‘Horrors of socialism’: The new red scare that preempts debate | Opinion

The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City really has Republicans in Congress running scared.

Mamdani, a self-described “democratic socialist,” has spurred the Republicans to introduce a resolution condemning “the horrors of socialism.” (Cue foreboding pipe organ music.) Disappointingly, 86 Democrats went along with this silly, over-the-top, historically inaccurate resolution.

“More than 100 million people worldwide have been killed because of the horrors of socialism,” resolution co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, claimed in a press release. “History has repeatedly shown us that socialism always fails.

“Now more than ever, with newly elected leaders like Zohran Mamdani in New York, it is crucial we remain vigilant against this failed ideology. America has always been the guiding light of freedom, and socialism is far from that founding principle. I encourage those who describe themselves as ‘socialists’ to engage in conversation with the courageous individuals who have fled socialist regimes — they truly understand what this ideology entails.”

First, the resolution is an overgeneralization and is historically inaccurate.

Right off the bat, the resolution declares, “socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has, time and time again, collapsed into communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships.”

Socialism is not inherently authoritarian, but Simpson’s resolution equates all forms of socialism with the abuses of totalitarian communist regimes. Attributing every atrocity under regimes such as Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un to “socialism” is a gross misrepresentation.

These were the result of brutal totalitarian and authoritarian dictators, not socialism.

(Also, if Simpson wanted to give himself a history lesson — which he clearly needs — he could do a little research on fascist regimes and the millions of deaths they have caused.)

Countries such as Sweden, Norway and Germany all incorporate elements of democratic socialism, including socialized health care, higher education and worker protections, all while still having democratic forms of government.

The U.S. already has elements of socialism, including Social Security and Medicare, and the U.S. hasn’t slipped into the totalitarian hellscape that Simpson so fears.

The resolution liberally quotes the Founding Fathers, but takes them out of context repeatedly. The idea that collective action is somehow “un-American” ignores such government programs as building roads and bridges, providing public education and building public parks. The United States has plenty of positive examples of collective action. That doesn’t turn us into the killing fields of Cambodia envisioned in the resolution.

Equating social or economic justice with tyranny or a threat to freedom is just beyond the pale. It’s attitudes like this that prevent the United States from joining the rest of the developed world in providing universal health care, which provides better health outcomes at a lower cost. But in Simpson’s world, that would somehow lead to tyranny.

Similarly, mere consideration of other popular ideas such as paid family leave, child tax credits and child care subsidies would be shut down immediately with just mention of the word “socialism.”

We are reminded of the dark days of the red scare and Sen. Joe McCarthy.

Like McCarthy’s rants about the dangers of communism in the 1950s, the use of the word “socialism” as a scare tactic today does nothing but chill any debate about public policy and simply demonizes political opponents, when people like Simpson should foster real understanding and problem-solving.

He should be asking questions like, “Would universal health care be better for Americans, save money and provide better outcomes?” Instead, he shouts “socialism” as if he were shouting “fire” in a crowded theater.

According to the resolution, “Congress denounces socialism in all its forms, and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States” — even though they already exist.

That sure shuts down a lot of debate and takes a lot of possible solutions off the table.

To be clear, capitalism is a great system. It lends itself to human nature’s natural inclination toward self-interest. But it’s really bad at certain things, such as protecting the environment. We should recognize capitalism’s excesses and be honest about its shortcomings.

While the resolution is quick to point out the dangers and harm caused by tyranny and authoritarianism, it ignores the harms caused by extreme wealth inequality and unfettered corporate greed in our own system. Have we forgotten the Great Recession already?

(Meanwhile, if Simpson is so concerned about authoritarianism, he need look no further than the head of his own party and the president to whom he shows so much deference.)

In the end, this resolution is yet another attempt to stoke fear and sort us vs. them before the midterm elections.

It’s a simplistic scare tactic, and what’s worse is that Simpson and the resolution’s co-sponsors are counting on the fact that everyone is too dumb to even know what socialism really is.

It’s a dog whistle of the worst kind, and once again Simpson should be ashamed of himself.

Statesman editorials are the opinion of the Idaho Statesman’s editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto.