Socialism has failed every time it has been attempted because a group of people could not create a centralized apparatus of government that could effectively organize society.
Until now, most people have resented and rejected the yoke of socialism, sometimes after a long struggle, because collectivism is also contrary to individual autonomy, free will, human nature and the pursuit of happiness.
This is not the case in the United States. Today, more than 30 years after the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, young Americans want socialism.
According to new poll More than half of young Americans want a democratic socialist to win the White House in 2028, according to a study by Rasmussen Reports and The Heartland Institute of 1,496 likely voters ages 18 to 39.
Likewise, more than half of those surveyed have a positive impression of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and nearly 60 percent support socialist policies such as a nationwide rent freeze and public grocery stores in every city.
There are many reasons why socialism appeals to young Americans.
First of all, young people are not taught about the dark history of socialism. Second, they are misled into believing that socialism is superior to free market capitalism. Third, they are brainwashed into believing that collectivism is more righteous, fair and equitable than individual freedom. Fourth, they believe that the American Dream is dead and that socialism is the solution to the cost of living crisis they face.
Nearly three in four young likely voters believe housing costs are at crisis levels, and only 22 percent think they will be better off than their parents.
At this point, given the economic hardships they face coupled with their unfamiliarity with socialism, it makes sense that an alarming portion of young Americans want socialism.
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Even more alarming, many young Americans also want give an advanced artificial intelligence system the power to control most public policy decisions. More than 40 percent of young likely voters agree to let AI, rather than humans, determine the laws, rules and regulations that govern society. More than a third believe AI should revise the Constitution, gain the power to define individual rights and control the world's largest military.
The fact that nearly half of young Americans want AI to run society, combined with the fact that more than half also want socialism, makes the proposal dangerous.
What if AI could make socialism possible? What if AI and quantum computing can organize massive amounts of data in real time and develop an efficient centralized system that can track and control everything?
In theory, a socialist system based on artificial intelligence could do a much better job than a human-led bureaucracy when it comes to redistributing wealth, calculating and allocating resources, monitoring populations, etc.
Modern socialism, based on artificial intelligence, can be called incorruptible, omniscient and, most importantly, effective.
Unlike vast centralized bureaucracies that have completely failed to micromanage the economy, an AI-driven command and control economy could use ruthless efficiency to ensure equal outcomes.
Of course, the socialist utopia generated by AI, in which Marx’s dream of “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” is finally realized, could turn into a dystopian nightmare.
Before that happens, I hope young people will understand that socialism is the problem, not the solution. More importantly, I hope they understand that freedom, free will, and individual autonomy are blessings that should be protected from any attack, whether by humans or machines.
Chris Talgo ([email protected]) is the editorial director of The Heartland Institute.
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