Just because Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump in their Oval Office meeting appeared to bury the hatchet, my opinion of communism/socialism has not changed. I believe that if Mamdani introduces hardline Marxist ideas to the running of New York City that they will fail as they have always failed.

Mayor-elect Mamdani’s manner reminds me of how Joseph Stalin, Russian Dictator and the murderer of millions of his own people, was portrayed as a loveable Russian grandpa in the 1943 propaganda movie “Mission to Moscow.” Unfortunately many Gen Z and others see Mayor-elect of New York City Mamdani as a forward thinker who will create a better world on the Hudson not realizing that those dreams could become nightmares for many.

A recent Gallup poll determined that 39% of Americans have a favorable opinion of socialism while 57% have a negative view of socialism. When you break down the figures by political party the divide is even greater with 66% of Democrats having a positive view of socialism while only 14% of Republicans have a positive view, although for Republicans that figure should be “zero.” About 38% of Independents have a positive opinion of socialism.

Breaking down the results by generations we find that those aged 18-29 is the only age group where a majority or a near-majority has a favorable view of socialism with a May 2025 YouGov/Cato finding that 62% had a “favorable” view of socialism reflecting the fact that younger generations often associate “socialism” with concepts like an expanded safety net and more economic equality, similar to European social democracies.

For those ages 30 and older, support for socialism is significantly lower among older age groups. Among those aged 30-49, a Gallup poll reported 41% had a positive view of socialism. For those aged 50-64, this number dropped to 30%. For those of us aged 65 and older who lived during the Cold War, only about 9% having a positive view of only socialism. 

Wanting to broaden my knowledge of socialism I found an article online in a publication of the Party for Socialism and Liberation attempting to dispel myths about socialism. One myth they tried to dispel was that socialists are against democracy and for dictatorships telling us that our two-party democratic system is really a dictatorship of the rich. According to the author working folks create all wealth but that the rich who have the wealth control politics.

After that interesting take on American life the author resorts to a dose of Marxist Leninist propaganda informing us that Cuba, China, and the Soviet Union resorted to dictatorships to prevent counter revolutions that would have brought back the dictatorship of the rich. Sure!

Next the author reminds us that socialism and communism did not collapse with the collapse of the Soviet Union and that Communist Cuba after being impoverished by colonialism is an example of what can be accomplished when the resources of the nation are used to meet the needs of the people. I guess the author considers widespread shortages of food and medicine, with many living in dilapidated housing with poor sanitation, no running water, and no stable electricity, limited access to healthcare, Chronic low wages, and high inflation accomplishments.

Many proponents of socialism cite the success of ‘Nordic socialism” in Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden as shining examples of successful socialism. The reality is that these nations have free market economies that their governments tax heavily to finance their welfare states as a Danish prime minister once admitted.

Now nearly 180 years since the publication of the Communist Manifesto we realize that Marx was wrong about everything. The nation state has not withered away and nearly 200 years after Marx capitalism and not socialism rules the world’s economy. Workers have not become revolutionaries but rather entrepreneurs and private property has not been rejected but is the cornerstone of every prosperous nation.

Yet today polls tell us that 70% of millennials would back a socialist candidate for office. Some socialist ideas are gaining traction in this country like free college tuition, a guaranteed income for able bodied persons and even government run healthcare.

Part of the reason for this is that young people are being indoctrinated in our schools and universities about the “glories” of socialism while the worst aspects of our democratic capitalist society including slavery, racism, and the treatment of indigenous people are emphasized. Much is also made of systemic racism which young adults are told is so deeply rooted in our society that it cannot be eliminated without remaking American society.

Parents must demand of educators and school boards that indoctrination must end.

Our schools used to do an excellent job of educating our young people but as indoctrination has increased test scores have nosedived. Schools must get back to basics and prepare students for life. Also our students embarrassing lack of a knowledge of American History and civics calls out for improved instruction in those areas.

Thomas Kirkpatrick Sr. is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com