Isthmus blogger David Blaska recently ran a list of local lefties that included "John Nichols, socialist." He may have meant this description of Cap Times associate editor and Nation correspondent as a putdown. But don't expect Nichols to complain.
His brand-new book is called The S Word: A Short History of an American Tradition... Socialism. The United States, writes Nichols, "has always been and should continue to be informed by socialists, socialist ideals and a socialist critique of public policies." He says the word socialism should be embraced as having "the power to frighten, inform and inspire Americans."
So does John Nichols.