There is no single “plan.” Socialists and communists are a family of currents with very different strategies. In the U.S. today, the main socialist groups say they want change through elections, unions, mass movements, and civil liberties—not killing people or a military takeover. (dsausa.org)
Classical Marxism calls for “expropriating the expropriators” (taking major productive property out of private hands) and a temporary “dictatorship of the proletariat” (workers’ political rule) as a transition—not exterminating capitalists. Later Leninist theory adds that the old state machine would have to be dismantled, and that the new order would suppress violent counter‑revolt—again, about ownership and state power, not killing “all bourgeoisie.” (en.wikisource.org)

What those ideas mean in theory

Bourgeoisie vs. proletariat: In Marxist terms, “bourgeoisie” = owners of the means of production; “proletariat” = wage‑workers. The aim is to replace bourgeois class rule with workers’ rule and socialize major productive assets. (en.wikisource.org)
“Dictatorship of the proletariat”: In Marx’s usage, this means the working majority’s political supremacy during a transition to classless society; later practice in some countries turned it into one‑party rule, which many Marxists and nearly all democratic socialists criticize. (marxists.org)
Leninist strand: argues the old state (standing army/bureaucracy) must be “smashed,” and that the new workers’ power would forcibly stop violent attempts to restore capitalism. That is political suppression and expropriation, not a program to kill all capitalists. (marxists.org)

What U.S. socialists/communists say they will do

Democratic Socialists of America (largest U.S. socialist org): explicitly pro‑democracy as means and end; pursue change through elections, organizing, and rights expansion. No advocacy of coups or terrorism. (dsausa.org)
Socialist Party USA: stresses non‑violent, democratic transformation and civil liberties. (socialistparty-usa.org)
Communist Party USA today: promotes a “peaceful transition” via mass democratic action and elections (“Bill of Rights Socialism”). It does not publish a plan to overthrow the U.S. government by force. (cpusa.org)
Fringe revolutionary groups do exist (e.g., the Revolutionary Communist Party historically endorses overthrow and a proletarian dictatorship), but they are very small and not representative of U.S. Democrats or mainstream socialists. (vault.fbi.gov)

Do they plan to overthrow the U.S. government?

Mainstream U.S. socialist and communist organizations say their path is legal and electoral. Advocating violent overthrow is a serious federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2385 (and related laws on seditious conspiracy), which those groups publicly disclaim. (law.cornell.edu)

Bottom line

The core socialist/communist dispute with capitalism is about who owns and controls productive property and the state. In texts, that means expropriation and a transitional workers’ rule; in contemporary U.S. groups, it means pursuing reforms and social ownership through democratic politics—not “killing all capitalists” or plotting a coup. (en.wikisource.org)

Learn more:

**REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNIST PARTY, USA**](https://vault.fbi.gov/George%20Jackson%20Brigade%20/George%20Jackson%20Brigade%20Part%2001?utm_source=openai)
8. 18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

In addition:

Here’s a concise map of the four main currents —what they want, how they say they’ll get there in the U.S., and concrete examples.

Democratic socialist

Core aim: Extend political democracy into the economy (public options, social ownership, strong unions) via democratic means.
U.S. strategy (stated): Elections, issue campaigns, labor and tenant organizing, civil liberties; “democracy as means and end.”
Examples/orgs:
- Democratic Socialists of America (DSA): emphasizes building a majority, elections plus mass movements. (dsausa.org)
- Socialist Party USA (SPUSA): platform stresses non‑violent, democratic transformation and civil liberties. (socialistpartyusa.net)

Social‑democratic / market‑socialist

Core aim: Keep significant roles for markets while greatly expanding public provisioning and democratizing capital/ownership.
U.S. strategy (stated): Win reforms legislatively; build public “options” (banks, broadband, energy), co‑ops/ESOPs, and possibly social wealth funds.
Examples/policy vehicles:
- Public bank: Bank of North Dakota (state‑owned since 1919). (bnd.nd.gov)
- Municipal public broadband/utility: Chattanooga’s EPB (city‑owned utility) offering community‑wide fiber (1–25 Gbps). (epb.com)
- Social wealth fund proposals: People’s Policy Project “Social Wealth Fund for America.” (peoplespolicyproject.org)
- Worker voice in firms: Warren’s Accountable Capitalism Act (board representation, guardrails) and Baldwin’s Reward Work Act (one‑third worker‑elected directors). (warren.senate.gov)
- Employee ownership scale: ESOPs/employee ownership reach tens of millions; promoted by NCEO. (nceo.org)

Marxist‑Leninist

Core aim: Replace capitalism with socialism led by a revolutionary workers’ party; views the existing state as an instrument of capitalist rule.
U.S. strategies (stated) span two lines:
- Electoral/peaceful transition language: Communist Party USA advocates a “peaceful transition to socialism” via mass democratic action and elections (“Bill of Rights Socialism”). (cpusa.org)
- Revolutionary line: Parties like the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) argue the U.S. is a capitalist dictatorship that requires socialist revolution; they focus on building a united front and cadre rooted in mass movements. (pslweb.org)

Anarchist / syndicalist

Core aim: Abolish both capitalism and the state; build a federation of self‑managed workplaces and communities.
U.S. strategy (stated): Direct action and bottom‑up organization—workplace committees, unions, mutual aid, and federated councils rather than parties or parliaments.
Examples/orgs:
- Industrial Workers of the World (IWW): member‑run union emphasizing direct action and “organizing the workers to control the work.” (iww.org)
- Black Rose/Rosa Negra Anarchist Federation: program stresses building power in social movements, strategic unity, and a revolutionary rupture toward libertarian socialism. (blackrosefed.org)

How these strategies relate to “overthrowing the U.S. government”

Mainstream democratic‑socialist and social‑democratic actors in the U.S. explicitly pursue change through elections, law, and civil society—not coups or assassinations. (dsausa.org)
CPUSA’s current program speaks of a peaceful, democratic transition; other Marxist‑Leninist groups use revolutionary language but focus on long‑horizon party‑building and mass organizing, not a published step‑by‑step plan for a putsch. (cpusa.org)
Anarchist/syndicalist groups reject statist power; in practice their U.S. work centers on union and community organizing. (iww.org)

Learn more:

Finally:

Map of Socialist Currents in the U.S.: Goals, Methods, and Examples

A quick, one‑page side‑by‑side reference for four major currents. Focus: stated goals, typical U.S. methods, and concrete examples.

Democratic socialist

Social‑democratic / market‑socialist

Marxist‑Leninist

Anarchist / syndicalist

Current	Goals (what they want)	Methods in the U.S. (how they say they’ll get there)	U.S. examples
Democratic socialist	Extend political democracy into the economy; social ownership alongside markets where useful. Strong labor power, tenant power, civil liberties; production for need over profit.	Elections plus mass movements; labor and tenant organizing; coalition campaigns. Public options (e.g., energy, broadband, banking), co‑ops; expand welfare state. “Democracy as means and end” (multi‑party rights, free speech/association).	Organizations: Democratic Socialists of America (DSA); Socialist Party USA (SPUSA). Campaigns: Medicare for All; public power; pro‑worker NLRB/PRO Act advocacy.
Social‑democratic / market‑socialist	Robust welfare state; decommodify key goods (health, education, care, housing access). Democratize capital via public funds, co‑determination, ESOPs/co‑ops.	Legislative reforms; tax and transfer; sectoral bargaining; public “options.” Build public banks/utilities; incent employee ownership and co‑ops; regulate finance.	Examples: Bank of North Dakota (state bank); Chattanooga EPB (public broadband/utility). Policy vehicles: Social wealth fund proposals; co‑determination/board‑level worker voice; ESOP expansion.
Marxist‑Leninist	Replace capitalism with socialism under working‑class leadership; socialize major industries; planning in varying degrees. View existing state as instrument of capitalist rule; aim to transform it through a workers’ movement/party.	Two lanes in the U.S.: (a) peaceful, electoral transition via mass democratic action; (b) revolutionary strategy focused on building a united front and cadre rooted in mass struggles. Practical work: tenant/labor organizing, anti‑war/anti‑racist coalitions, political education.	Organizations: Communist Party USA (CPUSA) — “Bill of Rights Socialism.” Organizations: Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL); Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).
Anarchist / syndicalist	Abolish capitalism and the state; federations of self‑managed workplaces/communities. Emphasize direct democracy, mutual aid, and horizontal coordination.	Direct action; union/tenant organizing; workplace committees; strikes and boycotts. Build “dual power” via co‑ops, mutual aid networks, community councils; federate bottom‑up.	Organizations: Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Organizations: Black Rose / Rosa Negra Anarchist Federation; local tenant unions and mutual‑aid networks.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2026

The plan to set up a dictatorship of the proletariat by the commies/socialists

Map of Socialist Currents in the U.S.: Goals, Methods, and Examples

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The plan to set up a dictatorship of the proletariat by the commies/socialists

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