Short Interview with Socialist Party Presidential Candidate Emidio "Mimi" Soltysik

• So, my first question is. Why did you become a socialist?
• 

  11/4, 11:57am

  Mimi Soltysik

  It's a long story that I'll try to make as short as possible. For the better part of my life, I really didn't care much for anything or anyone, including myself. I was incredibly self-destructive. At a somewhat early age, my health began to fail a bit, and I had to really confront sobriety. As I started to get some clarity, I think I began to understand how to love again. With love and clarity, socialism isn't far around the corner, in my opinion.
• 

  11:59am

  Austin James

  Is there anything specific about socialism that you identified with?
• 

  11/4, 12:00pm

  Mimi Soltysik

  There is a lot specific about socialism that I identified with. Let's start with the idea of putting people before profit.
• 

  12:02pm

  Austin James

  Now, you are the socialist party USA's candidate, and there is a lot of focus this election on socialism with Bernie Sanders campaign. What differs between Bernie Sanders "socialism" and yours?
• 

  11/4, 12:05pm

  Mimi Soltysik

  We probably have different tastes in music. Also, I don't see him proposing worker control of the means of production. He seems to propose more of a social democrat, expanded welfare state approach. Essentially a more tightly-regulated capitalism. That's not going to cut it. Capitalism is inherently racist, sexist, and imperialist. A more tightly-regulated racism, sexism, and imperialism doesn't sound "socialist" to me. He can call himself whatever he wants, of course. But I think it's a good time to have this discussion.
• 

  12:06pm

  Austin James

  So basically Sanders is trying to fix capitalism, not abolish it, by adding a bit of socialism to it?
• 

  11/4, 12:08pm

  Mimi Soltysik

  Adding tighter regulation, creating a stronger social safety net, etc. Policies that I think a progressive Democrat or perhaps a social democrat would likely feel comfortable with, I believe.
• 

  12:10pm

  Austin James

  Now, lets assume you became president, what are the first things you wish to accomplish?
• 

  11/4, 12:10pm

  Mimi Soltysik

  As I said before, my first order of business would be to resign from office.
• 

  12:12pm

  Austin James

  Well, I want to give the average american an idea of what would happen if socialism were implemented. Would there still be political parties, would our lifestyle improve or worsen, basically what could we expect if socialism were to be implemented?
• 

  11/4, 12:14pm

  Mimi Soltysik

  We'd see democratic participation in our work and in our communities. We'd see worker control. We'd see socialized medicine. We'd see universal education. We'd see the incredible amount of money spent murdering people overseas being re-directed toward providing fundamental services.
• 

  11/4, 12:15pm

  Mimi Soltysik

  Key here is, if socialism were to be implemented, it would happen from the bottom-up. Not from the top-down.
• 

  12:16pm

  Austin James

  I see one of the major obstacles for socialism to be the overwhelming power and influence of big business, how can this hurdle be overcome?
• 

  11/4, 12:18pm

  Mimi Soltysik

  When we've seen the people unite, we've seen how incredibly powerful they can be. I think we can both acknowledge the incredible power and influence of big business while also acknowledging the incredible power of the people. I think it's possible to be both practical and optimistic.
• 

  12:20pm

  Austin James

  Do you think all this talk of socialism and Bernie Sanders makes it easier for the SPUSA to get people on board with socialism?
• 

  11/4, 12:24pm

  Mimi Soltysik

  I think it definitely has created more opportunities to have a dialogue about the issues from a socialist perspective. That doesn't necessarily mean that Sanders supporters will initially be supportive of a socialist perspective, but it does offer possibilities, I think.
• 

  12:28pm

  Austin James

  Is there anything else you would like to say before we end the discussion?
• 

  11/4, 12:29pm

  Mimi Soltysik

  I definitely want to say "thank you" to everyone who has been supportive of the Campaign so far. It means an awful lot to Angela and I. It's been a humbling experience and we are incredibly grateful.