That’s what America’ young socialists say, when confronted with “socialism has always failed”.
“But it’s never been tried properly!”
Except that it’s been tried by 32 countries, since Marx foisted his dreary “Das Kapital” on the world. Including tried by early acolytes of socialism: Engles, Lenin, Stalin, Mao. And their success? According to AI it’s “none”. A single word. “None”.
Remember that AI leans Left because it draws in sources that lean left. And yet, leftish as it is, AI still comes out with a clear and unequivocal answer to my question of how many of the 32 have succeeded as socialist economies: “None”.
And these neophytes, these Zoomers, they think they can outthink the architects of socialism? That they will have better ideas of how to implement socialism than all 32 countries? That’s some chutzpah right there.
So our young American socialists go to another angle: “we want Democratic Socialism”.
Well that can’t work either. Because of this simple contradiction:
EITHER:
Socialism = state control of the means of production. Control = planning. Planning = no choice for workers as to what to produce = no democracy.
OR:
There is worker control in the factory = democracy = no need for state planning = not socialism.
Nikos Sotirakopoulos talks about this in the vid above. Nikos is an ex Marxist. Like another of my all-time faves, Thomas Sowell. Who, when asked “why did you give up Marxism?” answered: “Reality”.
“What about Scandinavia?” our young would-be socialists cry. Scandinavian countries are not socialist, as their leaders keep telling us. They’re market based economies with a lot of social support, paid for by high taxes. But capitalist all the same.
Should we worry a lot the growing attraction to socialism in America? YES. We should.
Polling:
68% of young Democrats have a “favourable view of socialism” (Cato, March 2025).
Young Republicans by contrast: 5% have a favourable view of socialism (Harvard Youth Poll, November 2025).
Where did they get the crazy idea to love on socialism these Democrat Zoomers? Mainly at school. Education by far-left leaning teachers. Amplified by Tic Toc etc..
Why don’t young Republicans lean the same? I don’t know. Natural scepticism perhaps? Parents who influenced? Peer groups?
