"The Warmth of Collectivism" v. Capitalism

Mamdani's radical and dangerous philosophy

A Clear and Present Danger

Zohran Mamdani’s election as Mayor of New York City reinforces the fact that a substantial number of U.S. citizens, including a majority of Democrat voters and hefty margins of younger people seem either to have forgotten about the dangers of communism and its ‘collectivist’ economic policies or never were taught about them in the first place. But countries that have adopted communism and other collectivist systems have suffered greatly. Communism, with its collectivist obsession to confiscate private property has been responsible for more economic destruction and death that any other system on the face of the earth.

Many in this country seem to be oblivious to these historical facts. Recent polls show that hefty majorities both of Democrats of all ages and of young people of all political persuasions are under the delusion that a socialist system is superior to the capitalist system that built this country and brought untold wealth to countries that have embraced it.

2025 polling by the Cato Institute yielded these results: Over two-thirds of Democrats (67%) held a favorable view of socialism. That contrasted with just 50% who viewed capitalism favorably. A slightly more recent Gallup poll found that only 42% of the Democrats viewed capitalism favorably, compared to 66% who favored socialism.

Here are two graphs of Gallup polling from 2010 to 2025 showing levels of support for socialism and capitalism by adults of different political persuasions. As you can see, support for socialism among Democrats has been trending upwards, while their support for capitalism has been declining.

For younger people irrespective of party identification, the trends are equally disturbing. The Cato Institute’s polling revealed that almost two-thirds (62%) of all American adults under 30 have a favorable view of socialism; and more that a third of those in the 18 - 29 year age bracket have a favorable view of the worst-of-the-worst: communism.

This is dangerous stuff.

The Pied Piper pipes a dangerous tune

And New York City’s new mayor promises that it will be worse than you might have thought. His communist/collectivists rhetoric was not just to pander to his base like many politicians. He has no intention of ‘tacking to the middle.’ Instead, he promises that he will govern like a communist. In his inaugural address that “I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist.” Mamdani has not just let his mask slip but instead has ripped off any mask, revealing his true essence. In his inaugural address he promised:

“We will replace the rigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.”

“The warmth of collectivism!” Collectivist policies are — almost by definition —unadulterated communism. I would like to think that most thinking Americans recoiled at this pledge to totalitarianism.

Mamdani may camouflage himself with the ‘Democratic socialist’ label, but I will not get bogged down in parsing whether he is a communist, a socialist, or a democratic socialist. All three share the philosophy of collectivism that subordinates the individual to a collective social structure such as a political party, or a state or nation. Collectivism may be contrasted with individualism which emphasizes the rights and interests of the individual, as opposed to the collective entity. Mamdani’s promise to embrace “collectivism” is communist philosophy through and through, whether he identifies himself as a Communist, a Democratic Socialist, a Whig, or Bull Moose.

How to combat this ignorance?

A substantial number of U.S. citizens, including a majority of Democrat voters and hefty margins of younger people seem either to have forgotten about the dangers of communism and its collectivist economic policies, or never were taught about them in the first place. So how can you influence their thinking?

I will not attempt to write a lengthy essay on the merits of capitalism versus any of the various collective -isms. Instead, in case any readers wish to engage in a discussion with a child, nephew, or just a well-intentioned but naive and uninformed relative or friend, I will fall back on the truism that a picture is worth a thousand words:

This nighttime satellite photo of the Korean peninsula conveys as well as a ten-thousand-word PhD thesis, the stark difference between the economic systems of a capitalist and a collectivist economy. North Korea is dark save for a dim glow from Pyongyang. There are no other lights to speak of between the Yalu River and the northern border of South Korea at the 38th parallel.

And from the other side of the globe, you see capitalist West Berlin at the top and top-right part of the photo, divided by the Berlin Wall from communist/collectivist East Berlin which is at the bottom (literally and figuratively). Which looks like a better place to live?

And finally, this last photo is not so much a glimpse of contrasting economic development as a contrast between free people and the victims of collectivism. This is the Berlin wall in its early stages. The West Germans, a free people, press up against the wall looking to the east. And those people basking in the ‘warmth of collectivism’? Not a one to be seen, unless you can count the young guard as one of them.

You want collectivism? Free stuff for everyone? Be careful. Be very careful what you wish for.

And to paraphrase Lord Tennyson, “all the world wondered” when will apostate Americans come to their senses?

And a note to readers

If you like this article, please do two things: (1) Forward to your friends by posting on your favorite social media or just with an email, and (2) hit the “Like” button. That is not just to feed my ego — it actually will help create more visibility for this and will boost circulation. Thank you!