EDITOR:

Michael Glass”s opinion “The Power of a Word” correctly notes that words can shift or lose meaning when misapplied, but it grossly misrepresents Nazism as socialism, deliberately calling Bernie Sanders a “socialist” instead of a “democratic socialist” to exploit the scare word “socialism.” This linguistic manipulation, coupled with historical inaccuracies, collapses under scrutiny.

His central claim — that Nazism was socialism and the term “Nazi” should apply to socialists like Sanders, not capitalists — is false. The term “Nazi” is a colloquial abbreviation for the German political party known as the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Workers’ Party), which existed from 1920 to 1945. The word “Nazi” is derived from the first two syllables of “Nationalsozialistische”

The Nazis’ “socialism” was a propaganda ploy to attract workers, not a genuine ideology. They crushed socialist and communist movements, banned unions, and partnered with corporations like Krupp for militarization. Their 25-Point Program feigned economic reform but prioritized antisemitism, racial supremacy, and expansionism (Lebensraum), fueling the Holocaust and World War II. Democratic socialism, Sanders’ actual stance, advocates public ownership and wealth redistribution through democratic means, like universal healthcare, directly opposing Nazism’s fascist totalitarianism.

The title, “The Power of a Word,” is spot-on: words wield immense influence, shaping perceptions and driving narratives. For decades, “socialism” has been a scare word in U.S. politics, smeared to evoke authoritarian regimes like the Soviet Union, despite democratic socialism’s equitable, democratic framework in systems like Sweden’s. By labeling Sanders a “socialist” and omitting “democratic,” Glass weaponizes this fear, falsely equating his policies with Nazism’s atrocities. This deliberate word choice amplifies the term’s negative connotations, misleading readers into conflating progressive reforms with fascist genocide. The power of “socialism” as a loaded word is evident in its ability to vilify policies like Medicare or public education, which enjoy broad support when untainted by the label.

His claim that Nazis redistributed Jewish wealth like socialists is a distortion. The Nazis stole Jewish assets to fund war and genocide, not to equitably distribute resources — a policy antithetical to democratic socialism.

Its assertion that “Nazi” wrongly targets capitalists ignores Nazism’s fascist blend, neither purely capitalist nor socialist but state-directed for nationalist ends. Meanwhile, it overlooks Trump’s actions — expansionist rhetoric on Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal, and attacks on critics like Chris Krebs — which echo Nazi authoritarianism, though in a democratic context.

The call to label socialists as Nazis and check textbooks fails, as educational materials accurately depict Nazism as fascist, rooted in post-Versailles resentment. By mislabeling Sanders and exploiting “socialism” as a scare word, the opinion exemplifies the very linguistic power it describes, twisting history to inflame and mislead. It trivializes Nazi horrors while distorting political discourse.

It came to my surprise and disappointment that someone decided to write a letter stating an easily fact checked falsehood that “Nazi” in the short form was “National Socialism” and that was Hitler’s philosophy. I notice this author does that frequently.

Dana VanEffen

Escanaba