In today’s world, where the political landscape often feels like a battleground of ideals, it’s easy to see why some folks find themselves daydreaming about the promises of socialism. But let’s be honest here, socialism is like buying a ticket to a concert where the music never plays. As Professor Gad Saad, the author of “Suicidal Empathy,” points out in a recent discussion on a popular podcast, socialism and human nature go together like oil and water—if the oil were also on fire.
Professor Saad discusses the so-called “allure” of socialism, painting a picture many of us are all too familiar with. It’s like a child being told they can have all the candy in the world without ever considering the tummy ache that follows. Sure, phrases like “sharing is caring” and “let’s make everything equal” sound heartwarming. But when applied to real life, such ideals crash faster than a twenty-year-old computer running the latest software. Just like we can’t all be rock stars or pro athletes, not everyone can be thrilled by the idea of wealth redistribution.
What about that socialist dream of seizing the means of production? While dreaming big is usually a good thing, sometimes it results in the kind of dreams children have after eating too much sugar before bed—not particularly grounded in reality. Socialists envision a utopia where everything is fair, but they conveniently forget about something called “human nature.” Different skills, work ethics, and ambitions mean that some climb the ladder faster than others. Trying to enforce absolute equality ignores these differences and becomes a comedy of errors that isn’t very funny.
The current crop of progressives who want to eliminate the police, open borders like they’re running a global Airbnb, and pretend criminal actions don’t have consequences seems to live in a world of their own creation. It’s as if they want everyone to play the game of Monopoly, but someone ripped up all the “Go to Jail” cards. These ideas may appeal to the overly optimistic dreamers, but in a country founded on individualism and freedom, they come off as truly out of touch.
With midterm elections on the horizon, one can’t help but wonder if common sense will make a triumphant return to the great American political theater. Will the voters reject the path leading to increased government control and fewer freedoms? Let’s hope for the sake of future generations that the allure of socialism fades quicker than teenager’s enthusiasm for cleaning their room, and citizens hold onto their prized freedom and opportunities—the things that made America great in the first place.
