1. A person who subscribes to the economically left-wing philosophy of Socialism/Marxism.
2. A derogatory term used in right-wing circles to criticize people who are left-wing.
1. "I think the government should run the economy."
"Oh, that means you're a socialist."
2. "Universal healthcare is a good idea."
"Socialist!"
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A new meaning for a old term to describe the Millennial Generation as being -Unemployed-.
He is not wanting to get a job so he calls himself a Socialist.
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A word that the trump following uses to describe anyone that they don't like
"He thinks trump did literally a thing wrong and isn't the second coming of jesus? He must be an evil liberal socialist"
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An individual, who when drunk, displays an aggressive and vocal concern for their own civil liberties. A Buckfast Socialist will have a strong yet misplaced confidence in their knowledge of the Human Rights Bill.
Les had a reputation amongst the local constabulary as being a loud and obnoxious Buckfast Socialist.
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A social democrat.
A socialist is someone who advocates for the means of production to be controlled by the government or community as a whole.
Because the American political spectrum is skewed to the right they seem to believe that universal healthcare, free university, high taxes, redistribution of property and a strong welfare system are socialist. However, they are not socialist in themselves, only general left-wing notions. Some of these may even be supported by the right, for instance the majority of European conservatives are proponents of universal healthcare, but evidently they are not socialists.
American 'socialists' often cite the Nordic countries as successful 'socialist' countries. Despite this, the means of production in these countries is privately owned, so they are actually social democracies.
American: Bernie Saunders is a socialist.
European: He's not a socialist, he's an American 'socialist'.
American: What's the difference?
European: The latter is a social democrat.
A champagne socialist is someone who talks about and identifies themselves as being someone on the left wing, for example a socialist or communist, but lives a life of indulgence in extremely trivial and material things.
"Dave told me he's a socialist the other day"
"ha, yeah, a champagne socialist more like. Have you seen his new iphone?"
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Namely, any person, be it a celebrity, musician, writer or politician (commonly), who nominally espouse the virtues of Socialism and champion the hardships of living a down-to-earth existence among the disenfranchised and down-trodden of society, yet, actually holiday half of the year on plush islands, accept honours from the Queen and rub shoulders with the affluent over horderves.
These people are generally bleeding-heart Liberals on the outside, relishing the reflective glory of the appearance of being sympathetic to the plight of the working man, yet, when they are confronted with genuine poverty and urban degradation, choose to live far away in the country where the smell can't get to them.
The syndrome can be explained in the maxim, โIf you're not a socialist at the age of 20 you have no heart. If you're not a conservative at the age of 40, you have no brain.", only that a true Champagne Socialist is a person who fails to admit their obvious contradiction in the hopes no-one will notice they went to Eaton or have reneged on all their radical convictions by becoming a rich git (who won't share their money) by adhering to Capitalist/Conservative principles.
These people are commonly found in the Arts.
Person A: Did you hear, that Russell Brand wants to start a Socialist Revolution and dismantle the status quo?
Person B: The twat lives in an expensive penthouse apartment in London and is worth millions.
Person A: Yeah, but that doesn't....
Person B: If he really wanted to tax the rich and redistribute wealth he'd start with himself. But, has he fuck?
Person A: I think you are being a little un...
Person B: Nope. He's a Champagne Socialist, Malcolm. He doesn't believe any of that claptrap. He just wants to appear like he does.
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