The New York Times has published an article examining the growing appeal of socialism among young people, citing economic anxiety as a driving factor. In an interview, Joe Kahn, executive editor of the New York Times, emphasized the importance of skeptical editors, including those on the political right, who ask questions like "what are we missing here?"
Under the print headline "Groundswell for Democratic Socialists Rooted in Crushing Cost of Living," and the online headline "How Economic Anxiety Is Driving the Democratic Socialists' Surge," the New York Times interviews D.S.A. members, leaders, and strategists, who argue that economic frustration is prompting many to join the organization. The national D.S.A. announced that it had surpassed 120,000 members on Saturday.
Debate Over the Role of Economic Anxiety
However, some argue that the article's analysis is flawed, as it primarily features interviews with socialists themselves, who deliver a Marxist analysis of the situation. The article also mentions "layoffs in white-collar industries, the threat of job displacement from artificial intelligence, rising costs of living."
A more nuanced perspective might have emerged if the reporter had interviewed people outside the socialist-progressive bubble. After all, the economy is fairly strong, with the stock market testing record highs, and government-measured inflation coming down. The unemployment rate in June was 4.2 percent. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that people are finding jobs and earning higher salaries.
Some attribute the turn to socialism to youth who are too young to have remembered the disaster that was the Soviet Union's communist economy. Others point to a U.S. education system that is failing to teach reading, math, history, or economics. President Trump has also weighed in on the issue, stating that "communism's easy to sell... You've got free rent, for the rest of your life. What they don't say is that you'll be living in squalor in 12 months."