Joondeph: Indoctrinated, indebted and disillusioned—why socialism seduces Gen Z

By Dr. Brian C. Joondeph | Commentary, American Thinker

Once seen as a taboo word in American politics, socialism has experienced a notable resurgence, especially among young voters. Polls show that more than half of millennials and Gen Zers now view socialism favorably. Politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have transformed what was once a fringe ideology into a highly popular political movement.

Even more troubling, they’ve achieved this not through real policy solutions but by promoting a utopian fantasy rooted in grievance, entitlement, and historical ignorance.

Image via ChatGPT

Socialism is a system of “governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.” No truly socialist society has achieved a level of plenty or freedom comparable to America.

A Cato/YouGov survey conducted in March found that “62 percent of American adults under 30 say they hold favorable views of socialism.” Rasmussen Reports observed a similar sentiment this past May, with 50% of voters under 30 indicating they want a democratic socialist to win the next presidential election.

Why are so many young Americans falling for it?

To be clear, this movement isn’t rooted in careful study of history or economics. It’s fueled by emotion rather than reason. It thrives because too many young people have been raised to believe that discomfort equals injustice and that government is the answer to every problem.

Today’s young adults have grown up in a culture that promotes victimhood instead of resilience. From K-12 schools to college campuses, they have been taught that life is unfair, that capitalism is oppressive, and others—corporations, the wealthy, or “the system”—cause their struggles.

They’re told that if they can’t afford a house, it’s due to capitalism. If they have student debt, it’s because they’ve been “exploited.” If they feel anxious or unfulfilled, it must be because of inequality or climate change. In this worldview, personal responsibility is an afterthought, and government redistribution is viewed as the ultimate solution.

It’s no coincidence that today’s youth know more about TikTok trends than about the gulags of the Soviet Union or the starvation in Mao’s China. Schools have stopped teaching the harsh truths about socialism’s brutal legacy. Instead, they focus on sanitized stories about “equity,” “social justice,” and “collective good,” often blending them with moral superiority and “safe spaces” for those who are easily offended.

This isn’t just a failure of the education system; it’s a deliberate ideological project. Young people aren’t truly being educated. Instead, they’re being indoctrinated to believe that capitalism is the problem, not the answer.

Critics often point out economic issues like increasing student debt, rising housing costs, and stagnant wages as failures of capitalism. However, the irony is that many of these problems are actually made worse by government interference, not market forces.

READ THE FULL COMMENTARY AT THE AMERICAN THINKER

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