The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is no longer a fringe group. From coast to coast, voters on the left are embracing its agenda, often under the Democratic Party banner. But a close reading of the DSA’s platform reveals a radical program that goes far beyond mainstream progressivism—and conservative critics are sounding alarms.
Writing for American Thinker, columnist Vince Coyner argues that the DSA’s proposals are effectively communist in nature, even if the group denies it. “Don’t call them communists!” he writes. “Ask Democrats or DSA members, and they’ll vehemently deny they’re communists.” Yet he contends there is “no light between” the DSA platform and traditional communist ideology, or between the DSA and Democratic Party talking points.
The DSA’s ‘Day Without Capitalism’
The DSA’s website prominently features a program titled “A Day Without Capitalism,” which lays out a sweeping vision for restructuring American society. The platform, as summarized by Coyner, includes universal healthcare at no cost to individuals, publicly owned social housing, demilitarized police, a 32-hour work week, free education through college, and open borders. It also calls for abolishing the Electoral College and placing the presidency and Supreme Court under congressional control.
Coyner takes particular issue with the healthcare proposal, noting that the U.S. already spends about $6 trillion on healthcare in 2026—roughly 20% of GDP—more than any other country. Yet the nation ranks 55th in lifespan. “So clearly, we should shoot for 30%,” he quips sarcastically.
Police Abolition and Crime Concerns
The DSA platform calls for “demilitarizing police departments” and redirecting funds to public services as a step toward “fully abolishing the police and prison system,” which it claims “protects the rich and jails the poor.” Coyner calls this the “most insane” policy in American politics, pointing to the crime waves of the late 1980s and 1990s as evidence that reducing law enforcement is dangerous.
Education and Big Government
On education, the DSA proposes free pre-K through college, a living minimum wage, and cancellation of all student debt. Coyner notes the government already spends nearly $1 trillion on K-12 education, yet many districts see poor literacy and math outcomes. He points out that students in high-spending states like California and New York are outperformed by those in poorer states like Mississippi and Louisiana, suggesting that more money is not the answer.
Climate and ‘Green Future’
The platform envisions a “green future” with a federal jobs guarantee and massive public investment in renewable energy. Coyner dismisses the climate agenda as a “globalist anti-Capitalist hoax,” arguing that so-called green energy is inefficient and environmentally damaging, from mineral extraction to windmill blade disposal. He suggests nuclear power is a more practical solution but claims it is forbidden by the left.
Immigration: Open Borders
One of the most controversial planks calls for ending ICE detentions, legalizing migration, granting amnesty to all immigrants, and ending visa caps. Coyner describes this as an attempt to “erase America’s borders,” noting that over 170 million people worldwide have expressed a desire to move to the U.S. He warns that the DSA’s policy would increase the population by 50% with people who have “no shared values and no culture.”
Constitutional Restructuring
The DSA also proposes abolishing the Electoral College and making the president and Supreme Court subordinate to Congress. Coyner calls this “a knife into the heart of our Republic,” arguing that the Electoral College is what remains of Franklin’s “Republic, if you can keep it.” He contends that the real problem is not the Constitution but leaders who have strayed from its intent.
Public Ownership and Wealth Taxes
Finally, the platform calls for public ownership of the largest corporations and aggressive wealth taxes. Coyner sees this as the core of the socialist agenda: government control of industry and planning of every aspect of life. He argues that this is indistinguishable from communism, regardless of how the DSA or Democratic Party tries to disguise it.
When critics point out the failures of communist regimes—from Lenin and Stalin to Mao, Pol Pot, and Chavez—the usual reply, Coyner says, is that “real” communism has never been tried. But he counters: “Over 100 million dead and counting, but somehow none of that is the fault of the ‘real’ communism.”
Coyner concludes that the DSA’s platform, if implemented, would prove disastrous for the nation. He urges Americans to examine these ideas carefully, for now more than ever, the ability to speak our minds is crucial to the republic we cherish.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/abolish-the-police-seize-the-corporations-erase-the-borders/