Reflections on Socialism and the Youth Vote

I belong to Generation Z, a cohort that includes self-identified democratic socialists, like Zohran Mamdani, who aspire to take over the mayor’s office in New York City. The left has observed how socialism is presented to young people today. It seems to be wrapped in notions of “comfort,” disguising brand capitalism as “greed,” and using platforms like TikTok to fill our minds with catchy phrases like, “Government is Your Savior.” It’s kind of concerning, to be honest.

But let’s be real: you won’t just wake up one day in a socialist America. It happens gradually—vote by vote, race by race. At some point, people will realize that those who chant for “liberation” may have built their own confinements. Once socialism takes root, it doesn’t easily retreat.

Now, I get that socialism might feel trendy to some of my peers on TikTok, but it’s not some theoretical exercise. People literally create makeshift rafts out of trash to flee from socialist regimes, seeking the chance for freedom in the U.S. It’s hard to find someone who has escaped such conditions and isn’t rattled by the current left that aligns with Mamdani’s platform. It’s rare.

A Shift in Perspective

This dynamic didn’t start with Mamdani’s campaign; it actually traces back to classrooms where appreciation for America has been swapped for guilt. There’s a culture now that scoffs at faith, family, and free markets. Meanwhile, social media is flooded with pro-socialist narratives trending in our feeds.

What’s noticeable is that my generation hasn’t been completely lost to this narrative. A lot of us are waking up to the reality—socialism doesn’t ‘level the playing field.’ Instead, it tends to plunge an entire country into a shared misery. We’ve seen the admiration from professors but also the desperation from people fleeing those systems. In 2025, being unapologetically American, pro-parent, and pro-freedom feels like an act of rebellion.

When older generations, like my parents and grandparents, tune in to news stories like this, they often wonder how things got to this point. I completely understand their worries. Yet, the battle is far from over. The population of young conservatives is steadily increasing, and we’re not willing to let American ideals crumble. We aim to uphold this nation’s commitments.

Warning Signs

This brings to mind a poignant quote from President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” He wasn’t speaking about an abstract threat; he was issuing a warning for moments like this—when an election could tip the scales in a way that future generations might find irreversible.

Reagan described America as a “shining city on a hill,” a symbol of hope for the world. If socialism can gain ground in New York, then that beacon may shift from inspiring to cautionary. It could suggest that American freedom is merely a fleeting experiment.

And the fact is, we might not be merely one generation away from losing this freedom—it could be just one election. If we don’t act now, we’ll be left explaining to our children why the light has dimmed.