OPINION:
A new survey from YouGov of 2,100 U.S. citizens ages 16 and older finds that the term “socialism” is being regarded with rising favor among America’s more youthful population, the Generation Z-ers and millennials, collectively between the ages of 16 and 39.
Blame the public school systems.
Blame the media.
Blame the growing secularization of society.
Ultimately, blame the churches — and particularly, the Christian community.
Here’s where America’s at, according to this YouGov poll reported by the nonprofit Victims of Communism: “This year’s study showed increased favorability of the term ’socialism’ (49%) among Gen Z compared to 2019 (40%). Opinions of capitalism declined slightly from 2019 to 2020 among all Americans (58% to 55%), with Gen Z (ages 16-23) slightly up (49% to 52%) and Millennials (ages 24-39) down (50% to 43%). [Moreover], 35% of Millennials and 31% of Sen Z support the gradual elimination of the capitalist system in favor of a more socialist system.”
That’s a mouthful, but what it all means in a phrase is this: America’s in trouble. Or, more aptly, free America’s in trouble.
The socialists of U.S. society — and there are many! — have been making massive inroads in driving forward their very socialist entitlement mindset, causing a nation of people once marked by self-sufficiency and rugged independence to instead turn to government for every need. The school systems, in particular, have been increasingly hostile to Founding Father beliefs — and this is not by accident.
The Democratic Socialists of America talk in glowing terms about the purposeful advancement its members and supporters have made into America’s schools. Speaking of a West Virginia teachers’ strike orchestrated just a couple years ago, the DSA posts on its website: “The West Virginia strike didn’t happen by chance. It was the result of creative shop floor organizing by teachers with socialist politics. These teachers introduced a fundamentally different vision of their state that what was on offer from either elected officials or union leaders. And they were able to do this because they had organic connections to their co-workers. Rather than shouting socialist messaging at workers from afar, these teachers were able to alter the direction of the movement from within.”
If that’s not eye-opening enough — consider this: The DSA actively seeks to place more socialists in teaching positions in America’s schools.
Again, from the DSA website: “If DSA members become active in workplace organizing for the long term, we can wage fights similar to West Virginia. … [S]ocialists should take jobs as teachers for the political, economic and social potential the industry holds.”
There you have it.
That explains the corruption of U.S. history, of U.S. economics, of the concept of American exceptionalism.
That explains why youth are increasingly turning disdainful noses at capitalism and looking with soft and rosy expressions toward Marxism. Socialists have and are infiltrating America’s schools.
Combine that with a largely left-leaning media filled with members who work for corporate globalists — who are outright hostile to any sort of America First message from politicians and people — and with a social media stage dominated by Big Tech leftists, who don’t mind censoring alternate viewpoints, and the pro-socialism messaging is pure saturation.
Where’s a good patriotic American to turn for support?
Not the churches. Not any more.
“How America Lost Its Religion,” The Atlantic wrote in September 2019.
Here’s how: On the quiet lips of a cowed Christian community. Just look at the numbers of church closings due to executive orders based on coronavirus fears. That’s a face-slapping reality of what Pew Research has been reporting for years — that America’s seeing an increase of “nones,” meaning those who don’t adhere to any particular brand of belief in a higher power, and a simultaneous decrease in church-going, praying-warrior believers.
The final wall for America’s freedoms is falling fast — the churches.
If America is to stay a nation where individual rights come from God, not government, then it’s incumbent on those with belief in God to stand up and shout — from the rooftops, if necessary — that government is there only to secure those God-given rights.
Lose that concept, lose the Judeo-Christian principles upon which Founding Fathers drew their ideas of government, lose that cry of “God-given!” — and lose the country to socialists. Which is another way of saying: lose the country, ultimately, to communists and globalists and collectivists.
Christians must rise or America will fall.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter by clicking HERE.
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