History is the clearest lens through which we understand the present and anticipate the future. One need look no further than all of the failed socialist experiments to understand how dangerous and misguided Democratic Socialism is, as a foundation for governance and economic framework. What we are witnessing today in New York City for example, and in many of the blue state big cities is the Democratic Socialist “playbook” that has always been used to convince the masses that their situation is about class struggle. Rich people not sharing the wealth and holding them back because of the injustices of Capitalism. In present day America, it’s about blaming billionaires, despite the fact that billionaires and multi-millionaires fund the majority of the social programs, and charities, even as they’re asked to give more. But never do you hear democratic socialists speak about becoming wealthy or building wealth, an economic plan or guidebook to the upper classes, (which I will discuss in another article). t’s always about blame.

So what exactly is “Democratic Socialism?” My definition and there’s more than one depending on who you ask, and where they stand, is “a democratically governed political system with state/social or collective ownership of large parts of the economy.” Democratically governed is of course a good thing. But state/collective ownership, is where this theory fails miserably. Assets are owned by the government on behalf of the citizenry. The state sets production goals, prices and employment structures. This seems very much like what New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is planning with his socialist grocery stores. The problem is, governments don’t create wealth. They either take it from others in the form of taxes, steal it from other countries, or they print money.

Self-proclaimed democratic socialist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani foolishly said in one of his first speeches, “We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” And therein lies the greatest flaw of democratic socialism, the assumption that people would happily surrender their individualism for the good of the community or the state. This stands contrary to everything that these United States were founded upon. Maybe that works in backwards state like Uganda but not in the USA. It’s why I suspect his family moved from Uganda. It must be wholeheartedly rejected and called out for the danger that it potentializes. The first words of the preamble to the Constitution says, “WE THE PEOPLE.” It doesn’t’t say, we the ruling class or we, the governing, who rule the government. Of by and for the people does not mean, of, by and for the state.

To understand just how the dangerous Mandami and his henchmen are, Cea Weaver, Mamdani’s director of the Mayor’s office to protect tenants said in a 2019 tweet that “home ownership is a weapon of white supremacy masquerading as ‘wealth building’ public policy.” She of course negated people of color who own homes and who probably would like to keep them. Are Asians white supremicists? She also said that we would have to “rethink” home ownership. When confronted with the fact that her mother owns a $1.6 million dollar home near where her mother teaches at Vanderbilt University, in Tennessee, all she could muster in her mother’s defense, was to cry. The actual white supremecist, Cea Weaver, conveniently leaves out the fact she is one of those she despises. It’s absolutely unbelievable! What’s good for the goose is clearly not ok for the gander.

When human beings sacrifice their liberty to a government that “knows what’s best for you,” authoritarianism soon follows. There can be no other ending, hence, the reality that there has never been a successful democratic, socialist state. All of the Socialist experiments in history, ended in disaster. The former Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea and even Nazi Germany, are perfect examples of what happens when the government takes control of the economy. While Hitler was less concerned with the ideology of Communism, it didn’t matter to him because ultimately, the state controlled everything, anyway. In the case of Nazi Germany, the Jews were the problem. In the case of present day America, the multi-millionaires and billionaires are the problem. No difference!! Just ask Bernie Sanders. Same blame game but rather than attempt to raise peoples’ lives through hard work, or education, it’s much easier to blame the billionaires for everything from inflation to shortages in housing. The leaders become corrupt and in order to hold power and consolidate the decision making, freedoms must be curtailed. That is a dangerous and slippery slope and one that must be avoided.

Some people point to the Nordic countries as successful experiments in democratic socialism, but that is an incorrect assumption. The Nordic countries are capitalist countries with comprehensive, social safety nets. And we’re talking about countries with very small populations. Sweden, being the largest with 10.7 million and Norway, half the size, with 5.5 million. That’s barely 65% of the population of New York City. When asking people what their idea of Socialism actually is, its often is answered with terms such as universal healthcare, living wage, fairness. All of these and a number of others are simply a way “progressives” are attempting to soften or change the negative images of Socialism/Communism that have proven to be very unpopular in the past.

If you detest politicians or the people in charge, there’s a way to replace them; organize and vote them out of power. That’s what Democratic Republics do well. But don’t do it because you believe our economic system doesn’t work for you and that socialism will improve you personal situation. It won’t! Socialism is the misery loves company theory of economics and will ultimately lead to more suffering. There is only one way to better your situation, and it’s on you. Work hard! Study hard! Train to be a carpenter, electrician, teacher, accountant or doctor. But don’t be a coward by blaming billionaires for the reason you can’t go to Disney World. Look in the mirror. Only you, can change you. Not the government. Socialism is a slippery slope towards authoritarianism and there can be no other result. If someone like Cea Weaver tells you that you can no longer own your home, exactly how is that democratic? These lunatics, and I don’t use the word lightly must be fought and rejected at every level.

When all is said and done, I question their actual motives. While Mamdani is a citizen, he’s clearly not American. All one do is listen to him and watch his actions. The Framers of this great nation, feared outside intervention, which is one of the reasons Mamdani can never be President, fortunately. They understood one way to defeat this nation, other than through military defeat, was from interventionists with nefarious intentions, to change the very system they created. Fear anyone who wants to eliminate the electoral college for example. Question heir ulterior motives. It literally exists for the very reason and to combat those who call for its dismantling. In a famous exchange between a woman named Elizabeth Willing and Benjamin Franklin, she asked him, “Well doctor, what have we got – a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” “Democratic Socialism is not the way to “keep it”. A word to the wise!!