to get new supporters on board by showing them the numbers — these policies are already in place, and they’re working. We won’t forget what the Bernie 2020 campaign reminded us: If over thirty other countries can have successful universal healthcare programs, why can’t we? But the Nordic model is not without its detractors, and our purpose in this conversation is to hear the case for a specific, policy-based approach to instituting socialism. We hope you’ll find the discussion both exciting and informative.

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