Many in the Democratic Party are trying to appeal to younger voters by promising a universal income and free college tuition. They are playing to the data that growing numbers of Millennials and Gen Z support socialism. This is a long-game politically because polls indicate that nearly 60% of Americans believe that socialism is not compatible with American values. That same Monmouth University Poll confirmed those under age 35 are 71% neutral or negative on capitalism. The younger voters are swinging far left in their political ideology. This is problematic when there is empirical evidence that socialism impoverishes populations, and takes away rights of free speech and religious freedom. But there is more.
A recent study conducted by New Economics Foundation, supported by Public Services International a pro-union organization that represents over 20 million public service workers, shows that one of socialism's basic underpinnings-universal minimum income-is an abject failure in bringing income equality and reversing poverty. The study, Universal Basic Income-A Union Perspective, surmises, "At the heart of the critique of UBIs contained in this brief is the failure of the most basic principle of progressive tax and expenditure, which can be summarized as "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need"...The estimates of funds required to provide a UBI at anything other than token levels are well in excess of the entire welfare budget of most countries."
The study of 14 Universal Basic Income schemes, or what is called minimum income, revealed it's really a bad idea. It says, "Making cash payments to individuals to increase their purchasing power in a free-market economy is not a viable route to solving problems caused or exacerbated by neoliberal market economics; There is no evidence that any version of UBI can be affordable, inclusive, sufficient and sustainable at the same time; There is no evidence that UBI will help to increase the bargaining power of workers and trade unions or solve problems of low pay and precarious work." Still, the report persists, "We must not alienate the majority of UBI proponents who genuinely seek to build political power to tackle inequality, support the welfare state, deal with precarious work and fund public services."
Bottom line is that socialism/communism doesn't work. We see the historical evidence of it everywhere it is tried.
As William Bradford described the Pilgrim's failed socialist experiment in "Of Plymouth Plantation": "The experience that was had in this common course and condition...may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato's and other ancients applauded by some of later times; that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing, as if they were wiser than God." In ending the socialist experiment that nearly ended the colony, Bradford wrote: "...God in his wisdom saw another course fitter for them."
The first commandment, Exodus 20:1 says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." That includes government. Moreover, Bradford is still right. Man is not wiser than God.
