This Is How to Stop the Socialist Juggernaut

The victory of Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic Party primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan confirms that socialism is gaining a foothold in America.

Never mind that El-Sayed coyly claims that he is a “capitalist,” not a socialist nor a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). His policy platform reveals the truth.

El-Sayed favors wealth redistribution via “wealth taxes” and a massive welfare state including universal childcare, universal pre-K, free college, Medicare for All, more federal housing and rent subsidies, and “income protection programs such as wage insurance and basic income.”

He also favors centralization of power. Packing the Supreme Court, abolishing the Senate filibuster, abolishing ICE, and granting mass amnesty “for those who are stuck in limbo in our current system,” are just the starters.

And he believes that “climate change” is a “dire global threat.” Thus, he favors “100 percent renewable energy” anchored “in massive investment in solar, wind, and battery storage, a modernized smart grid, and the energy efficiency upgrades that put money back in families’ pockets.” Say hello to the Green New Deal.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Our Revolution, and many other climate/socialist organizations endorsed and financially supported El-Sayed’s campaign.

El-Sayed, technically not officially affiliated with the DSA, certainly benefited mightily from the disturbing socialist groundswell that is engulfing the Left and the youth.

As numerous polls and myriad anecdotes from social media confirm on a daily basis, socialism is the “new, new thing” on the Left.

But even worse, it has mass appeal among young Americans. More than half of young, likely voters want a “democratic” socialist to win the White House in 2028. Most young Americans, including a large portion of independents and conservatives, want government-run grocery stores in every town.

Young people want free stuff. They are sour on capitalism. They think they want socialism. How did this happen?

In my humble opinion, the sudden surge in socialist sentiment among young Americans is not a coincidence. It didn’t happen in a vacuum. And although the cost-of-living crisis has certainly played a role in the rise of socialism, it is not the genesis of the poisonous potion.

The public education system bears the brunt of responsibility for the socialist surge among young people.

I say this as a proud former public-school teacher, which gives me no glee.

Shortly after beginning my master’s degree program in secondary education, I realized that I was there to be brainwashed, not to become an effective teacher.

Throughout the two-year program, far more emphasis was placed on social justice than social studies. Incredibly, little attention was paid to subject content mastery and classroom skills, whereas much time, energy, and effort was geared toward political activism and Marxist ideology.

Not to dwell too much on the topic, but it must be made absolutely clear that colleges and universities churning out today’s teachers have been hijacked by Marxist radicals. The Left’s long march through the institutions is paying dividends.

At the classroom level, the outright bias, incompetence, and laziness openly displayed by tenured teachers was jaw-dropping.

During my teaching career, I worked in public schools in Illinois, Georgia, and South Carolina. Some were urban schools, others were rural. Some were in posh suburbs; others were in poverty-ridden neighborhoods. Some were very well-funded, whereas others were not.

Despite these differences, most of the teachers in all these schools generally exhibited at least two of the three undesirable traits mentioned above.

In terms of personal political ideology, I would guess that 90 percent of my colleagues were on the left. I do remember a few outspoken “conservatives,” but they were mostly viewed as dumb, bigoted black sheep.

This does not mean that all public school social studies teachers are bad. It just means that they are not solely concerned with teaching their students how to be critical thinkers, and they are even less concerned with ensuring their students receive a neutral, accurate delivery of history and current events.

Although I am not a fan of mandates and imposing more regulations on teachers, I am more than willing to make an exception that would guarantee that public school teachers teach the truth about socialism.

To date, Florida has been the undisputed leader in ensuring students learn the full truth about socialism, communism, and Marxism. In 2024, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1264, “requiring instruction in public schools on the history of communism,” into law.

In 2025, the Florida Department of Education approved new History of Communism Standards, “developed by Florida educators and content experts.”

“With the adoption of the History of Communism Standards, Florida is leading the nation by equipping students with a truthful, in-depth understanding of how communist ideologies suppress individual freedoms, abuse power, and inflict widespread suffering,” the State Board of Education notes.

“We will not allow our students to live in ignorance, nor be indoctrinated by Communist apologists in schools. To the contrary, we will ensure students in Florida are taught the truth about the evils and dangers of communism,” DeSantis said.

Bravo to Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Legislature.

Remember, Cuba is located not that far from Florida.

Floridians, especially those who have fled Cuba, know the truth about socialism. They understand how vital it is to teach their children the truth about socialism.

If young Americans receive the unvarnished truth about socialism in their formative years, the socialist juggernaut will slowly but surely lose momentum.

Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute.

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