The Socialist Party: Mission Accomplished?

Sometimes libertarians say that it is necessary for the LP to remain radical, since the Socialist Party of Eugene Debs remained radical, thus forcing the mainstream elected officials to adopt its policies, and once its policies had been adopted it could disband, mission accomplished. This is an urban myth. It was the Progressives, who were selective interventionists and single-issue activists, not the socialists, who more than likely influenced the political debate. But even the Progressives were joined by many other people who advocated change. And the Socialists favored government ownership, and not merely government regulation, of industry, something that did not come about. I kindly request that people stop insulting my intelligence by continuing to spread this urban myth.