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HORIST: Millennials embrace socialism … at their own risk

HORIST: Millennials embrace socialism … at their own risk

This past midterm election was not only a win for the Democratic Party, but, more ominously, a gain for the dangerous and discredited doctrine of socialism.

It has been widely reported that socialism has had its greatest appeal among the younger generation – the Millennials.  If that is true, they will suffer the consequences to a much greater degree than we older folks  Most everyone over 50 years old will coast through the rest of their lives enjoying the receding benefits of American free-market capitalism.  You know, plentiful well-paying jobs, inexpensive education, two homes, three cars, a boat, maximum leisure time and the best healthcare in the world.  Like skilled con men and women, we seniors will depart town – in this case, life itself — before we can be held accountable for what exists in our wake – figuratively and literally.

If the Millennials do see socialism as Uncle Sam’s credit card that can provide everything they want – free healthcare, free education, above-market minimum wages, expanded unemployment compensation, guaranteed employment and more welfare to underwrite desires more than provide for needs – they will be sorrowfully disappointed when their Utopian vision turns out to be a Mad Max world.  If they embrace socialism’s grand delusion that they will not have to pay for any of it, they will pay for their own mistake – a mistake that was sold to them by people who will not pay.

It was not long ago that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders – the only avowed socialist in Congress – was a political oddball.  The only media interested in his anti-capitalism class war diatribes was the now defunct radical left radio network Air America – where Sanders made a regular Friday morning appearance.

It is noteworthy that a person of Sanders’ age, 77, would recruit youth to socialism because he is one of those who will reap the benefits and not be around when the hardship hits.  For decades, Sanders has endorsed policies that provide government benefits today while passing on the bill to future generations – one of the worst examples of taxation without representation.

In the United States Senate, Sanders was tolerated like an overbearing crotchety uncle.  He was alienated even from the liberal faction within the Democrat congressional caucus.  His legislative accomplishments in terms of his socialist platform were thankfully zero.

Things changed in 2016.  Sanders – with his dogmatic socialist philosophy and no small portion of hypocrisy – became a credible if not a truly viable presidential candidate.  He played well against the widely disliked Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump – especially among many of the young Millennials.

In socialist tradition, Sanders made the so-called “one-percenters” the enemy of the people with bald-faced lies about their wealth and the benefits it provides.  He conflated personal tax returns with corporate taxes – suggesting that tax breaks for corporations benefit only the wealthiest individuals.  Contrary to Sanders’ claims, corporate tax cuts create jobs, income and wealth for millions of average Americans– not to mention all the increased value of the working class’ pension plans.  Corporate tax cuts have very little effect on the personal income of the super-rich.

Sanders’ hypocrisy is stunning when you consider that, despite his thinning wind-blown hair and his rumpled clothing, he is a one-percenter – a man with multiple homes and fancy cars.  And while he brags about all those “small donations” to his campaign, he fails to note his backing by some of the wealthiest people in the world – and that most of the wealthiest people at the top of Forbes’ billionaires’ list are major donors to the Democratic Party he embraced for purely pragmatic political ambition.

The Millennials should understand that within every socialist nation, the elites, who verbally bleed for the poor, maintain luxurious lifestyles at the expense of the poor.  Because socialism destroys the fundamental economy, the poor get poorer – desperately and fatally poorer in many cases.

Sanders pulled the stake out of the heart of the comatose socialist movement more by accident than ability.  Sanders was able to tap into both the natural idealism of youth and the longtime bias of our  left-wing education system, news media and entertainment industry to mold youthful thinking.  Socialism – the one thing Americans once disliked more than the Edsel, New Coke and yet another Rocky sequel — is again gaining as an acceptable economic philosophy among a growing number of young Americans.

Talk show palaverers, such as Bill Maher and producer Michael Moore, criticize Democrats for not defending socialism.  After all, everything the government does is socialism, they argue – demonstrating a woeful ignorance was what socialism really is.

Many of those Democrat neophytes who won elections to Congress campaigned as socialists.  While Millennials may feel an age connection with such newbies as Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez, they would be well advised not to embrace her radical policies.

But not all the socialists in Congress are newbies.  There are closeted socialists, such as New York Congressman Jerry Nadler, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America – the same organization that spawned the more incendiary Ocasia-Cortez.  Nadler will be taking over the House Judiciary Committee, and you can be assured that he will weaponize it as an attack vehicle against free-market capitalism.

It has not been since the 1930s that socialism had wheedled into the mainstream of American politics – then personified by Bernie Sanders’ political ancestor, Henry Wallace.  What is notably different between then and now is that the earlier rise of socialism was the result of the Great Depression – when it appeared that free-market capitalism had dramatically failed, and unemployment was pandemic.  It was also led in the past by the more senior generation – perhaps because the voting age was 21 and so many older heads-of-households were out of work.

The new era of socialism comes at a time of economic growth and prosperity and seems based more on youthful idealism and naivete than economic realities.  Except for Sanders, very few older Democrats are talking up socialism beyond the party’s historic lean in that direction.

The world is full of examples of the tragedy and failure of socialism – and the Millennials do not need the long view of history to see the results.  It can be seen in Venezuela – one of the most prosperous and successful nations in South America until they opted for Socialism in the name of Hugo Chavez.  In less than a decade, Venezuela has become a failed nation from which millions of its citizens are fleeing for their lives.

Rutgers University student-columnist Louis Ruziecki addressed the allure of socialism among the  younger generation when he wrote, “It is clear that if millennials should be blamed for anything, they should be blamed for their gullibility in believing in such a foolish system of governing.”

Socialism is the snake oil of economic politics.  The promise is appealing, but the results are appalling.

So, there ‘tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So,there‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of Larry Horist Larry Horist is a businessman, conservative writer and political strategist with an extensive background in economics and public policy. Clients of his consulting firm have included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. He has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress. Horist has lectured and taught courses at numerous colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern, DePaul universities, Hope College and his alma mater, Knox College. He has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. Horist was a one-time candidate for mayor of Chicago and served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries appear frequently on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by readers for his style, substance and sense of humor. According to one reader, Horist is the “new Charles Krauthammer.” He is actively semi-retired in Boca Raton, Florida where he devotes his time to writing. So, there ‘tis is Horist’s signature sign off.

11 Comments

  1. Carl

    No one seems to know the real name of the Nazi party. It’s NSDP. National Socialist Democrat Party. I think, if the young dummies (millennials) ever find that out, maybe a few of them will cease and desist their “wing-nut” diatribes against anyone in disagreement with them.

    • mspidgeMZB5

      They won’t, too many socialist teachers, and apparently to many idiot parents raising their brats to think everything should be free, and again NOTHING IS FREE, YOU PAY FOR IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IT’S EITHER BY YOUR FREEDOM OR YOUR POCKET BOOK, I’m afraid they will have to learn the hard way and it won’t be pretty.

    • Gerald Boyum

      Not quite, Carl, It’s NSDAP or National Socialist German Workers Party. “Nazi” comes from the German pronunciation of National Socialist.

  2. Jerry

    There were a large number of men in th USA that died defending the USA against socilism and communism. There are a larger number of men that gave up significant portions of their life, defending the USA against socialism and communism. You liberal scum want to have a civil war, jut keep doing what you are doing, you will not make a Venezuala out of the USA.

  3. Jon Angelo

    The American people do not realize that from the 1970s on, Socialist and Communist have been the educators in college. These people were the ones who did not serve in the military, better known as the hippies. Like the Clintons they went to Woodstock, rolled in the mud and went to college while real Americans served in the military. These low life’s became teachers who indoctrinated students generation after generation with
    Socialism, Fascism and Marxism was kind, took care of people, everyone is equal. This philosophy started in colleges, then High School now kindergarten. They replaced God and prayer with the Religion of Atheism and Evolutionism. Public education has become the indoctrination center of America. The millennials have no idea that Socialism, Fascism and Marxism you have only a two class system the rich and the poor who serve the rich. Sanders and the Democrats never talk how they will pay for their social programs. Free sounds great until the bill has to be paid. The one Socialist Program called Social Security the Democrats bankrupt by all their social programs. Their was enough money in social security the interest alone would have paid for all the baby boomers. This is what socialism does it promotes people to abuse the system. Good luck millennials, you may get free college but you will pay triple the rest of you lives.

  4. Ruben

    All I can say is let these young, dumb, idiot millennials have their socialism bcoz I will get my benefits from the government as a retiree. I figure in about 20 years, under socialism, the country will be financially broke and these idiots will have nothing when it’s their turn to retire…..bcoz the money would have been all given to the retirees like my self. Venezuela was the envy of all South American countries…..the most prosperous and wealthy…..it took only 10 years to turn it into third world status. So go ahead millennial idiots make my day.

  5. Philip Simon

    Is it not time for the media to shut out the new young new babies of Bernie Sanders Socialist children of ilitarate losers.

  6. Henry

    Not all but the majority of todays youth had better wake up and see what is happening to there world. Socialism is the worst thing that could happen to America. Those that have given their time and lives defending us against it understood what would happen if it took hold here. Disaster.

  7. Linda

    Anyone, wanting America to become a socialist nation, needs to be required to live in a socialist country for no less than a couple of years. Not as a tourist, but, as a citizen/worker in the general population. Venezuela comes to mind, and the history of Hugo Chavez needs to be studied. If the millennials still think socialism is the way to go, then they can stay in the one they are living in. Let us know how it all works out.

  8. messup

    Good article, nips around the edges of America’s “real problem:” Global Elite. See, millineals will have to “bite the hand that feeds them.” Why? Because “the hand that feeds them” hold 76% of ALL America’s wealth and only ones who can fund millinealsr “redistribution of Income” strategy. USA’s two bottom economic tiers have nothing…so “Global Elite” had better rethink their current strategy. Read on….
    Let’s talk about “world control.” How does one go about controlling and dominating a society (or the world)? Well, the “Global Elite” came to the same conclusion! Now, they devised a plan that to control and manipulate a society (for their benefit) only a few, finite, aspects of society need be controlled, Here goes…
    1)Education (how the population of the future will think and behave)
    2)Money (the means of holding wealth and exchanging goods)
    3)Law (the authority to enforce the will of the state, a world law and a world court is needed for a world state)
    4)Politics (the direction of the State and Economy)
    5)History (what people believed happened in the past, today’s ”new” history)
    6)Psychology (the means of controlling and influencing how people think)
    7)Philanthropy (so that people think well of the controllers)
    8)Medicine (the power over health, life and death)
    9)Religion (people’s spiritual beliefs)
    10)Media (how and what people know and learn about current events)
    11)Continuity (the power to appoint who follows in your footsteps)
    Simple plan, amounting to nothing less than infiltrating and controlling all (every) power center of society. “Global Elites” will place “their own people” in key positions whereby they control and dominate a society completely, thus steering it in any direction of their choosing. Now – We The American People know. This is America’s “the Establishment” as constituted, operating under their “living Constitution” play book. Here’s proof…
    —–
    And while it would be great news if wealth across all of America had indeed risen as much as certain charts show. Reality is, not so fast there pilgrim: as has been shown, virtually all of the net worth – most of it in the form of financial assets – and associated increase, has only benefited a handful of America’s wealthiest families. Folks, that’s the top 1% of USA “Global Elites.”
    A chart from Deutsche Bank shows wealth inequality in the US is now as bad as it ever was during the Great Depression. Here’s the kicker, America’s top 1% (Global Elites) population, now own more total assets as does USA’s bottom 90%.
    While this current breakdown hasn’t caught up with the latest data, it provides a snapshot of who has benefitted. Here’s how the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) recently explained USA’s wealth distribution (latest data):
    1) In 2013, families in the top 10 percent of the wealth distribution held 76 percent of all family wealth, Average wealth was about $4 million for families in the top 10 percent of the wealth distribution,
    2) families in the 51st to the 90th percentiles held 23 percent, $316,000 for families in the 51st to 90th percentiles,
    3) those in the bottom half of the distribution held 1 percent, $36,000 for families in the 26th to 50th percentiles. On average, families at or below the 25th percentile were $13,000 in debt.
    Folks, that’s a “two-tiered” economic system with “two-tiered” Justice.
    —-
    In other words, roughly 75% of the $2.2 trillion increase in assets went to benefit just 10% of the (Global Elite) US population (that’s 30 million individual Elite families, folks), who also account for roughly 76% of America’s financial net worth. Remaining 24% of “crumbs” (Nancy Pelosi’s words) are in some 270 million American family hands.
    It also means that just 10% of the US population owns roughly $93 trillion of all US assets, while half of the US population has virtually no wealth, and if anything it is deeply in debt.
    More American families than ever before, have zero or negative non-home wealth (CBO 12/06/2018) Pray. Amen. God Bless America (that was). Read A Bible. Psalm 128

  9. Steve Evans

    If the millennials love socialism so much and they want everyone to be equal in every way then, they should all move to Venezuela where everyone is equally poor, hungry, no money and are equally not safe and have no future, except those in charge. Their President has food, money, electricity and he has the military to stand between him and his people. Has any millennial ever heard the saying, POWER CORRUPTS and ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY, I’m betting they never have but if they need proof of this saying, look no further than what was once a thriving country of VENEZUELA. Mx. Cortez said socialism was just in the wrong hands there but look CLOSURE dig into it and, FIND OUT the TRUTH about socialism
    millennials. It’s NOT the UTOPIA the democrats are making it out to be. Millennials your in college correct ? you know how to do research correct ? do some RIGHT NOW before you give away the FUTURE of your CHILDREN to come and the FUTURE of their children. How you vote in the 2020 election will set the future of those kids and how they will live. Please just do your research and learn the TRUTH, I did my research and found the real TRUTH about socialism. So stop letting college professors give you only one side of socialism the Rosey side they are presenting to you, there is ALWAYS two sides to every story, if you have the GUTS to find it out. Do some critical thinking before it is to late to STOP this madness.