Much of the increasing socialist sentiment in the United States stems from two factors: a limited understanding of socialism’s historical record and an uncritical acceptance of unrealistic political promises.
The historical record of socialism is difficult to ignore. For more than 200 years, every place socialism has been embraced resulting in economic stagnation, shortages, corruption, restrictions on individual liberty, and concentrations of political power. The former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Maoist China, Venezuela, Cuba, and numerous other examples have clearly demonstrated this. Yet its advocates are either blind to its real-world history or dismiss it as irrelevant. Begging the question, why?
Meanwhile, it appears that more and more Americans are readily accepting the sweeping promises of free everything from politicians who have little or no experience creating wealth, running successful enterprises, or managing large, complex organizations. For reasons known only to themselves they want people to believe this time socialism will deliver.
Opposition to Donald Trump did not create these ideas, but it has intensified its appeal among progressives. Trump’s name is invoked at virtually every socialist rally and serves as a unifying force. TDS functions as an accelerant by turning opposition the president into an embrace of a failed ideology.
Perhaps the acolytes of Zohran Mamdani and Bernie Sanders should spend less time denouncing Trump and the 850 American billionaires and spend more time talking about the specifics of their economic proposals. What are the costs? What are the trade-offs? Who ultimately pays? How are these programs administered? Wise men ask questions; fools rely on slogans and promises.
Every economic system involves trade-offs. But socialism has a built-in advantage – it’s emotionally compelling in spite of any contravening evidence. Economic anxiety is not a one-off in human history; it’s a permanent feature of the human condition. Farmers will always fear crop failures. Factory workers fear layoffs. Immigrants fear poverty.
And today’s workers worry about automation, globalization, inflation, and artificial intelligence. And the democratic socialists have been most effective at converting shared fears into a politically powerful narrative.
High housing costs, stagnant wages, and economic inequality cannot reasonably be attributed to the billionaires and ‘oligarchs’ just by saying so. Economies are extraordinarily complex systems shaped by globalization, automation, artificial intelligence, government regulation, tax and monetary policies, educational attainment, immigration patterns, demographic changes, family structure, cultural attitudes toward work, entrepreneurship, different skill sets, personal choices, effort, luck, and variable circumstances.
~ The Trade-Offs Behind the Promises ~
Socialism, like its first cousin communism, is an easy sell because its promises are presented without their accompanying trade-offs. Universal health care, free college, affordable housing, and guaranteed economic security – who wouldn’t want that? Yet each proposal carries costs and consequences.
“Free” health care requires higher taxes and places more decisions in the hands of government. “Free” college merely shifts costs from students to taxpayers. Rent controls and housing mandates historically have worsened housing shortages. Guaranteed incomes require higher taxes, greater borrowing, or both. Minimum-wage increases cause prices to increase, or they reduce entry-level employment opportunities, it’s one or the other- that’s the real world. But these matters aren’t as appealing as the promise of “free stuff.”
The question is not why poverty or inequality exists. Both have existed since man stood up erect and probably always will – they’re a part of the human experience. The more important question is – What economic systems have historically enabled societies to prosperous despite the reality that wants will always exceed available resources?
People believe what they want to believe, and only in the Garden of Eden could everything be promised to everyone.
Quote of the Day: “What everyone wants is more than what is.” — Thomas Sowell