John Cornyn: “I am a firm believer in the American dream. People come to this country, perhaps as legal immigrants, start with little…”

“I am a firm believer in the American dream. People come to this country, perhaps as legal immigrants, start with little, invest themselves in a lot of hard work because they don't have anything else to invest, provide for their families, maybe even eventually start a small business of their own, create jobs and a means to earn a livelihood for their employees. That is what I think most people think of when they think about the American dream. And it is built on an economic system known as capitalism, as distinguished from socialism. And capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any other economic system known to humankind. There are those who have a different point of view. They call themselves democratic socialists. I actually have here before me the Democratic Socialists of America web page that asks the question: ``What is democratic socialism.'' They start first with the criticism of capitalism. They say: Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. That is an incredibly cynical and, I think, misguided view, but that is their opinion. And they go on to say: We must replace it with democratic socialism. And there are a number of Members of Congress, notably the junior Senator from Vermont here who is an advocate for democratic socialism. I have read where he gave a speech explaining why he thinks that is a better way to go.…”