Why “Socialism Sucks” is Not a Working Pitch for Conservatives in 2020

Socialism is evil. Beyond the fiscal and economic havoc it wreaks on a nation, it is morally bankrupt. Taking money at gunpoint to redistribute is not compassion, it is theft. Charity is always better when done voluntarily. You have a right to your capital and the work of your labor. Communist and socialist regimes like the USSR, Cuba and Venezuela have suffering people because they ignored the economic and moral failings of Marxist collectivism. Our parents and grandparents remember this, but our generation does not. 

In sales and marketing, the key to capturing a customer’s attention (and their money) is to describe a pain point in their life and tell them how your product will help alleviate this problem. Our generation is saddled with student debt and we live in a time where the vast majority of young adults cannot afford to get married, buy a house and have children. With a useless degree in hand costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, young adults cannot find a proper-paying job. So, they live paycheck to paycheck. They don’t have health insurance. This is stressful. Along comes a candidate who promises to forgive the burden on your back and give you healthcare. This sounds great to a struggling young person. 

Lecturing young people on how they “need to stop demanding free stuff” may be true, but is politically moronic. People have genuine health and financial struggles in their lives. Speaking intellectually about socialism does not appeal to young voters because we didn’t live through the Cold War. What conservatives see as an aberrant evil, young people see as a solution to a real problem.

Our messaging should be on how the American people can get great healthcare and how we are going to deal with college debt. Publically bash the university system for defrauding young 17 year olds into major debt. Call on Republican employers to end hiring based on a college degree. Let’s start playing to win, rather than playing to lecture.

PC: Common Dreams.