-ism?

Words are fascinating. Some are more fascinating than you'd think. Because they rouse certain people to a quite extraordinary pitch of irritation.

Two of these trigger-words here in North America are “atheism” and “socialism.” Both terms seem to be the work of the devil. At least, that’s how I read certain reactions.

Words. Tools for communication. Nothing more, nothing less — unless you let them grow larger than what they describe. All right, for a lived philosophy and outlook on life — perhaps.

In Europe, neither word provokes anything remotely close to such fierce reactions. Why is that, then? Europe has these fights behind it — the wars of religion, fascism, state socialism. Those who lived through that tend to develop a certain immunity to trigger-words. Scandinavian countries call themselves social nations without the slightest embarrassment — and still land, year after year, among the happiest populations on earth.

Coincidence?

Religion has lost ground — not because the questions have gone away, but because life without hell lurking in the back of your mind simply feels better.

But then: New York City. Yesterday. An avalanche — and for some TV commentators, one that went down entirely the wrong way.

Three — in figures: 3 — candidates from the Democratic Socialists are leading the vote count.

What, Socialists? Is that even legal?

The ancient Greeks would probably have shrugged. Democracy and the common good — that was no passing fashion, that was the whole point.

The term socialism is still associated, in certain parts of this remarkable construction called Planet Earth, with the Cold War and the actually-existing socialists of that era. The theory: distribute resources fairly, dignity instead of arbitrariness. That only sounds threatening if you hold resources you have no intention of sharing. In practice, though, it isn’t socialism as such that works, but social democracy. Which is precisely what the Scandinavian countries already mentioned are doing.

A look back at New York. What catapulted these candidates into the leading ranks of potential winners? No, it isn’t the label “democratic socialism” — it’s voter fatigue. People are tired of the cost of living, the shortage of housing, the uncertainty, and much else besides. Change is what the electorate is after, and what they’re hoping for.

Zohran Mamdani, the 112th Mayor of New York since January 1, 2026. He won in November 2025 with 50.4 per cent against independent Cuomo and Republican Sliwa — the first Muslim, first South Asian, and youngest mayor in generations. He is 34 years old. His platform: a rent freeze for rent-stabilised apartments, fare-free buses, free childcare from six weeks to five years of age, a network of municipal grocery stores, a minimum wage of thirty dollars by 2030 — funded through taxes on the wealthy and on corporations, which requires the approval of the state.

Three democratic socialists backed by Mamdani defeated two incumbent Democratic assembly members in the New York primaries — despite the usual advantages incumbents enjoy: name recognition and the flow of establishment money.

When you beat incumbents with the establishment wind at their backs, you’re doing something right. Usually: you’re talking about the rent, not about yourself. And in doing so, for candidates who feel genuinely committed to those issues.

In the end, what’s driving these candidates isn’t the term social democracy — it’s the issues. And those issues are practical, and they affect the great majority of people: high prices.

Of course, I’m still living my hippie dream. Fair. Free. For everyone. It sounds naïve — but I haven’t found a better dream. The name doesn’t matter. Whether social democracy, democratic socialism, or simply: good politics. What matters is: can someone afford the rent? Does the child get taken care of?

Socialism in Canada? Well, the word is quite at home in everyday speech here. When people get together to eat, to go out, the sentence goes: “Let’s socialize.”

OK — Let’s go!