Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Is socialism as popular as the media think?
The Washington Examiner ^ | 19 Aug, 2025 | David Harsanyi

Posted on 08/20/2025 5:15:38 AM PDT by MtnClimber

“Democratic socialists” have been getting the teenage-idol treatment from giddy reporters and editors at legacy media outlets for years. Their newest crush is on the jihadi-apologist and Marxist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

In a 4,500-word cover story about the candidate, “The Meaning of Zohran Mamdani,” Time magazine paints a caricature of a well-meaning, authentic, and not-really-so-radical go-getter. An “ideologue interested in creative solutions” is how Time puts it. Sure, Mamdani might support genocidal rhetoric, but the Jewish community will be pleased to learn that he “often talked about the problem of antisemitism and the need for anti-hate-crime funding.”

Is Mamdani, as many would have it, a generational talent whose campaign should be mimicked nationally by Democrats? For me, it’s difficult to see much “meaning” in the trope-ridden rhetoric he offers. “I think the most important thing,” the candidate, who, like most socialists, is a child of privilege, notes, “is that people see themselves and their struggles in your campaign.” Deep stuff. His “creative solutions” entail fresh ideas like rent control, a policy Mamdani benefits from personally that was instituted in 1943.

While journalists are mightily impressed, the truth is that Mamdani is running in a hard-left city against a gaggle of unlikeable, corrupt has-been Democrats. Much like Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), his fame is propelled by his radicalism and youth. Neither of them has passed a single consequential piece of legislation, come up with a new idea, much less a solution, or delivered a memorable speech.

Anyway, as one commenter pointed out, New York City is already something of a “socialist” city, with 40% of its residents living in rent-controlled apartments, 600,000 working for the city, and another 600,000 working for nonprofit groups largely funded by government.

You may recall that elegant gown Ocasio-Cortez donned with the slogan “Tax the Rich” written on it at the 2021 Met Gala, where guests selected by Vogue’s Anna Wintour ponied up about $35,000 a pop to hobnob with the rich and famous at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Well, the top 1% pay about 48% of New York City’s bills, and .01% pay nearly 31%. New York’s top 1% pay a combined 52% top tax rate, the highest in the country. The top 10% of earners paid about two-thirds of the city’s income tax revenue. In 2023, 41% of taxes were paid by millionaires, who make up about 4% of the population.

Technically, socialism entails the state controlling the means of production and distribution. “Democratic socialism,” on the other hand, entails young people demanding that others pay for all the benefits of the market system they pretend to detest.

And there is no doubt that “socialism” is gaining popularity and normalization, especially among the young. A recent poll by the Cato Institute and YouGov found that though 59% of Americans still had a favorable view of capitalism (41% unfavorable), 62% aged 18 to 29 had a “favorable view” of socialism. Then again, more than a third of young people hold favorable views of communism. Do they really understand that 100 million died trying to make it work? Maybe. .....SNIP


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: leftism

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

1 posted on 08/20/2025 5:15:38 AM PDT by MtnClimber
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber
62% aged 18 to 29 had a “favorable view” of socialism. Then again, more than a third of young people hold favorable views of communism.

They may get it good and hard in NYC.

2 posted on 08/20/2025 5:16:29 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

I’ve noticed it’s the young kids that gravitate towards this. The next couple generations are screwed.


3 posted on 08/20/2025 5:19:13 AM PDT by MarlonRando
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

The lazy love it.


4 posted on 08/20/2025 5:23:42 AM PDT by yldstrk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

No, it’s astroturf and magical thinking by the media who are socialists and want ti normalize socialism, just like sodomy and all their other weirdness.


5 posted on 08/20/2025 5:23:56 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarlonRando

“I’ve noticed it’s the young kids that gravitate towards this. The next couple generations are screwed.”

They have been indoctrinated. The younger generation, in general, sees the government as the solution to all their problems. Ironically, they dislike politicians and don’t trust the government.

I guess the quest to have all your needs met by someone else leads to that kind of cognitive dissonance.


6 posted on 08/20/2025 5:24:56 AM PDT by brownsfan (It's going to take real, serious, hard times to wake the American public.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MarlonRando

The current crop of youngsters are the most capitalist and Christian in 100 years.

Been article after article about it.

All the propaganda and wokeness has backfired.


7 posted on 08/20/2025 5:25:39 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MarlonRando

“I’ve noticed it’s the young kids that gravitate towards this. The next couple generations are screwed.”

College professors have done an excellent job indoctrinating our youth into an ideological concept that throughout history has never worked and killed tens of millions in the process.


8 posted on 08/20/2025 5:27:59 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (TDS much?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

No, and those that try to enforce socialist policy WILL find out. The producers still outnumber the gimmidats.


9 posted on 08/20/2025 5:34:46 AM PDT by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Most don’t look at history or understand where these “isms” came from or what they’re really about, and the schools want it this way. Instead we are taught that socialism and Marxism are popular ideas and it’s hip to follow them. But the Marxists themselves don’t explain how it actually works, just how awful everything else, like capitalism, is.


10 posted on 08/20/2025 5:38:33 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Communism is merely socialism with guns.


11 posted on 08/20/2025 5:41:53 AM PDT by Redleg Duke (“Time to Play Cowboys and Snowflakes!”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber
Pretending that one is in favor of socialism is popular (i.e., makes one popular... especially with the girls).

The problem is that hardly anyone realizes that most of the other people in his "in-group" of champagne socialists or hardcore Marxists are likewise "passing."

Regards,

12 posted on 08/20/2025 5:46:07 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Their Third World Immigration Invasion isn’t is popular with Americans that they think it is. Georgie Soros has to pay those maggots you see on TV carrying silly signs and kissing miggy butts.


13 posted on 08/20/2025 5:49:20 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (The IRS needs to check to see if Soros' sign holding, Commie "resister obstructionists" pay taxes.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarlonRando

Churchill had something to say about this almost 100 years ago. Something along the lines of when you are young, it is expected that you would favor socialism…but as you got older, it would be expected that you would favor conservatism.

He said it a lot better than I.


14 posted on 08/20/2025 5:49:28 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Define “Socialism”.

Many think it’s the smartest people in the room, making all the big decisions for “The Greater Good” (The Greater Good).


15 posted on 08/20/2025 5:50:20 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

“Socialism” to most people who view it favorably is the equivalent of “gimme free stuff and have the “rich” pay for it.” Its a justification for voting themselves money so that they don’t feel guilty about it. So they dress it up in class struggle.


16 posted on 08/20/2025 5:50:28 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarlonRando

It is the ignorant and unwise — “the young kids” — who are enraptured by the promises of this Siren’s call


17 posted on 08/20/2025 5:52:20 AM PDT by glennaro (2025: The year of America's rebirth as a Great (and Free) Republic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

If the majority would vote for this, Deep State wouldn’t have to steal elections.


18 posted on 08/20/2025 5:54:15 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vermont Lt

“Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people’s money.”

Margaret Thatcher in an interview, This Week Thames TV, 5 February 1976


19 posted on 08/20/2025 5:56:48 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Sure they do...they’re still living off mom and dad...that’s their socialism.


20 posted on 08/20/2025 5:57:54 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson