Capitalism or Socialism: A Time for Choosing – Again

According to an NPR poll, 55 percent of Democrats are not proud of America. Worse, this poll was taken on the eve of our nation’s 250th birthday celebration.

That poll, in part, explains the next gut-punch: Only 42 percent of Democrats view capitalism positively — while 66 percent have a positive view of socialism.

Houston, we have a problem — actually, America does. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are under open attack.

How did we get to a point where a clear majority of our largest party isn’t proud of America? An even larger majority — in the flagship of the free market, the nation that defeated Communism — prefers socialism to capitalism. Socialism!

How did we get here? To borrow a phrase from Hemingway: “Gradually, then suddenly.”

Over my lifetime, a series of social movement ideas built on each other, both clearing a path and planting the seeds. Many are nuts. Some are dangerous. Most are overtly anti-American in words or by inevitable consequences.

From our colleges to Hollywood and K-12 education to legacy media — then that echo chamber. Purposefully, by some Americans. Others who only saw the trees and not the forest — mistakenly thinking they were being enlightened or compassionate. Some not knowing the messaging was being pushed by our communist and dictator enemies around the globe

Remove faith from schools. Downplay the role of dads. Preach that it takes a village to raise a child. Deemphasize academic outcomes. CRT — dividing our children into “victims” and “oppressors.” Vilify the Founders. Cancel culture.

Essentially force everyone into college, with a buffet of newly invented words and grievances, allowing them to stay five or six years — or even longer — leaving with “fuzzy” degrees and six figures of debt. Everything is a “right.” “Free” healthcare, college, housing. And a “universal guaranteed income” to deal with how “expensive” everything is.

Talk about “hate speech” and micro-aggressions, then develop lists of banned words on campuses. Challenge the police, law enforcement and our borders. The planet is melting — in large part because of American greed.

While many of us were busy raising our kids, going to work and “pursuing happiness,” we didn’t realize that two generations of Americans were told to ignore God, distrust their parents and reject the Founders. They are entitled to an endless list of things — and entitled to never suffer. Never to have anyone be mean to them. And told that they could trust government to protect them from “harm” and provide them with all they’re “entitled” to. If it feels good, do it — gender, relationships, and all of society is fluid.

Two generations with no anchors, cultural norms or societal underpinnings: in fact, a repudiation of America’s cultural anchors. Fear. Selfishness. Jealousy. Loneliness. And a belief that their life should be bubble-wrapped.

Add in the professorial Bernie Sanders, the oversimplification of AOC and smooth talking charlatan Mamdani — and willing accomplices in academia, Hollywood and the media — and, Presto! You have a majority of Democrats ashamed of America and embracing socialism.

Interestingly, the base of the Democrat Party’s new base — i.e., socialists of varying colors — is comprised of folks with who grew up in middle class or higher incomes and have at least a college degree, but are often in debt, as they paid too much for college — and perhaps cars and lattes. They are not the “working families party;” rather, the bubble-wrap generation.

Yes, Republicans are pushing back — defending America, the free market, and common sense. And thankfully — so far — most independents are rejecting socialism. But many are not fans of the GOP.  They are at a crossroads.

But to stop socialism — and their team-crazy allies (men in women’s sports, 144 genders, defund the police, and cows, babies and gas ranges are causing a “climate crisis”), America needs actual old-school Democrats to take back their party.

Democratic leaders — and allies in unions or other causes — need to decide: Are they going to join in with the Mamdanis and preach socialism? Or stay quiet and enable them? (This is how fearful, desperate-to-hold-power Democrat caucus leaders are behaving — see Senator Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, and PA House Majority Leader Matt Bradford.)

Or, will they stand-up and call out crazy? Call out socialism?! Like Senator Fetterman, Rahm Emanuel — and even “Crazy” James Carville.

Or will others follow the Shapiro-method — desperately trying to straddle both lanes?

The time for choosing is now. Like with a weed — we cannot merely remove the Mandamis, we must also rip out the roots. We must fix our education system, and ignore those in Hollywood and the media who spread the lies of socialism — or cover up or defend “crazy.”

Another President who deeply loved America, who understood the horrors and threat of Communism — Ronald Reagan — warned us a lifetime ago.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

More Americans should’ve taken Reagan to heart. Let’s recommit ourselves. The time is now.

Guy Ciarrocchi is a Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation. He writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. Follow Guy at @PhilaFreedomGuy.