IS SOCIALISM COMING TO AMERICA?

 
While the American right continues to attack socialist politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, those attacks are increasingly not resonating with America itself. The country is continuing its move towards socialism. That was highlighted last week when America elected its first socialist mayor of a large American city since 1960.

A NEW POLL released in the United States  last week has revealed that socialism continues to attract more people to its cause, especially young Americans.

The online poll conducted June 11-25 by the Axios news website found that while 57 percent of US adults continue to view capitalism favourably, that is still down from 61 percent in January 2019.

It is the disaffection with capitalism among the young that is really driving the downwards slide in popularity for the 'free enterprise' system. Nearly half of all 18-34 year old Americans now view socialism in a favourable light. Socialism continues to gain traction  especially among 18-24 year olds who see little future for themselves under the present economic arrangements. Negative views of capitalism outweigh positive views by 54 percent to 42 percent.

While openly socialist politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continue to be attacked by the right, those attacks are increasingly not resonating with an American working class that, says Axios, has had 'cause to re-evaluate their political and economic worldview' because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic has only served to emphasise the deep economic and social inqualities that exist in the United States today.

Axios observes that 'Politicians looking to attack opponents to their left can no longer use  the word 'socialist' as an all purpose pejorative. Increasingly it's worn as a badge of pride.'

Also last week Buffalo NY elected its first socialist mayor. India Walton, a community organiser endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated the four term incumbent Byron Brown.

'This victory is ours. It is the first of many', Walton told her supporters. 'If you are in elected office right now you are being put on notice. We are coming.'

No socialist has been mayor of a large American city since 1960.