>> I SAT DOWN WITH REPUBLICANS TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE PARTY IS TODAY.

>> OBVIOUSLY, WE WON THE WHITE HOUSE WHICH WAS A MAJOR VICTORY IN 2016.

AND A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DRIVEN BY A STRONG AND DYNAMIC INDIVIDUAL AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WE CONTROL BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS.

AND MAJORITY OF SUPREME COURT.

WE CONTROL THE MOST GOVERNORSHIPS AS WELL AS THE STATE LEGISLATURES.

HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE HAVE GOVERNOR BAKER.

BUT WE NEED TO DO A LOT BETTER AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL.

>> YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THE WAY THAT THE PARTY IS RIGHT NOW, WOULD YOU SAY THAT IT IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS YOU'VE KNOWN IT FOR YEARS OR IS THE PARTY DIFFERENT?

>> THE PARTY'S ALWAYS EVOLVING.

YOU HAVE THE CORE VALUES THAT ARE NOT GOING AWAY.

>> HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THEM?

>> THE FAMILY TRADITION.

WE TRY TO LIVE OUR LIFE ON FAITH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

IF THE FIRST THREE ARE IN ORDER, THE FAMILY TRADITION.

FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE.

YOU WANT EVERY DOLLAR ACCOUNTED FOR.

OVERALL IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT.

NO LONGER I'M A JFK DEMOCRAT, I'M VOTING DEMOCRAT.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT POCKETBOOK AND SAYING WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING MONEY NOW ESPECIALLY SINCE TRUMP COME INTO OFFICE.

AND WITH THAT, I HAVE BUSINESS OWNERS COMING TO ME AND SAYING I CAN TAKE CARE OF MY EMPLOYEES NOW.

I WANT TO HELP THEM.

THE BUSINESS OWNERS ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE HEALTHCARE CRISIS.

THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S ABOUT WE THE PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK THERE IS A CLEAR DIVIDE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW.

THOSE WHO SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SEE WHAT HE'S DOING AND AGREE WITH IT AS I THINK YOU'VE INDICATED YOU DO AND THOSE WHO DON'T.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY OR WHAT HAVE YOU RECOGNIZED ABOUT THAT DIVISION?

THOSE WHO SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THOSE WHO DON'T BUT STILL IDENTIFY AS REPUBLICANS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, CERTAINLY, I WAS A DELEGATE AT THE LAST NATIONAL CONVENTION.

AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THE PARTY SO UNITED BEHIND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE -- THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN WHO WAS ON NPR EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> AND STEVE SCMITT IS ON MS NBC IS TO BE THE CONTRARY REPUBLICAN.

>> FOR A LONG TIME, HE WAS IN STEP WHETHER IT WAS JOHN McCAIN OR GEORGE W. BUSH.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT HE SAYS THAT HE'S STILL A REPUBLICAN?

HE WANTS TO BELIEVE IN THOSE THREE Fs YOU POINT OUT.

CLEARLY, SOMETHING IS DIFFERENT FOR HIM AND OTHER REPUBLICANS.

>> KEEP IN MIND, IT'S EASY TO PLACE BLAME.

IT'S TOUGHER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, HE'S A BUSINESS OWNER.

HE'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.

IT'S NOT POLITICS AS USUAL.

HE SEES A PROBLEM, HE'S GOING AFTER IT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT HE IRRITATES THE REPUBLICANS OR THE DEMOCRATS.

IT'S THE FACT THAT HE CAME IN AND HE'S LOOKING TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE.

THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE.

THAT'S BEEN ON THE TABLE FOR DECADES.

AND IT'S EASY TO BLAME THE MAN ON THE TOP.

WE'RE JOKING.

YOU USUALLY HAVE A TARGET ON YOU AND GET BLAMED FOR EVERYTHING.

BUT LOOK AT CONGRESS.

CONGRESS BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE HAD DECADES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE THEY?

NO.

THEY POINT FINGERS AND BLAME AT EACH OTHER.

>> TO YOUR POINT, PRESIDENT TRUMP RIGHT NOW IS CLEARLY POINTING THE FINGER AT DEMOCRATS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION AND SEPARATING CHILDREN FROM THEIR PARENTS AT THE BORDER.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IT'S THE DEMOCRAT'S PROBLEM.

>> HE CREATED THE LAW.

AND NUMBER TWO, IT'S LIKE THEM TAKING THE FAKE PHOTOS OF KIDS IN CAGES AND TURNS OUT THE PHOTOS WERE FROM 2014 DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND THEN IT'S THE FAKE NEWS THAT TRIES TO PIN THAT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WHAT IS GOING ON THERE, IT'S ALL A STUNT THAT THEY ARE BASICALLY TAKING PHOTOS MANIPULATIVE LOUISIANA SPEAKING IN ORDER TO JIN UP THIS NOTION.

WHEN, IN FACT, THE PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO SAY NO, I'M NOT JUST GOING TO LET YOU RUN ACROSS THE BORDER AND SAY I'M HERE FOR ASYLUM.

IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

WE NEED TO ENFORCE THE LAWS AND WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT WE NEED CONGRESS TO ADOPT AND WE NEED THE BOTH PARTIES TO GET TOGETHER TO FINALLY SOLVE IT.

WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS MIDTERM FINGER POINTING.

>> YOU TOUCHED ON SOMETHING EXACTLY THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND TALKED ABOUT IT WITH DEMOCRATS ON THE POINT OF DIV DIVISIVENESS OF DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE PARTIES CAN COME TOGETHER TO AFFECT SOME CHANGE?

>> I WISH THEY WOULD GET RID OF THE TOP FIVE DEMOCRATS AND TOP FIVE REPUBLICANS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD DO?

>> THAT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF THE EGO OUT OF IT.

AND A LOT OF THE OLD-STYLE POLITICS.

AGAIN, WE CAN'T GET ON TERM LIMITS.

BUT YOU'D HAVE FRESH BLOOD IN THERE.

PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET THINGS DONE, HOPEFULLY.

AGAIN, WE GO BACK TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE WAS A FRESH BASE COMING IN.

HE HAD NO ALLIANCES TO REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

I THINK CHARLES CALLED HIM A PRAGMATIC.

HE SEES A PROBLEM AND WANTS TO GET IT DONE.

WE NEED CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS THAT AREN'T WORRIED ABOUT STUFFING THEIR CAUCUS AND LET'S SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

IT CAN BE DONE.

>> YOU TWO ARE REPUBLICANS HERE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

TEND TO TREND BLUE.

>> REALLY?

>> I KNOW, SHOCKING; RIGHT?

WHAT IS THAT LIKE BEING IN THE POLITICAL MINORITY.

>> I SEE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN MASSACHUSETTS DELVE SUPPORTERS.

THEY ARE WORKING TO GET THE JOB DONE.

BUT TO AVOID THE FIGHT AND TO AINVOICE THE GRANDSTANDING FROM DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES, THEY DON'T PUBLICIZE THE FACT.

>> YOU THINK THERE ARE MORE REPUBLICANS LIVING IN THIS REGION THAT MAYBE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT?

>> MORE CITIZENS IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH CONSERVATIVE VALUES.

AND FAMILY VALUES THAT DON'T HAVE TO STAND IN FRONT OF A CAMERA OR DON'T HAVE TO GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND BLAME EVERYBODY ELSE, THE OTHER SIDE, IF YOU WILL, FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS IN AMERICA.

THEY JUST WANT THE PROBLEMS SOLVED.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN CHANGES AND SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN ELECTED, ARE MORE PEOPLE COMING OUT?

I KNOW YOU HAVE LOTS OF GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS AND TRYING TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE IN WESTERN MASS.

ARE YOU SEEING MORE PEOPLE WILLING TO COME OUT AND HAVE A CHAT ABOUT THIS?

>> I KNOW IN 2016, WE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE CAUCUS TO ELECT THE DELEGATES TO THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

AND I WOULD SAY ALSO PRESIDENT TRUMP DID GET A THIRD OF THE VOTE IN MASSACHUSETTS CONSIDERING HE NEVER CAMPAIGNED IN THE STATE.

AND THE STATES ARE BASICALLY WRITTEN OFF WHETHER IT'S RED OR BLUE.

IT'S LIKE THE DEMOCRATS DON'T GO TO ALABAMA.

YOU ARE IN THESE SITUATIONS.

UNLESS YOU ARE IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATES WHERE THESE THINGS GET CLOSE, THAT'S STILL AN EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF THE VOTE HE RECEIVED.

>> IT'S A BROAD ISSUE.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

>> WITH A REPUBLICAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE, MIDTERM ELECTIONS HAVE TAKEN ON A BROADER MEANING FOR DEMOCRATS.

HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED AS DEMOCRATS.

SOME LOCAL DEMOCRATS SAY PARTY MEMBERS ARE FUTURE FOCUSED AND FIRED UP TO PARTICIPATE.

SPOKE WITH ME ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR PARTY TODAY.

>> IT'S VERY EXCITING TO BE A DEMOCRAT.

I CAN'T THINK OF A TIME IT'S BEEN SUCH A STAR CONTRAST NATIONALLY.

AND I THINK EVEN STATEWIDE.

THE VALUES ALWAYS STOOD FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY CARING ABOUT THE WORKING FAMILIES IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THEY JUST REZ I GO NATE NOW WITH EVERYBODY.

IT'S -- RESIGNATE NOW WITH EVERYBODY.

AND SOME OVERREACTION BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE, WE HAVE THE ISSUES WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

IT IS A GREAT TIME TO BE A DEMOCRAT.

>> WHEN YOU SAY STARK DIVISION, DO YOU MEAN NATIONAL AND STATE OR REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> I WOULD THINK CERTAINLY NATIONALLY.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK WHAT YOU ARE SAYING NOT JUST SO MUCH IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BUT HOW PEOPLE ARE.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE.

PEOPLE ARE VERY UPSET.

A LOT OF THINGS WITH TRADITIONAL VALUES.

PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING CHALLENGED.

I THINK BASICALLY ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

AND I THINK THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS VISION OF THAT.

WHETHER IT IS, AGAIN, EQUAL PAY, THEY PAY MEDICAL LEAVE.

WHETHER IT'S EQUALITY WHETHER IT'S THE SANCTITY OF IMMIGRANTS.

PEOPLE HAVE JOINED GROUPS.

PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO DO IT.

I'VE SEEN MORE PEOPLE.

I HAVE NOT HAD ATTENDANCE LIKE THIS IN THE MEETINGS SINCE THE LAST YEAR AND-A-HALF.

IT'S AMAZING.

AND THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING.

>> ARE YOU HEARING PEOPLE COMING TO YOU WITH NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT DEMOCRATS STAND FOR OR SAYING THEY WANT TO RENEW COMMITMENT TO THE PARTY?

THE 2016 LAW, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY SECRET THAT PEOPLE FELT DISENFRANCHISED AFTER THAT AND CONFUSED.

>> SURE.

AND WHAT I SEE HAPPENING IS MORE PEOPLE CATALYZING THE STEP UP INTO THE LEADERSHIP.

THE THING PEOPLE ARE COMING TO FOR ARE MORE FOCUSED ON THEIR CHOICE TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF OPEN POSITIONS THAT HAVE COME IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT REALLY.

THE THING PEOPLE ARE COMING TO, WOMEN IN PARTICULAR IS I WANT TO RUN.

TELL ME HOW I CAN BEST RUN.

TELL ME HOW I CAN BEST PUT MY TEAM TOGETHER AND USE MY LEADERSHIP TO STAND FOR THE DEMOCRATIC VALUES.

>> WHAT ARE THOSE DEMOCRATIC VALUES, IF YOU SAY, IF I ASKED YOU TO PICK THREE.

MAYBE ONE EACH TO SPEAK TO THAT REALLY YOU CONNECT WITH THAT HELPS YOU TO SAY, YES, THIS FEELS TO ME LIKE IT RUPTS WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STANDS FOR.

>> BASIC SAFETY AND SAFETY NET.

BACK IN THE 1930s WITH FDR, THE NEW DEAL WAS PASSED AND MANY REPUBLICANS HAD BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST THAT NEW DEAL SINCE.

THE REMOVAL OF PROTECTIONS OF PEOPLE AND TO WEAKEN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND TO REDUCE WORKERS' RIGHTS.

AS WELL AS ALL KINDS OF OTHER PROTECTION.

SOCIAL SECURITY.

IT'S VITAL THAT DEMOCRATS STAND FIRM FOR THOSE SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROTECTIONS THAT ALLOW US TO EXIST AT A BASIC LEVEL SO WE CAN THRIVE AND GO ON TO FORM COMPANIES.

THE BASIC VALUE OF SAFETY IS SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS DO STAND FOR.

>> AND I THINK ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY AND DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR EVERYBODY AS A BIG UMBRELLA ALL ENCOMPASSING AND EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.

ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES NOW AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE, IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT IS THE FIGHT TO 15.

THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE AN HOUR.

THAT HAS BEEN A DEMOCRATIC ISSUE.

ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE AT 70% FAVORITE.

JUST ONE SMALL EXAMPLE.

THEY HAVE STOOD FOR THAT.

A CONCERN OF EVERYBODY AT A LEVEL IN MASSACHUSETTS AND EVERY CITIZEN.

>> ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT?

>> I WILL ADD THE BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS.

ANOTHER PIECE ON THE BALLOT IS THE ATTEMPT TO ROLL BACK TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

>> PASSED HERE IN 2016 IN MASSACHUSETTS.

>> EXACTLY.

I REALLY BELIEVE PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE DEMOCRATS REALLY STAND FOR THOSE VALUES AND WANTING TO UPHOLD THROUGH THE PROS HE.

>> SO NOW AS WE LOOK AT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, IN PARTICULAR, SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DIVISIVE TIME IN THOSE POINTS YOU POINTED OUT, WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE A HAND UP NOT A HANDOUT.

AND THEY WANT PEOPLE TO FIND THAT SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR THEM THEMSELVES.

HOW DO YOU FIND A COMMON GROUND AS TWO DIFFERENT PARTIES TO -- HOW DO YOU WORK TO FIND A COMMON GROUND HERE OR SHOULD?

>> FINDING A COMMON GROUND CAN BE EASY IF BOTH PARTIES APPROACH THE OTHER WITH A SENSE OF CURIOSITY AND UNDERSTANDING.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK IT'S BEING APPROACHED NOW?

>> WELL, NOT IN THAT WAY.

I THINK THAT WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE KNOW THIS WHEN THEY ARE HAVING FACEBOOK DISCUSSIONS.

ONE PERSON WILL MAKE A STATEMENT.

THE OTHER PERSON CALLS THEM IDIOTS.

WHEN YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT OF WAY REJECTION OF THE OTHER PERSON AS A LEGITIMATE HUMAN BEINGS OF THOUGHTS OF YOUR OWN, YOU CLOSE OFF ANY ATTEMPT AT COLLABORATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

SUCH A LACK OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT RIGHT NOW.

BLAME IT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

DOESN'T HELP.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE ON THE POSITIVE SIDE.

ALWAYS HAD THIS KIND OF RESPECT.

I KEEP SAYING THIS BIG UMBRELLA.

ALWAYS PRIDED OURSELVES THAT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME IN THE PARTY AND TO SPEAK THE PART.

AND AT THIS CONVENTION WE JUST HAD TWO WEEKS AGO, AS I SAID, A FOURTH OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DELEGATES HAD NEVER COMMITTED TO GO.

HAD TO RUN AS A DELEGATE.

AND THEN EVEN THE PARTY BALANCE AND TO MAKE SURE THE BALANCE THEY HAD ADD ON BALANCE.

AND MAKE SURE EQUAL NUMBER OF MEN, WOMEN OF ALL AGES.

AND THIS HAS BEEN THE TRADITION OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS WELL.

EVERYBODY FEELS WELCOME AND FEELS RESPECTED NO MATTER WHAT THE DIFFERENCES ARE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED RECENTLY IS THERE'S A RESURGENCE OF THE SOCIAL PART HERE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM, THEY SAID THEY FELT LIKE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS BROKEN AND THIS WAS A NEW WAY TO GET AT THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY SEE NEED TO BE FIXED.

>> SOME OF THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN LEFT OVER BETWEEN BERNIE SANDERS AND HILLARY.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS UNITED GOING FORWARD.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS BROKEN -- SPOKE IN THE PARTY.

HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE SANDERS CAMPAIGN.

HE WAS WELCOMED.

I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT GOING FORWARD.

WE HAVE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS.

KEEP SAYING IT BUT I THINK EVERYBODY IS WELCOME TO PICK A GROUP.

ONE VOICE.

>> A BROAD TOPIC.

>> DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM WAS A PHRASE BATTED AROUND IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

FOR AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, I SPOKE TO THREE PEOPLE FROM THIS REGION WHO CALL THEMSELVES DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS.

MEGHAN LEMAN, EDWARD COLLINS JR AND DAVE LAR-TEEG.

>> GOT ALARMED TOWARDS THE END OF THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

NOT JUST AT THE OUTCOME BUT WHAT WAS LEADING UP TO IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE FELT THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ADEQUATE ALTERNATIVE TO CAPITALISM GOING ON.

THE BERNIE SANDERS CAMPAIGN REALLIEE ELECTRIFIED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND INTRODUCED THEM TO THE IDEA THERE WAS ALTERNATIVE TO THE SYSTEM WE HAD BEEN PROCEEDING UNDER THE IDEA IT WAS CARVED IN STONE.

>> HOW DID YOU BECOME AWARE OF THIS?

WAS IT BERNIE SANDERS THAT CALLED ATTENTION TO IT OR RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN?

>> AT FIRST I BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE STRUGGLES AGAINST RACISM AND THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM IN THE PIONEER VALLEY.

THAT'S WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED ME TO ACTIVISM AND SOCIALISM.

ONCE I LEARNED MORE ABOUT THAT AND LEARNED THAT THE CONNECTION TO CAPITALISM AND HOW IT ACTUALLY CREATES THIS INEQUALITY AND BENEFITS FROM THAT INEQUALITY, THAT'S WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO BECOME A SOCIALIST AND ACTIVE IN A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

>> SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS WORD, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CERTAINLY LOOK AT THIS IN A VERY NEGATIVE THING FOR THEM.

AND CERTAIN STEREOTYPES ATTACHED TO IT.

AND THERE'S VIDEO ON THE DSA WEB SITE.

I'LL HAVE US TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT IT.

>> DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM.

I KNOW YOU KNOW YOU THINK IT IS FROR STRONG MEN WITH MUSTACHES.

>> IN THAT VIDEO, STRONG MEN WITH ELABORATE MUSTACHES AND FRENCH COLLEGE STUDENTS.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE THIS MOVEMENT?

>> DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM AND VERY OFTEN IT GETS MENTIONED WITHOUT THE WORD DEMOCRATIC WHICH IS A MISTAKE.

REALLY ABOUT A FAIR ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

ISN'T MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

>> BERNIE SANDERS OFTEN SAYS HE DEFINES HIMSELF AS A SOCIALIST.

>> WHEN HE'S CHALLENGED, HE SAYS DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM.

WE BELIEVE IN DSA IN EVERY ORGANIZATION DOESN'T SUBSCRIBE TO A PART OF THIS BUT WE BELIEVE ANY SOCIALISM IS ARRIVED AT ANYTHING EXCEPT A DEMOCRATIC MEANS TO UNIVERSAL SUFFORAGE AND GETTING SUPPORT IS NOT GOING TO BE LASTING.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO SEE THIS AS A NEGATIVE THING CONCERNED IT WILL NOT HELP THIS COUNTRY, THEY SEE IT AS IT'S A COMPLEX IDEOLOGY BUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD INHIBIT INNOVATION AND LIMIT PERSONAL FREEDOM.

>> WE CANNOT HAVE SOCIALISM WITHOUT DEMOCRACY.

IT WOULD ACTUALLY CREATE MORE FREEDOM, MORE DEMOCRACY.

THAT HAS TO BE FUNDAMENTAL TO WHAT SOCIALISM IS.

AND WE SEE THAT IT NEEDS TO COME FROM BELOW.

>> WE'RE DEALING WITH DECADES OF PROPAGANDA AGAINST THE IDEA OF SOCIALISM.

THIS IDEA THAT SOCIALISM IS A SYSTEM IN WHICH EVERYTHING IS TAKEN AND BROUGHT UP TO A PARTY BOSS AND REDISTRIBUTED TO A FEW PEOPLE.

THAT'S CAPITALISM.

THAT'S HOW CAPITALISM WORKS.

THE PROBLEM WITH SOCIALISM IS YOU RUN OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.

THAT'S CAPITALISM PROBLEM.

YOU CAN ONLY VACUUM UP WEALTH TO THE 1% FOR SO LONG BEFORE THERE'S NO MORE TO BE HAD.

A LOT OF THE CRITICISMS OF SOCIALISM THAT THE MEDIA AND THE PUNDANT CLASS HAVE PUT FORTH IS ACTUALLY A VERY STRONG CRITICISM OF CAPITALISM ITSELF AND DOESN'T APPLY TO SOCIALISM.

>> SO I KNOW THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THERE'S BEEN A PIONEER VALLEY CHAPTER.

HOW IS THIS CHAPTER NOW DIFFERENT AND WILL IT BE LASTING?

>> THE REASON IT'S PIONEER VALLEY IS WE WANTED TO EXTEND THIS NOT JUST IN THE NORTH PART OF THE VALLEY WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISM AND SO FORTH BUT ALSO IN PLACES WHERE IT CAN DO THE MOST GOOD.

AND FOCUSING ON THE SPREAD BEYOND NORTH HAMPTON AND SOMETHING HAS BEEN GOOD FOR US.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

ALSO, WE CANNOT IGNORE WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS THE BERNIE BUMP.

DSA INCREASED MEMBERSHIP BY 600% IN 18 MONTHS.

AND IT IS WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT THIS TIME AROUND IS REACHED OUT BEYOND THE COLLEGE COMMUNITIES AND ALWAYS HAD ROOTS BUT HAD A VERY TRANSIENT MEMBERSHIP.

AND THEY MOVE AWAY.

ONCE YOU BRANCH OUT INTO THE LOWER VALLEY INTO THE MORE INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITIES.

IT'S A GOOD THING.

IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO LAST LONGER.

MOST OF THAT GROWTH NOT ALL OF IT IS HAS BEEN AMONG MILLENNIALS.

AND THEY ARE ENTERING THEIR WORKING YEARS UNDER A VERY DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT -- WHERE THERE WAS PLENTY OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE JOB THAT YOU HAD IN A FACTORY IN 1950s OR 60s, YOU WALKED DOWN THE STREET AND GOT ANOTHER ONE.

WE HAVE A GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION.

HIGHLY EDUCATED AND HIGHLY SKILLED.

THEY ARE BROKE BECAUSE THEY ARE BURDENED WITH STUDENT DEBT AND AREN'T THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE THERE FOR EARLIER GENERATIONS.

THEY HAVE A CLEAR PERCEPTION OF WHY THAT IS.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY ARE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST SOLUTION.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION.

I'VE SEEN AMONG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS THIS CONCEPT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND WE WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

WHAT WOULD THAT WORLD LOOK LIKE?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE CAN WAKE UP EVERYDAY AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PAY THEIR RENT OR BUY GROCERIES OR BUY THEIR KIDS NEW SHOES.

FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS A JOB.

THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE STRESSED ABOUT LOSING THEIR JOB.

PURSUE THINGS, ART OR MUSIC THEY WANT TO PURSUE.

FREEDOM FROM DEPORTATION, RACISM AND EXISM THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HERE.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR CONNECTING POINT FOR JUNE 22ND, 2018.

REMEMBER YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME AT WGBY.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

STORIES WE'LL BE CONNECTING YOU WITH NEXT WEEK.

>> RECOVERY IS A PROCESS.

ONE WE'RE TRYING TO STRIVE TO IMPROVE YOURSELF AND INCREASE WELLNESS.

>> TARIFFS ARE MUCH MORE DISRUPTIVE NOW AS OPPOSED TO RAISING AND LOWERING THE GOODS.

>> SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY AT 7:00.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK PD.