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Amid the relative quietness of Hawaii’s political landscape, the most consequential election of this year is one that’s more than 5,000 miles away: the New York City mayoral race. It’s a three-man race among Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent. What distinguishes this election historically, however, is the looming victory of Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist. Mamdani’s ascendancy is emblematic of a troubling drift toward socialism among younger generations and portends serious consequences for the rest of the nation. The growing acceptance of socialism isn’t surprising. According to a recent Cato Institute survey, 62% of those aged 18-29 held a favorable view of socialism. This raises the question: Why does socialism appeal to young people? The central reason stems from an underlying frustration with the many inequalities that exist in the world. Whether it be housing unaffordability, high cost of living, or the persistence of poverty, all of these problems reinforce young people’s disillusionment with the current state of the nation. The natural idealism of young people, which is both a blessing and a curse, creates a yearning for a better world. As noble as this is, when certain realities are not acknowledged, such idealism turns into naivete. Perhaps the best example of this lies in the lamentable ignorance of socialism’s track record. As the historical record makes clear, every major socialist experiment — the Soviet Union, Maoist China or Venezuela — has resulted in complete misery and the suppression of individual freedom. Throughout the 20th century, about 100 million people died under various socialist and communist regimes, according to estimates from the Hudson Institute. So while it may seem tempting, socialism’s equitable intentions belie its catastrophic record. All of this isn’t to say that a Mayor Mamdani would inevitably lead the country into totalitarianism. That would be hyperbole. However, the consequences would be pernicious. A Mamdani victory risks legitimizing socialism in our nation’s politics, and as a result, more democratic socialists will become emboldened to run for public office. Although this election is confined to New York City, Hawaii is not immune to its potential ramifications. Given the Democratic Party’s stronghold in Hawaii, whatever happens to the party nationally may eventually trickle down to the state. This necessitates an understanding of the current ideological battle happening within the Democratic Party. The contest between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani best encapsulates the battle between moderates and far-left progressives. With the latter continuing to gain prominence, how long will it be before democratic socialism reaches Hawaii? Mamdani’s ascendancy shouldn’t be dismissed as a mere historical anomaly. The alluring promise of “free” things will always capture the imagination of those most susceptible to its spell. For example, Mamdani’s proposals to create government-run grocery stores and institute rent freezes are what have driven his popularity. Not only is this financially infeasible, but it’s incompatible with the fundamental economic truth laid out by Milton Friedman: There is no such thing as a free lunch. Socialism’s rise is not inexorable, but it will take active efforts to stop its meddling fingers from encroaching on the nation’s ethos. Take the 1948 presidential election between Harry Truman and Thomas Dewey. While those two defined the race, many overlook the third-party candidacy of former vice president Henry Wallace. Backed by the American Communist Party and a defender of Soviet policies, Wallace represented a threat to the nation and was rightly repudiated by Democrats and Republicans alike. One can only hope that the same shall become of Mamdani. Kala’e Kong is a senior at Saint Louis School. “Raise Your Hand,” a monthly column featuring Hawaii’s youth and their perspectives, appears in the Insight section on the first Sunday of each month. It is facilitated by the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders.
