The presidential candidacy of Bernie Sanders has created an interesting debate about Democratic socialism. One of the most interesting has been the back and forth on Garry Kasparov’s Facebook page. He is a former Soviet citizen and World Chess Champion. He is now a political activist dedicated to setting the record straight about Russia and communism.

Some of the supporters of the Bernie Sanders argued that socialism would be a good thing for America. Garry Kasparov would have none of it. He said: “I’m enjoying the irony of American Sanders supporters lecturing me, a former Soviet citizen, on the glories of Socialism and what it really means!”

He added that: “Socialism sounds great in speech sound bites and on Facebook, but please keep it there. In practice, it corrodes not only the economy but the human spirit itself, and the ambition and achievement that made modern capitalism possible and brought billions of people out of poverty.”

He also explained: “Talking about Socialism is a huge luxury, a luxury that was paid for by the successes of capitalism. Income inequality is a huge problem, absolutely. But the idea that the solution is more government, more regulation, more debt, and less risk is dangerously absurd.”

In a later post, one of the Bernie Sanders supporters brought up the Scandinavian countries. Kasparov responded that they were successful only because some socialistic elements were implemented after the capitalist economy succeeded and warned that the current system might choke the process that made the country wealthy.

The Bernie Sanders supporters of Democratic socialism will continue to have a tough time with Garry Kasparov because (1) he has lived in a socialist state and (2) has an IQ over 185.