Below is my column in The Hill on Mamdani’s full-throated pledge to introduce New Yorkers to “the warmth of collectivism.” We have been here before…
Here is the column:
This week, Seattle and New York swore in socialist mayors in what many are portraying as a new era for the Democratic Party and the nation. Of course, it is only “new” for the young voters who have no memory of the economic and political meltdowns of socialist and communist governments in the late 20th Century. Nevertheless, many of them were thrilled as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared at his inauguration that he would introduce the city to “the warmth of collectivism.”
The wind blowing from the West to the East coasts is familiar to many of us who lived through the 1970s and 1980s. In my forthcoming book, I discuss this shift toward socialism as a new generation replicates the same failed policies that marked a long line of collectivist catastrophes.
The current rhetoric and divisions are strikingly similar to the conditions that brought socialist François Mitterrand to power in France in 1981, promising a “rupture with capitalism.” It was a heady time for armchair Marxists. He was sworn into office just weeks after the election of an unknown socialist as mayor of Burlington, Vt. named Bernie Sanders.
Sanders was there this week to give the oath of office to Mamdani after thrilling the crowd with promises of going to war with the “billionaire class” and “wealthy oligarchs.”
Mamdani then repeated his pledge to govern as a socialist and listed off his pledges of free buses and other benefits of socialism. Mamdani had previously pledged everything from free buses to making “Halal eight bucks again.” As a rising socialist activist, he also called for “seizing the means of production.”
The problem with socialism, as Margaret Thatcher observed, is that you “eventually run out of other people’s money.” Such details are a distraction if you listen to Mamdani. After the mayor said that the free buses would be paid for by increasing state taxes on the rich, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) nixed the idea, knowing her state is already facing an exodus of high-earning taxpayers. When confronted by that refusal and asked how he would pay for the program, Mamdani shrugged and said, “The most important fact is that we fund it, not the question of how we do it, but that we do it.”
It is that easy. Mitterrand promised the same magical economic results for the working class. He even appointed Andre Henry as the Minister of Free Time to assist citizens in their new socialist leisure. As I explain in “Rage and the Republic,” the French economy collapsed, as the British economy had earlier during the “winter of discontent” under Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan. Britain was even forced to seek a loan from the International Monetary Fund.
Both France and Britain would later reintroduce capitalist policies and roll back socialist policies to stop the economic collapse.
We also tried collectivist policies in cities across this country, including a commune on Long Island called Modern Times (now called Brentwood). It lasted about ten years before collapsing.
But the greatest fear is not the replication of failed economic policies, but the assault on individual rights that is sure to come with it. Socialist and communist systems emphasize collective over individual interests. Mamdani also touched on that theme in his inauguration, promising to replace “the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.’”
Noting the millions who died under socialist governments, Bishop Robert Barron responded dryly on social media: “For God’s sake, spare me the ‘warmth of collectivism.’”
Even Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Special Envoy, Kirill Dmitriev derided Mamdani’s speech by noting that the new mayor was “doing a solid job steering the U.S. toward Communism.” He wrote “Dear Comrade Mamdani — just a friendly reminder that this has been tried before.”
What is striking about Mamdani in New York and Katie Wilson in Seattle is that they have virtually no real experience in running anything. Indeed, with the exception of a few organizing and college positions, this is believed to be the first major job Wilson has ever held. Both are socialist organizers who have now been handed the mayoral jobs in two of the largest cities in the U.S. on promises to bring about “the warmth of collectivism.”
Of course, neither has come close to a utopian collective outside of a Marxist 101 college course. But it does not matter. In New York, voters have been promised that they will soon be munching on eight-dollar Halal meals on free buses.
Like promises of shares in the Brooklyn Bridge or five-dollar solid gold watches from street slicks, this grift is one of the oldest pitches in politics. But it has been decades since someone ran the scam on a large scale. Fittingly, some participants at Mamdani’s inauguration complained that it lacked any food, music, or bathrooms. On a cold, miserable Friday, the new budding socialists had to stand outdoors and imagine the “warmth of collectivism” coming in the new utopia known as New York.
It seemed Mamdani had already achieved true equality for everyone in attendance.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of the forthcoming “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution” on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Oh boy, Professor Turley sure loves to rage bait his readers. Stories of past socialist endeavors, picking the worst examples while ignoring some of the best, is one sure-fire way to lob doubt before it’s even tried.
The younger generations flock to Mamdani because they are not benefiting from Trump’s policies. They know they won’t. So they are doing exactly what many voters did when they chose to give Trump a chance, pick someone who will upset the establishment and do something radically different. It shouldn’t be a surprise.
Perhaps Professor Turley should wait and see how things go before bashing policies he has no idea if they will work or not. Trump has made many promises like lowering drug prices 500%, 600%, even 1000%. I haven’t seen professor Turley make some sense of those policies Trump clearly seems to promote.
I get there is a need to quickly criticize Mamdani because it’s the trend among Trump supporters and conservatives instead of waiting to see of these policies will work or not. It’s always the case with Republicans and conservatives, they are scared of socialist systems that work or those that could work.
Like those who voted for Trump, give it a chance first before going full bore on claims that none of it will work.
X has become a laughable and predictable cartoon character on this blog. Jealousy runs rampant in this one^^^^^
“Stories of past socialist endeavors, picking the worst examples while ignoring some of the best, is one sure-fire way to lob doubt before it’s even tried.”
Would you care to share a few examples of some of the best? I could use a good laugh.
Please note the thread is not about drug prices, its about Mamdani’s socialist agenda and NYC. See if you can focus.
“Like those who voted for Trump, give it a chance first before going full bore on claims that none of it will work.” Um… you mean like you did with Trump?
So you can’t see the hypocrisy of your own comments eh?
Please note the thread is not about drug prices, its about Mamdani’s socialist agenda and NYC. See if you can focus.
Commie Mandami’s drive-in theater is now open for today’s first showing.
Projection:
Channeling one’s actions onto others typically refers to the psychological concept of projection, where an emotionally disturbed individual unconsciously or deliberately attributes their own thoughts, feelings, and anti-social or criminal behaviors onto someone else.
This is an internal defense mechanism which allows that mentally ill person to avoid confronting their own behavior and guilt by seeing it instead as as the thoughts and actions of another person who they despise and hate.
It doesn’t have a prayer but he might become another Jimmy Carter, habitat for humanity donors.
“. . . lob doubt before it’s even tried.”
Here’s a similar idea:
Let’s not “lob doubt.” (I.e., let’s not think before acting.) Let’s all jump off a high cliff. Then wait until we hit bottom to decide whether that was a smart move.
Sam
They would just say, it’s not the fall that kills your, it’s the landing!
Oh boy, Professor Turley sure loves to rage bait his readers.
Oh boy – looky here! Professor Turley once again has driven his personal stalker and parasite, X/George, into a frothing rage of BBBBUUUUTTTT…. MUH TURLEY!!!!!
We should start a GoFundMe to purchase X/Geroge, The Communist Karen Of A Thousand Democrat Faces, a lifetime supply of Midol for his terminal Turley Midol Moment.
X/George is just as effective at supporting his fellow communists like Maduro and Mamdami, as he is effective of winning over readers’ minds here.
For X, 2026 is going to be another year of 365 days of failure – identical to his accomplishments in 2025.
X says: The younger generations flock to Mamdani because they are not benefiting from Trump’s policies.
Conditions in New York dramatically changed in the ten months since January 2025, from what they previously were during the proceeding four years under President Auto-Pen? X/George is claiming a complete reversal!!!!
You have to be a masochist to come here each day knowing that your feeble attempts at BBBUUTTTT…. MUH TURLEY!!!!! BBBBUUTTTT… MUH TRUMP!!!!! will result in getting daily beatings no more difficult to administer than clubbing a helpless baby seal.
Only 360 more Days Of Failure left in 2026 for X/George…
BOT^^^^ORIGATO MR. 🤖
My generation is the last that sought out and killed Communists….in foreign lands.
Here we are today seeing that same kind of ideology being promoted and rewarded right here at home.
In time, our later generation of Veterans are going to see the same thing as Muslims seek to install their own ideology upon society.
The “Reds” better hurry up or they shall find themselves in a head to head competition with the “Rags”.
The two are utterly opposed in belief structures and the struggle shall not be pretty or good for the country.
Who would have guessed as those of us who came of age in the 1960’s would see how far our Country has changed and not for the better unfortunately . Our younger folk have not had the proper education to teach them of the evils of both of those competing groups.
When the Muslims finally have their own Reformation there might be a compromise with them that can work but not with those who believe in socialist/communist/marxist zealots or radical Islam as they are all unable to accept compromise.
We must turn this trend around and remind our youth of the need for old fashioned traditional American values of self reliance, hard work, better skills and learning and what best offers the most benefits to all of us in society.
Madam Thatcher said it right….at some point you run out other people’s money…..and she was absolutely right.
Prof. Turley, thanks for this column. It sets exactly the right tone.
The link “first major job Wilson” isn’t about Wilson at all.
Capitalists create the homeless.
Employers fire workers unfairly, depriving them of their income, and then landlords evict the fired workers from their apartments, which they can longer pay the rent for.
This is the truth.
The truth is, employers fire workers who do not perform, show up late or not at all.
Bosses are firing Gen Z workers in record time: ‘Yeah, checks out’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/consumer/article-13886905/bosses-firing-gen-z-workers-record-time.html
In a capitalist economic paradigm, it is agreed upon contract the employer will pay the employee for their work. When the employee fails to meet the agreed upon contract, it is in the right of the employer to fire the employee and hire someone who will do the job.
Do note its the UK version of the website. What is a ” capitalist economic paradigm,…”?
Yes, and it was based off a survey conducted by https://www.intelligent.com/ which it cites some of the survey report written by Huy Nguyen and it also interviews HR consultant Bryan Driscoll.
Capitalists create the homeless.. If so… communists on the other hand kill everybody – including the communists who put them in power to do that.
This is the truth.
Your move, Tovarisch – don’t do the Democrat Dump To Deflect And Disappear.
Anonymous, once again you repeat stupid. Why would an employer intent on making the filthy dollar fire a worker who is productive in his quest to make even more money. Your belief is that every one is good at his job and should not be fired even if he can’t show up on time. The every day good worker knows that a non productive worker means that the load will increase for the workers who are productive. Every worker knows when another worker is not carrying his weight. It is not the responsibility of the productive to support the unproductive. As the saying goes, I didn’t even get a kiss. I’m sorry I interrupted you. I know you were in the middle of writing your love letter to Maduro.
TiT,
Well said!!
I think that is why these socialist ideas are so appealing to young people, do little or even no work and still get paid for it at wage that they do not deserve. Meanwhile there is a small group, conservatives, who are doing the majority of the work. Then the are surprised when they get fired.
My advice to my children when they were teenagers looking for a summer job, and still after they graduated college, was that a job was an opportunity to make yourself indispensable to the employer. I give the same advice to my Gen Z grandchildren but some just don’t seem to get it. It’s all the more important if you work in an “at will” state, such as New York, where an employee can be terminated for no justifiable reason at all, and none needs to be given.
Vincente
Great advice, I give the same work ethic advice along with some outdoor activities, gun safety and target practice. Camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, and aim small miss small, elevation and windage.
Capitalists want to be the dictators.
Capitalists want to be the dictators.
Capitalists don’t have names like Maduro, Castro, Xi, etc. Communists do.
Your move again, Tovarisch.
It looks like our resident incel troll is once again throwing out Gen Z memes as responses. Most of the comments are authored by the incel troll.
as an old blogger, and old being the key word, I didn’t even know any of the terms mentioned in the YouTube. But I am here to complain about an anonymous troll, who wrote early this morning that my name is a pseudonym. If I had Turley’s following, I wouldn’t even allow anonymous comments, much less host trolls.
AI: Incel definition of: the Warmth of Collectivism
The phrase “the warmth of collectivism” is not an internal incel community term or part of their specific lexicon. Instead, it is a phrase from a recent public political statement that has been picked up and critically discussed in general political discourse, including on social media platforms that incels might also use.
The phrase originated in early January 2026, when NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated his intent to “replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism”.
Within incel online communities, discussions of this phrase do not represent a unique incel definition, but rather a reflection of existing political apathy and a sense of victimhood. Incels often view societal structures, whether individualistic or collectivist, through the lens of their perceived inability to form sexual relationships, blaming women and feminism for their situation.
Therefore, there is no specific “incel definition” of “the warmth of collectivism”; the phrase is an external political statement that some members of the community have encountered and commented on within the broader context of their established worldview.
The “Warmth of Collectivism” Is a Dangerous Fantasy
There was a line in Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural address that should have stopped New Yorkers cold. He pledged to replace what he called “the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.”
By: Samuel J. Abrams ~ January 02, 2026
https://www.aei.org/politics-and-public-opinion/the-warmth-of-collectivism-is-a-dangerous-fantasy/
Thank you for a great column that needs a nationwide audience! Unless young people grew up in families with intelligent, common-sense parents, they believe all the indoctrination they get in schools. Our kids knew how to debate their teachers–I got a lot of angry calls from teachers! But after talking with me, they knew who’d taught our kids! 🙂
Capitalism isn’t necessarily better.
There is capitalism under Putin.
Putin is one of the worst dictators the world has ever seen.
I take it that you do not understand that capitalism is not a political system?
Congrats to President Trump on setting a record as the first US President to bomb 7 separate countries in the first year of office.
•Yemen
•Somalia
•Iraq
•Iran
•Syria
•Nigeria
•Venezuela
The first time a South American country is bombed by a foreign nation.
Another great achievement for the USA.
translation: you are upset you will not have access to the crystal meth Ed Buck arranged for you as his gay prostitute. sad
Venezuelans are still brought to tears celebrating in Caracas for Donald Trump arresting Nicolas Maduro
They are even setting off fireworks to celebrate America freeing them
“We made it brother, they have him. I’m really crying”
Only Democrats could oppose this pic.twitter.com/6VQcqkNAWb
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) January 4, 2026
JUST IN: Venezuelans are literally crying TEARS OF JOY all because President Trump captured Maduro
“We want to thank GOD for His miracle!”
“THANK YOU, UNITED STATES!”
“Long live Venezuela!”
“Venezuela is great, and it will be resurrected among the ashes!” 🇺🇸🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/2G2xTzQH7w
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 3, 2026
“Venezuelans are still brought to tears celebrating in Caracas…” According to your propaganda source… Fox. Expand your vision. Its not the only media source out there.
Where does it say Fox?
Here, you might want to watch this, https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/2007524626210140615
What you meant to write is “Thanks for bombing the spreading Islamic menace (and allies) in seven countries.”
The Pied Piper of
HamelinNew York City (Circa 2026)Do you disapprove of people riding motorcycles without wearing a helmet?
It’s freedom.
It doesn’t have to make sense to you.
To each their own.
What I disapprove with is that people can ride motorcycles without a helmet but I am forced to wear a seat belt or be fined. Lobbyist groups in clear view.
I recall a dystopian movie titled “Escape from New York” with Kurt Russell as the lead. New York became a prison governed by the inmates. The destruction of NYC will take some time to be realized but it will come. Mamdani is not smart or experienced enough to temper his desires for a socialist utopia. I would flee NYC before he starts erecting barriers to exit. Somehow these socialists become quite wealthy when they achieve power.
“Not economic development, not economic growth. Justice! The idea that you can care about just outcomes is huge, and that it’s the responsibility of government to make that happen.”
— Julie Su, former acting labor secretary for nearly two years under Biden. Now Mamdani’s deputy mayor for economic justice.
Reportedly there are a number of former Biden apparatchiks have joined the Mamdani admin.
Can anyone else see where this is going?
“Justice!”
By which collectivists mean: Seeing everyone equally shabby. (quoting from memory)
Perhaps this is The Oval Office House Plant’s puppeteers moving operations, thinking that the Young Commie Of New York can be just as easily played for the public eye as Bribery Biden was played to be Obama’s Third Term.
Free buses will become the motorhomes of the homeless. What could go wrong?
Do you live in New York?
But it will succeed in keeping the homeless out of the subways, which will not be free.
Dear Prof Turley,
I remember. The Old Red Scare USSR collapsed in 1989. Rigid centrally planned economies don’t work (any better than 19th century western Robber Barons.). After a decade of economic hardship, Putin introduced democratic reforms and free-market enterprise .. . and the rest is history.
Communist China, watching from the sidelines during the Soviet Union’s 20th century collapse, saw the writing on the wall. Beginning in the 1990s communist China instituted free-market reforms and invested in science, technology and education. During the 21st century, China has lifted more people out of abject poverty than any country on earth .. . and is the world’s preeminent economic powerhouse.
The moral of the story is that ‘free-markets, free-speech and honesty’ is what makes the world go around winning hearts and minds.
*we have Trump.
dgsnowden says The moral of the story is that ‘free-markets, free-speech and honesty’ is what makes the world go around winning hearts and minds.
Pimping for and extolling Putin and Xi as examples of ‘free-markets, free-speech and honesty’. I remember a time when nobody who who went through school during the Cold War wouldn’t call people like this examples of free markets, free speech and honesty.
*Is it the day drinking – or the result of excessive binge-watching watching Obama’s communist Young Turks on YouTube?
Quite piggy.
*The Cold War was over 40 years ago.
dgsnowden says: Quite piggy.
Oh, Tovarisch dgsnowden!!! You never learned that the idea is to get the object of your affections drunk – rather than yourself – in hopes they’d not realize how ugly and unappealing you are!
It wouldn’t have worked anyone, but out of concern for your health hazards resulting from chronic day drinking, a reminder that you’re supposed to ply the OTHER person with the booze. Not drink it all yourself.
*A reminder to a day drinking drunk you personally know: you’re the one who started today’s drunken defense of communism with a reference to the Soviet Union and Cold War.
Tim Walz just announced he is dropping out of the race for governor due to the scandal in his state. Now imagine if he was the sitting VP right now. Boy Kamala sure knows her stuff.
Kommie’s pick. Kommie Lala.
Great campaign fodder for Republicans if Kamala is the Democrat candidate – a stunning example of poor judgment
This is like comparing Trump to Hitler.
Fearmongering.
This is like comparing Trump to Hitler. Fearmongering.
The falling price of gas is going to lower the costs of you doing your job, Tovarisch.
Gaslighting
Gaslighting is the intended psychological manipulation by a low-IQ perpetrator of those they hope to victimize through intentionally misleading that person or group. This involves the perpetrator lying, denying events, and other methods used in the hope their intended victims doubt their perceptions of reality, memories, and feel overly emotional or irrational.
The main five methods of gaslighting that may be used alone or in conjunction with others are: trivializing, countering, lying, blame shifting, and withholding.
Yep, the young people who elected this tool are giving a masterclass in stupidity and ignorance. I hope it stays contained there – my concern is still the migration of the root cause, because you know these spoiled kids who expect someone else to take care of them will just take their trust funds and run when things inevitably go south, and all of their baggage and indoctrination will be in tow.
“The most important fact is that we fund it, not the question of how we do it, but that we do it.”
That sounds like something a inexperienced teen would say who has no idea how the world really works but thinks he has it all figured out.
NYC, you voted for this.
@Upstate
It is deeply ironic that this and the situation in Venezuela are happening concurrently. Tone deaf: thy name be East Coast progressives.
It is the right of self-determination.
It is the right of self-determination. Collectivism is communism and communism is suicide. Suicide is also a right. This is the belief in free stuff that others will be pillaged in order to pay for, that will inevitably result in both an economic and cultural wasteland.
New communist recruits can’t accept that communism never works, just as every generation of communists before them couldn’t learn from history.
Do you live in New York?
@Anonymous
I have spent considerable time in Manhattan, and my family has had a home a little upstate outside of the boroughs for over 70 years (and don’t think that’s wealth – it was very cheap when they first bought it, they just held onto it, it’s a generational home).
Do you live in New York?
Do you live in New York?
“. . . inexperienced teen . . .”
Exactly. It’s the spoiled brat who believes that freshly laundered clothes magically appear in a drawer.
What’s it to you if this what he believes?
It’s freedom of belief and conscience.
For a blog that allegedly celebrates freedom,
you people have a problem with how people exercise it.
He is free to believe in whatever he wants.
It does not automatically translate into reality or good governance policy. Kinda like he believed he would pay for free buses by raising the state tax rate on the wealthy. Then he got hit by reality when governor Hochul said, “No.” It was like watching a child who thought they could do whatever they wanted until their parents said, “No.”
Reality.
For a blog that allegedly celebrates freedom, you people have a problem with how people exercise it.
You pathetic Young Communists Of New York are so intellectually dull that you confuse being criticized and laughed at with supposedly having your freedoms oppressed.
That’s not how it works, Tovarisch. You have no right in America to have your feelings coddled and protected while you freely chose economic and cultural suicide.
What city is your Plan B when Commie Mamdani can’t give you all the free stuff he promised he would take from other people?
You communists never accept that communism never works, so what city will be your next pit stop after New York thunders in?