More Democrats are Pushing for Socialism

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s surprise victory over Joe Crowley in the New York Democratic congressional primary last month reflects the increasing influence of Socialism within the Democratic Party.

When asked about Socialism, Ocasio-Cortez told Vogue: “It is about direct representation and people actually having power and stake over their economic and social wellness at the end of the day. To me, what Socialism means is to guarantee a basic level of dignity.” 

Ocasio-Cortez, who in 2016 worked as an organizer for the Bernie Sanders campaign, is pushing for socialist reforms like free healthcare and free college tuition. She is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group which seeks to infiltrate the Democratic Party and use it to promote socialist candidates. 

“Progressive and socialist candidates who openly reject the neoliberal mainstream Democratic agenda may choose for pragmatic reasons to use the Democratic Party ballot line in partisan races,” wrote DSA Vice President Joseph M. Schwartz. “But whatever ballot line the movement chooses to use, we must always be working to increase the independent power of labor and the left.”

The DSA has capitalized on issues such as college debt, healthcare, immigration, and racism to gain traction with voters who are suspicious of hard-left socialist policies. In addition to these strategies, it has become somewhat “trendy” for Democratic candidates to team up with Democratic Socialists. One example is Cynthia Nixon, a former actress who is challenging New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. 

“It’s nice to see that our policies and what we espouse are resonating with people running for governor,” said DSA executive Abdullah Younous. “The landscape is really shifting, and people are noticing it across the state.”

According to the DSA website, the organization seeks candidates who are willing to embrace socialist ideas such as:

• Free college tuition
• Universal housing and health care
• The abolition of ICE, of the US Senate, and of prisons 
• Universal basic income 

Meanwhile, Republicans are hoping the trend toward Socialism will earn them critical swing votes in November’s congressional elections. 

“Democratic Socialism is a false paradise,” says Marc Molinaro, a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in New York. “I don’t think New Yorkers or Americans want to embrace a party that hands over all aspects of our lives to a government that can barely provide services competently.”

Author’s Note: According to a recent survey conducted by The American Culture and Faith Institute, 52% of Millennials think they would prefer Socialism to Capitalism. Unfortunately these young voters have no memory of the Cold War or Soviet threat. 

The truth is, Socialism is a form of government that has never succeeded anywhere in the history of humanity. A key point is that Democrats seem to believe they can do a “limited” and “better” Socialism. The problem with that is that when you implement Socialism, it goes its own way and you do not get to choose the outcome.