Can Bernie — and socialism — win?
The crowds grow larger and more passionate. Redefining “political rally,” his fervent supporters wait in line for hours, even days, just for the chance to see their hero. They incessantly cheer his name, howling in glee each time their leader slams the establishment that is working so hard to defeat him — and them. As the cacophony grows, so do his poll numbers, to the detriment and outright surprise of his opponents.
Could this charismatic man, with all his baggage, and whom the “experts” long claimed could not win, really be making a serious play at his party’s presidential nomination?
Yes. That description perfectly describes the candidacy of Donald Trump during the primaries of 2016, but it also applies to Democratic frontrunner Bernie Sanders.
The Vermont senator, who openly identifies as a democratic socialist, won New Hampshire’s primary, arguably won the debacle called Iowa’s caucuses, and is leading in the Nevada polls. It is still early, and anything can happen, since months are an eternity in politics, but the Sanders candidacy — which, similar to Mr. Trump’s, is more of a movement — is in high gear. He is a force with which to be reckoned, as his rivals are learning, and, for now, seems to be in the driver’s seat, especially since the moderates continue to fracture the vote.
Here’s a look at Mr. Sanders’ candidacy:
At 78, he is considered “old” — truth be told, he looks even older — and is more than double the age of Pete Buttigieg, his closest competitor. He suffered a heart attack in October, normally a death knell in presidential politics , yet he bounced back with no ill effects, personally or politically. He staunchly advocates a socialist agenda, including national health care; a progressive tax code; a $15 minimum wage; vastly increased federal spending; free college; student loan forgiveness; and elements of an open borders policy.
Those positions do not reflect the views of the American majority. Therefore, if Bernie wins the nomination, Donald Trump gets re-elected … right? Not so fast.
It would be an uphill climb, but anyone stating a Trump victory would be a foregone conclusion is foolish.
Four years ago, the same “guaranteed win” mentality was prevalent among both Democrats and Republicans, with Hillary Clinton the one to be coronated. Even Donald Trump and his top advisors thought a Clinton victory was a done deal. The lesson was that, in these unprecedented political times, traditional methodologies in predicting outcomes no longer work. From Brexit to Trump, people demonstrated that they are fed up and will vote for change, even if refusing to admit it. So it’s not without irony that many who said Trump couldn’t win in 2016 are now writing off Sanders as having no chance.
The bigger question is why so many young people are flocking to Mr. Sanders’ ideology. Ironically, the senator doesn’t do well with older Americans — he only garnered fifteen percent of 65-and-older New Hampshire voters. But he crushed the 18-to29 demographic, winning more than half of that vote.
Why such a surge of young support? Because according to surveys, 52 percent of 18-to-34year-olds have a favorable view of socialism, with less than half seeing capitalism in a good light.
That’s not just astounding, but appalling.
Over half of America’s young people now think the freest and fairest economic system in the world is “bad.” Even worse is that they gravitate to a socialist “nirvana” that, in reality, would generate an inescapable malaise by destroying creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.
This is our fault, and only by ending our silence and repudiating political correctness, “diversity” as the be-all-end-all, and double standards will we begin to turn such warped perceptions around.
Summer jobs, which used to be a rite of passage and taught fundamental lessons in responsibility and punctuality, are now a thing of the past, replaced by coddled students “taking a class” for the summer and bumming the rest of the time.
Not only hasn’t society chastised such lackadaisical work ethic, but it has encouraged it by glamorizing the “I’m entitled to get what I want, when I want” ethos. Add in the “right” to be offended by everything including having to work and meet obligations - and it’s no wonder that so many young people demand that others pay off their student loans and “give” them what they need, for “free.”
One thing is clear. President Sanders or not, if young Americans continue to espouse socialism, they’ll soon be presiding over the United States of Europe.