Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth for the Colson Center. I'm John Stone Street. Recently, in primary elections in both New York and Colorado, self-professed communist and Democratic socialist candidates beat progressive ones to claim Democratic nominations for office.
Well, today on Breakpoint, Dr. Eric Patterson, president of the Victims of Communism Museum and Memorial Foundation, discusses how a Marxist worldview operates and why it matters that one of America's political parties is now being pushed hard in this direction. Here's Dr. Patterson. Today's self-described Democratic Socialists.
including New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, have identified real frustrations. Bureaucracy. inefficiency, red tape. lack of accountability. and the mounting costs of urban life in places such as Baltimore, New York and Chicago.
But they failed to see that these problems were caused by decades of progressive government ever larger bureaucracies. restrictions on private property and innovation. and policies that made citizens more dependent on government. Should Americans be worried? Or is this merely youthful enthusiasm?
True, there's a faddish pop Marxism among many young adults and teens. it is fashionable to rage against the machine and more attractive still when government promises to subsidize college, housing, groceries, and transportation. But something more serious is at work. Americans should ask three questions about any political candidate, platform, or party. Does it advance statism?
or individual liberty under limited government? Does it strengthen American institutions? or undermine them. Does it denounce political violence? Or excuse it.
First. Are the policies democratic socialists advocate designed to protect religious freedom? freedom of conscience, private property. The family. and private enterprise.
Or do they rely on increasing state power to regulate social, economic, and political life? Marx said that control of the economy, socialism, was the first step towards control of everything. Communism. That is why it matters when democratic socialists attack private property. disparage an innovative business culture.
and often call the freedoms of religion and conscience smoke screens for superstition. and intolerance of their progressive agenda. Second. Do democratic socialists defend America's constitutional order and its institutions? Or do they attack them?
Be wary of those who dismiss the Constitution. advocate packing the Supreme Court. Or describe federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, and democratic processes as outdated. or illegitimate. Third, Do they condemn political violence?
or rationalize it. Radical socialism is an ends justify the means worldview. Consider the environment we are now in. Multiple assassination attempts against a sitting president, violence and threats targeting Supreme Court justices. And destructive movements from Occupy Wall Street to Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone to anti-Semitism on American college campuses.
Too often, democratic socialists such as Mamdani, A O C Colorado's Kiros. and Seattle's mayor have excused such extremism. rather than plainly denouncing it. The official Democratic Socialists of America website calls for major taxation and wealth redistribution. Through government bureaucracies to fund, quote, universal public systems for healthcare, college, and housing, end quote.
It also proposes dramatic changes to the Supreme Court and Congress. and the elimination of the Electoral College. changes that would weaken not strengthen America's Constitutional Order. Even more striking are proposals for full voting rights for non-citizens. Punitive taxation on the quote richest earners, end quote, and statehood for that progressive bastion, Washington, D.C.
with roughly 690,000 residents. Why not similarly sized cities such as El Paso, Louisville, or Detroit? Many candidates who call themselves Democratic Socialists also show fealty not simply to ecological conservation, but to the philosophically radical and budget-busting. Green New Deal. And since the grotesque attacks of October 7th, many have aligned themselves not with the Middle East's only democracy.
but with rhetoric that excuses or minimizes Hamas's murders. The result has been an ugly return of anti-Semitism to American public life. blurring from the hard left. This year, America celebrates its 250th birthday. best expressed in the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
As Martin Luther King Jr. noted, The Declaration was not fully realized in 1776. It was a promissory note to future generations, one that we must continue working to fulfill. The American story is one of scars and triumphs. moving however imperfectly toward greater individual liberty.
and fuller recognition of our common human dignity. The founders knew that unrestrained government power is the first enemy of freedom. The British government kept changing the social contract. No trial by jury. Troops quartered in private homes.
Land and businesses appropriated. Colonial charters revoked. After a decade of losing more and more rights, British troops killed colonists at Lexington and Concord. That is why the founders sought to secure individual rights. Federalism, private property, and other fundamental liberties and democratic.
institutions. Our 250th birthday is a time for joy and also a time for solemn reflection. Americans must remain alert to movements that expand unaccountable state power. undermine our rights and institutions. and excuse political violence.
That was doctor Eric Patterson, President of the Victims of Communism Museum and Memorial Foundation. Learn more about their excellent work at vocmuseum.org. That's vocmuseum.org. For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street. If you're a fan of Breakpoint, please leave us a review wherever you download your podcast.
And to find more resources or share this commentary with other people, go to breakpoint.org. Christian Educators. This is Billy Hutchinson with Colson Educators. As a former teacher myself, I know you're busy, and I know you want to teach like a Christian, not just be a Christian who teaches.
Well that's why we created the Colson Educators app. You can get practical worldview training wherever you are, complete courses on your schedule, earn CEUs and connect with a community of like-minded educators. Download the Colson Educators app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
