Why Young People Like Mamdani—and Why We Should Be Concerned
A thoughtful look at the appeal of socialist solutions and some cautious lessons of history
The Seductive Promise
I get it. When you're 25, drowning in student debt, paying 60% of your income for a studio apartment, and watching your grocery bills double while your wages stay flat, Zohran Mamdani sounds like hope. His promises are bold: rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, fare-free transportation, and an end to the "exploitation" of capitalism.
But here's what I've learned from history: the most dangerous lies are the ones wrapped in legitimate grievances. And promises for politicians that sound too good to be true are typically not true.
The Real Pain Behind the Appeal
The problems driving young people toward politicians like Mamdani are real:
Housing Crisis: NYC rent has increased 300% faster than wages over two decades
Student Debt: Average graduates carry $37,000 in debt for degrees that don't guarantee employment
Stagnant Wages: Real purchasing power has declined even as productivity increased
Inflation: Basic necessities now outpace income growth
When traditional politicians offer incremental solutions while you can't afford to live where you work, radical solutions start to sound reasonable. Leaders like Mamdani might begin to sound incredibly compassionate, in touch, and willing to level the playing field for all people.
Zohran Mamdani’s campaign centers on democratic socialist policies aimed at making New York City more affordable and equitable (ie. rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, fare-free public transit, public ownership of utilities, etc.) He openly embraces Marxist ideals, advocating for significant government intervention in the economy to address inequality and calling for a fundamental shift away from capitalist structures.
Why Mamdani's Message Resonates
Mamdani understands that young people aren't just economically frustrated—they're morally frustrated. His message taps into powerful psychological appeals:
The Justice Narrative: He frames inequality as moral crisis. "Why should landlords profit from basic human needs?" resonates with young people who see homelessness alongside luxury developments.
The Simplicity Appeal: Complex problems get simple solutions: "Seize the means of production." It's cleaner than navigating zoning laws and market mechanisms.
The Belonging Factor: Democratic socialism seems to offer community and identity when traditional institutions feel distant.
The Moral High Ground: Capitalism is portrayed as oppressive and taking advantage of the working class; supporting socialism feels like standing with the oppressed and the common man/woman.
The tenets of Marxist/Socialist ideas are typically based in fighting systems of oppression. When one class can be seen as oppressive (economically, socially, etc.), then the socialist can always take the position of fighting for a just cause to help bring liberation, freedom, and equality.
This creation of “an oppressed or victim class” can be subtly or brazenly used to create unrest, leading the working class to seek means for “freedom.” This is the exact playbook that Mamdani is using to entice others toward his position and policies. They sound good. They sound freeing. They sound “fair” for someone who feels they are struggling economically, but Socialism truly provides nothing more than a bait and switch (which we will reveal further into the article).
Mamdani’s Radical Foreign Policy Agenda
Mamdani's extremism extends beyond economics. His stance on Israel reveals another troubling dimension of his worldview:
Anti-Israel Activism: Mamdani has consistently supported anti-Israel positions, including calls for boycotts and divestment. He's participated in rallies where "intifada" chants have been heard - a term historically associated with violent uprisings against Israeli civilians.
Antisemitism Concerns: Jewish community leaders have raised concerns about Mamdani's rhetoric and associations, noting that his positions often cross the line from legitimate criticism into antisemitic territory.
International Law Claims: He frequently invokes "international law" to justify extreme positions against Israel while remaining silent on human rights abuses by authoritarian regimes that align with his socialist worldview.
This pattern reveals something important: Mamdani's politics aren't just about economics - they're about a comprehensive worldview that consistently sides with America's adversaries and undermines democratic allies. For a mayor of a city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, this stance is particularly concerning. His views have consistenly put him at odds with long held American and Judeo-Christian values.
The Historical Record: What Happens When Socialist/Marxist Ideas Are Implemented
The policies Mamdani advocates—government control of housing, food distribution, and transportation—aren't theoretical. We must realize there have been numerous Socialist experiements tried repeatedly, always resulting in catastrophe.
Venezuela (2000s-Present)
Started with price controls and nationalization of industries
Result: 80% poverty rate, mass emigration, economic collapse
Housing programs became corruption scandals; food became scarce
Soviet Union (1917-1991)
Promised worker control and economic equality
Result: Chronic shortages, waiting lists for basic goods, economic stagnation
Despite vast natural resources, couldn't feed its own people
Cuba (1959-Present)
Nationalized housing and industry for "the people"
Result: Crumbling infrastructure, food rationing, mass exodus
Average monthly wage: $20-30
East Germany (1949-1989)
Comprehensive social programs and state control
Result: People literally risked death to escape to capitalist West Germany
When the Berlin Wall fell, East Germans abandoned their system overnight
The Consistent Failures
Every socialist experiment follows a predictable pattern:
Initial Promise: Eliminate inequality and provide security
Economic Disruption: Price controls create shortages and black markets
Increased Control: Government expands power to "fix" the problems it created
Decline: Innovation stops, productivity falls, people lose hope
Collapse or Stagnation: The system either collapses or becomes permanently dysfunctional
Initial Promise → Economic Disruption → Increased Control → Decline → Collapse
The Christian Perspective: Why Marxism Conflicts with Biblical Truth
The Bible offers key insights about why Marxist ideas feel compassionate but ultimately lead to harm:
Human Nature: "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9). Marxism assumes people are naturally cooperative and will work for the collective good when capitalism is removed, and socialist (communist ideas) are forced.
The Biblical reality is that sin affects all humans and all human institutions. Concentrating power never eliminates corruption—it concentrates. Power corrupts, and absolute power absolutely corrupts when there is a loss of balance of power. It is very unwise for governing powers to begin to control too many of the levers for human life and flourishing. It has always led to more restrictions instead of freedoms.
Work's Dignity: "Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need" (Ephesians 4:28). Scripture advocates for a strong and solid work ethic which has intrinsic dignity and purpose. We're called to be productive and generous, not to minimize work and maximize redistribution. Marxist ideals squelch ingenuity and competition which typically breed greater advancement and common good.
Justice vs. Envy: The tenth commandment warns against coveting what others have. Christian justice means helping the poor through voluntary generosity and creating opportunities for advancement. Not so with Marxist justice, which leads to a forced taking from those who have, because inequality itself is unjust. Private property and privately owned businesses become objects for government to seize and take control over.
The Economic Reality: Why These Policies Create More Problems
Rent Controls: Promise affordable housing, deliver housing shortages and deteriorating buildings. NYC's own rent control history proves this.
City-Run Grocery Stores: Promise to eliminate corporate profits, deliver empty shelves and taxpayer losses. Soviet stores had nothing while capitalist countries had abundance.
Nationalizing Utilities: Promise democratic control, deliver poor service and blackouts. See Venezuela's electrical grid collapse under state control.
Better Solutions: Addressing Real Problems Without Destroying the System
There are proven ways to address the problems driving young people toward socialism:
Housing: Zoning reform to allow more construction, tax incentives for affordable units, homeownership programs. Result: Increased supply naturally lowers prices.
Education and Debt: Promote skills training and trades, tie federal funding to employment outcomes, support entrepreneurship. Result: Better job prospects, less debt.
Economic Opportunity: Reduce regulatory barriers for small businesses, tax reform to let people keep more earnings, and investment incentives for job creation. Result: More jobs, higher wages, economic mobility.
The Choice Before Us
To young people considering Mamdani's message: What if there's a better way?
What if instead of seizing the means of production, we made it easier for you to own them? What if instead of government-run stores, we eliminated regulations that prevent local cooperatives from competing? What if instead of rent control, we made it legal to build the housing you need?
The problems you're facing are real. The solution isn't to abandon the system that has created more prosperity than any other in history—it's to remove the barriers that keep it from working for you.
Your generation deserves better than the false hope of socialism. You deserve real solutions that work. The question isn't whether change is needed—it's whether we'll choose changes that have worked throughout history, or repeat the failures that have brought misery to millions.
Choose wisely. Your future depends on it.
"The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design." - F.A. Hayek
As we head into July 4th weekend, I truly pray for God’s blessings upon our land. I fully trust in Jesus Christ and hope in the promises of His Kingdom, while also hoping for God to shed his grace upon this land of ours. Peace.