Regarding the letter to the editor titled “Want Socialism? No Socialism? Then Vote” (River Reporter, September 3-9, 2026).

In this letter, the writer lists “some examples of local government socialism: public libraries, public schools, departments of public works, police departments, fire departments,” and others. But the reader is mistaking government services for socialism. 

Services are a function of any government and can take place under any form of government or economic system: a democracy, a republic, communism, a monarchy, capitalism and even a dictatorship.

A police or fire department is not a structure of socialism, and to call it one just feeds into the notion that the U.S. already is a socialist system. 

Clearly it is not. Socialism is by definition an economic system that pays for social services by taking control of and owning the means of production: nationalizing businesses, property and resources and then using the funds to pay for social services, which can be extensive.

So yes, get out and vote for what you believe in, but please don’t mistake social services for socialism.

MJ Schmidt
Damascus. PA