A recent poll found that 58 percent of millennials would prefer a socialist, communist or fascist nation rather than a capitalist society. Of these socioeconomic orders, the most popular was socialism—which received 44 percent. It's no wonder that socialist stars like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are popular with young people.
The Communism Memorial Foundation stated that these results “highlight widespread historical illiteracy in American society regarding socialism and the systematic failure of our education system to teach students about the genocide, destruction, and misery caused by communism.” I would add that the “systematic failure” is not all historical—it is still happening today.
Just a few days ago in Venezuela, there was an assassination attempt on the life of President Maduro (unless it was, as some believe, staged by the government to justify a crackdown). If it was a genuine effort to kil Maduro, the reason was the country's economic collapse, brought on by socialist policies. Forbes sites power blackouts, lack of running water and a decaying public transportation system in this ‘socialist paradise.’
The Communism Memorial Foundation suggests that millennials are “infatuated with socialism” because they feel “burdened by the economy.” However, turning to socialism as the answer completely ignores the economic woes that inevitably follow socialism, as most recently shown in Venezuela.
Millennials don’t know what socialism is outside of the a down version that has spread in America today. The Communism Memorial Foundation poll also found that “only 33 percent of millennials were able to identify the correct definition of socialism.” At the same time only 51 percent could define capitalism.
Young people are voting for systems they don’t even understand. They ignore the obvious benefits of capitalism, and take for granted our American democracy.