The socialists are plotting in the clouds
The plotting of socialists happens far above the people because its goal is a strict centralization of ideas, but also because the ideas exist in the clouds. Socialism is fundamentally utopian.
But in terms of its anti-local nature, socialism instead starts with a rigid ideology and then looks for the best places where those beliefs can be put into practice. That’s why the solutions proposed by a candidate in Florida or Kentucky are identical to those proposed by one running in California. And that one-size-fits-all utopian appeal is increasingly winning with younger Americans and in more urban pockets of our country. A new poll reveals that while a majority of Democrats of all ages hold positive views of socialism, 84% of Gen Z Democrats currently hold a favorable view. And if we know anything about major political parties, it’s that they tend to move in directions that are more responsive to their voters.
In an early August Wall Street Journal column, Peggy Noonan highlighted an interchange between Shannon Bream of “Fox News Sunday” and Megan Romer, national co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America:
Bream: “Just give me sort of a true or false on these. Abolish the Senate?”
Romer: “True.”
Bream: “Replace the presidency and Supreme Court as we now know them?”
Romer: “Yep.”
Bream: “Abolish ICE?”
Romer: “Absolutely.”
Bream: “Abolish borders and give amnesty to anyone currently in the United States illegally?”
Romer: “As a long-term plan, yep.”
Bream: “Defund the Pentagon?”
Romer: “Absolutely.”
Bream: “Abolish prisons, at least in large part?”
Romer: “Yeah—again as part of a long-term program, yeah.”
Bream: “Government or public ownership of most large corporations?”
Romer: “Yeah, absolutely.”
One might be astonished by Romer’s responses, but her positions are clearly spelled out on the Democratic Socialists of America website. Credit to her for answering honestly. I’ve found it strange that we ask members of Congress (and other elected officials) to swear an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution but DSA endorsed candidates are quite energetic about dismantling it.
But going back to the utopian vision, the DSA’s own website says, “Speaking of bills: you don’t really have them anymore.” After running through a long litany of goods and services that are now “free” with lots of leisure time packed in, the DSA site notes, “It’s been said that it’s easier to imagine the end of the world than it is to imagine the end of capitalism. But just because it isn’t easy to imagine now doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to make it happen.”
Utopia has real appeal. My background is theology, so I know something about humanity’s longing for the world to be made aright. Of course, in Christianity the new / last Adam (Christ) ultimately remakes the Garden of Eden. But the materialists believe they can do this themselves. It’s interesting but not surprising that the socialists hint at essentially doing away with work. At the very least, a low view of labor is a core concept of their messaging. But in so many ways, work and labor are about helping and uplifting others, not to mention being critical for our own mental and metaphysical growth as individuals. Perhaps the greatest conceit of socialism is this belief that human beings can restore paradise by eliminating any responsibility or deeper ethic that give so much of life its meaning.
I’m fascinated that so many are falling for it but that definitely speaks to our lack of civic education and broader understanding of history in this country.
—Ray Nothstine
— The Federalism Beat