Democratic socialism vs. malignant capitalism
I read with interest Patrice Onwuka’s op-ed in the Aug. 27 issue of the Valley News. I agree with her that the story of her family, immigrants of color, is inspiring. However, one should be very cautious making broad comparisons between the America of 1986 and 2026. With the current administration’s vilification of immigrants, one wonders if a family of color could even gain entry to 2026 America and, if they did, would they be targeted and deported or at least live under that constant fear? And good luck finding an affordable apartment anywhere near Boston today, not to mention a “fixer-upper.”
I agree that an extreme democratic socialism can be counter-productive. The same is true for extreme forms of capitalism. The capitalism the author so reveres is not your parents’ capitalism. Oligarchs pour hundreds of millions of dollars into our elections. Our country is under an extreme form of malignant capitalism that perverts its true tenets. Onwuka touts capitalism’s benefits “as a beacon of hope to the rest of the world, especially in places where cronyism and corruption reign.” Oh, can I sell you some Trump Crypto or shares in the Triumphant Arch?