10 Similarities and Differences of National and Democratic Socialism

4. Both believe in a robust welfare state.

People are usually surprised to learn that Hitler deeply cared for his people’s welfare. It’s easy to imagine a Social Darwinist like Hitler not at all concerned for the health or education of those less fortunate. The reality is that National Socialists believe that tax dollars should be spent on the citizens themselves, not wars in other countries. White Honor writes:

“It supports the welfare of all Aryan citizens, and generous provision for old age. It supports quality education, and direct paths for youths towards a skilled trade or higher education regardless of the family’s income…

And finally, National Socialism believes that the State exists to serve the people and not the other way around like capitalism.  Your tax dollars get spent on YOU, and not endless wars for greed, not corporate interests, not bailouts for wealthy bankers etc.”

Of course, it’s not any secret that Democratic Socialists believe in the welfare of the citizenry. Once again, from Democratic Socialists of America:

“Many northern European countries enjoy tremendous prosperity and relative economic equality thanks to the policies pursued by social democratic parties. These nations used their relative wealth to insure a high standard of living for their citizens—high wages, health care and subsidized education. “