Your Opinion: Democratic Socialism saves lives

A letter Friday warned that socialism kills.

In fact, Democratic Socialism saves lives. Fire departments, ambulances and the roads they travel to rescue people in trouble are the first examples that pop into my mind.

These other socialist programs the letter writer mentioned: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, roads/infrastructure, and (let's not forget) education, are indeed in trouble, because Congress underfunds them, even steals from them, because the majority party's priorities do not include the well-being of The People. In fact, the party of U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt wants to destroy these popular and essential programs by raiding them again to give bigger tax breaks to themselves and the wealthy donors who keep them in office. Locally, state Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, and Gov. Mike Parson are committed to destroying programs that benefit Missourians, programs we collectively pay for, programs that demonstrate the best that socialism has to offer when people pitch in together to create something for the common good. These public officials are the modern equivalent of the greedy who took more than their share of the communally stored grain in the letter writer's cautionary tale.

Instead of being afraid, clear the cache on your computer (another socialist enterprise) and look up concepts like Democratic Socialism at nonpartisan websites that you haven't visited before, or consult a librarian (yet another benefit available to all thanks to socialism). Widen your world.