The New York Times (NYT) is reporting that there are an increasing number of candidates running for various offices as socialists. Of course, they are running under the Democratic Party ticket, and there have been many of them over the years. It’s just that nowadays they are admitting that they are socialists. That they would be so bold as to not hide their true affiliation is a testimony to the condition of our nation.
Millennials, the NYT says, are far more receptive of socialism because of issues like pay equality, high student debt, an uncertain job market, and high rent. Interesting how this generation blames capitalism for what socialism actually created, but the trend toward socialism is here.
The NYT reports that the election of Donald Trump convinced tens of thousands that both parties were broken and that the country was in need of a radical fix. Young people, NYT says, are turning to socialism. A 2016 survey of 18-29 year olds by Harvard’s Institute of Politics “found that 16 percent identified as socialists, while 33 percent supported socialism.” Some 51% said they did not support capitalism.
These young people do not understand that Socialism takes away freedom, especially economic freedom.
It was the Marxist ideals of the former “president” who inflated student loans by government taking them over. Healthcare costs skyrocketed under socialist healthcare while services declined. We all could retire millionaires if the money we contributed to Social Security was properly invested, not pillaged by the government.
William Bradford described the Pilgrim’s failed socialist experiment of The Virginia Company Charter in “Of Plymouth Plantation”:
“The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years and amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato’s and other ancients applauded by some of later times; that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing, as if they were wiser than God.”
Bradford was familiar with Plato’s “Republic” espousing a utopian society under socialism. In ending this experiment that nearly cost the colony their lives, Bradford wrote: “…God in his wisdom saw another course fitter for them.” This was the first capitalist system, and the Plymouth colony then prospered.
Even many Christians believe in socialism, citing Acts 2:44, “And all that believed were together and had (shared) all things in common.” There is a tremendous difference between voluntarily sharing and being forced to share the fruits of your labor by the government.
Socialism has its roots in communism. The Communist Manifesto requires that all religion and morals be abolished, that government replaces God. All wealth is redistributed so that everyone has the same—everyone would be forced to pay for the student loans, healthcare, rent and wages of others.
This is a far cry from the blessing of voluntarily sharing with others.
The first commandment, Exodus 20:1 says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
That includes government. Moreover, Bradford is still right. Man is not wiser than God. Young people would be wise to heed his advice.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!