The Surprising Rise of Socialism in New York: A Study’s Insights
Many Americans were taken aback by the election of “socialists” to significant positions in New York. This, of course, raises the question: how did this occur? A recent study sheds some light, revealing that a notable 62% of young Americans view “pop Marxism” favorably.
Understanding Young Voters
Having spent three decades teaching at both high schools and colleges, I’ve gathered some key takeaways from my interactions with students.
To start, it seems many young people aren’t well-informed about the atrocities committed under communist regimes. There’s a surprising lack of knowledge regarding the grim history of communism, especially from 1945 to 1990. It’s almost as if history classes leap from World War II directly to present events, perhaps due to teachers’ fatigue toward the end of the school year.
This leads to a worrying trend: very few understand that communism has led to the deaths of over 100 million people. And beyond statistics, the stories of courageous resistance against oppression, and the sacrifices made to protect democracy, are often overlooked.
The Allure of Pop Marxism
Next, pop Marxism, with its seductive promise of taking care of everyone, has found its way into the hearts of many. In the past, American youth typically took on part-time or summer jobs, learning to bear financial responsibilities and understanding how their hard work would translate into rewards—like movie tickets, car savings, or college funds. But things seem to have shifted.
Many of the young people I encounter today haven’t had similar experiences. Their summers and weekends are filled with camps or organized activities, and working for money is a concept foreign to them. They haven’t provided genuine customer service in real-world jobs at places like McDonald’s or Subway.
So, how do they learn about individual responsibility or how to contribute within their communities? Many students today view these responsibilities as solely governed by faceless bureaucrats.
When they finally face the reality of expenses—like rent and food—after graduating from college, it’s no wonder they feel overwhelmed. They seem ill-prepared for the financial demands of adult life.
Shifting Values
Another observation is that young people value privacy and efficiency differently than previous generations. Older Americans have long advocated for limits on government and corporate interference in their personal lives, largely stemming from experiences of surveillance in their countries of origin. Contrarily, most of today’s youth, whose lives play out online, appear indifferent to such concerns.
They demand instantaneous service and efficiency, reminiscent of companies like Amazon. Discussions around privacy or procedural concerns seem trivial to them. As a result, democratic institutions appear clunky and unresponsive, leading to support for candidates who offer simple promises, like reducing living costs, such as Zoran Mamdani, New York’s elected mayor.
Questioning Trust in Democracy
Moreover, I’ve noticed a skepticism toward the experiment of ordered liberty that America represents. The Founding Fathers emphasized the need to protect personal rights and moral standards from oppression. However, many young people seem to equate democracy with the ability to vote on everything.
This leads to an interpretation of “the majority wins” as determining right from wrong. Imagine a society where the all-powerful majority has no connection to moral truths; the Founding Fathers classified this as “tyranny of the majority.”
Interestingly, we’ve somehow conveyed to students that capitalism is merely a necessary evil—a mistake on our part. Many don’t recognize that freedom—through a free market and limited republican government—is essential for human flourishing and a bulwark against totalitarianism.
Lack of Awareness on Global Issues
Finally, a significant number of young Americans possess minimal knowledge regarding global affairs, particularly concerning oppressive regimes. While they often consider themselves advocates for social justice, how often do we hear them organizing events for the victims of communism in countries like Cuba or North Korea? It seems rare. Similarly, there’s little awareness of the atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist Party, including forced assimilation of the Uyghur population.
It raises the question: is it really their fault if they lean towards quasi-Marxisms? After all, they’ve been shaped by what we’ve taught—or failed to teach—as a society. We’ve instilled in them the expectation that authority figures will provide for their needs.
A Call for Change
But there’s hope. It’s not too late to redirect this course. If we can successfully educate against Nazism and the Holocaust, we can equally condemn the ideas of figures like Marx, Stalin, and Che Guevara. We can strive to make symbols of communism as objectionable as those of Nazism.
At the same time, we have a chance to revive the true American narrative—complete with its complexities and achievements—and share it with future generations. Let’s seize this opportunity and take action now!
