From New York to California, the American left is proving that nothing succeeds like failure.
In areas ranging from immigration to public health policy to public education, politicians are using past failures to push for even more radical changes.
Immigration:
Many on the left, including Democratic Socialists, have called for open borders or disbanding ICE. After the Biden administration allowed millions of undocumented people to enter the country, Democrats are now advocating for “pathways” to citizenship for them. The failure of the open border policy is now being used to justify more extreme measures.
Public Health Policy:
Despite promises that Obamacare would lower costs and improve options, the reality is that premiums have tripled since its implementation, and deductibles have more than doubled. Calls for “Medicare for all” are now gaining traction as a response to the failure of Obamacare.
Public Education:
Efforts to reform public education have focused on increasing budgets and lowering proficiency standards, instead of implementing market-based systems like voucher programs. The result is a worsening system and increased power for teachers unions.
Examples from New York:
Zohran Mamdani, a prominent figure in New York politics, has faced criticism for his policies that have led to chaos and increased costs. His push for free buses has resulted in fare evasion costing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority millions. Similarly, his rent control policies have led to skyrocketing housing costs.
Success Through Failure:
Historically, socialist policies have led to economic decline, creating a cycle of government expansion to address the failures. This pattern is repeating itself in the US, with demands for more government control growing as policies fail.
For radicals, crises are seen as opportunities to advance their agenda. The future looks promising for American socialists as failures continue to mount.
Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”