Tim O’Mara
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
With all due respect to Dan Schnieders — and thank you, sir, for your service to our country — you did not “respond” to my letter; you responded to the word socialism.
As a retired military person, you yourself are entitled to certain benefits that would fall under the umbrella of government- and taxpayer-supported — socialized? — programs. I’m sure you enjoy a well deserved military pension, health insurance, and other benefits.
Also, if I may assume, due to your service in the ’70s, you are benefiting — or soon will be benefiting — from Medicare, a socialized program most Americans could not dream of being without.
In my letter, I asked readers to check out the Democratic Socialists’ website — www.dsausa.org — and see what they stand for. If you do, I’m sure you’ll see there’s a big difference between what they believe in and what America was fighting against for many years. The DSA wants a healthier, better educated, and better earning American population. Yes, it will cost us all, but we also will all benefit.
Finally, at the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, Democratic Socialism does not equate to Communism.