Why So Many Young Americans Fall for Socialism

... socialism has experienced a notable resurgence, especially among young voters. Polls show that more than half of millennials and Gen Zers now view socialism favorably. Politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders... have transformed what was once a fringe ideology into a highly popular political movement.

Even more troubling, they’ve achieved this not through real policy solutions but by promoting a utopian fantasy rooted in grievance, entitlement, and historical ignorance...

Socialism is a system of “governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.” No truly socialist society has achieved a level of plenty or freedom comparable to America.

A Cato/YouGov survey conducted in March found that “62 percent of American adults under 30 say they hold favorable views of socialism.”...

To be clear, this movement isn’t rooted in careful study of history or economics. It’s fueled by emotion rather than reason. It thrives because too many young people have been raised to believe that discomfort equals injustice and that government is the answer to every problem.

Today’s young adults have grown up in a culture that promotes victimhood instead of resilience. From K-12 schools to college campuses, they have been taught that life is unfair, that capitalism is oppressive, and others—corporations, the wealthy, or “the system”—cause their struggles...

Capitalism didn’t fail. It was undermined by bureaucrats, regulators, and central planners. Now, the same group that caused the problems claims they will fix them by increasing their own power. That’s not progress; it’s a power grab...

One of the left’s favorite tactics is pointing to countries like Sweden and Denmark as “proof” that socialism works. However, these countries are not socialist. They have capitalist economies with high taxes and generous welfare systems, supported by a strong work ethic, homogeneous populations, and increasingly strict immigration controls, factors the American left would never endorse...

New York City could soon resemble Havana if residents elect Democrat socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor...

Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a physician and writer in Denver.