Sorry Bernie but my kids still Feel The Burn for Capitalism
By Rachel Campos-Duffy
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. A few weeks ago
a Bernie Sanders rally in Manhattan attracted a crowd reminiscent of
Obamas historic 2008 campaign. Twenty seven thousand mostly young people
were out in full force feeling the Bern." Since last summer conservatives havent stopped shaking their heads in disbelief at
the throngs of young people turning out for Bernie Sanders rallies.
Hes selling centralized redistributionist policies that have always been at odds with traditional American capitalism a system that rewards the hard work and ingenuity of the individual.
Conservatives wonder:
Dont these kids know that risk-taking entrepreneurs and free markets built this country?
Dont they understand that capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any other system of government and that socialism has created stagnation and chronic youth unemployment in Europe?
Have they not seen the stagnation and corruption centralized economies have wrought in Venezuela Argentina and Brazil?"
But as a parent with a front row seat view to the everyone gets a trophy" world we have created for our kids Im not surprised.
Why would a 26-year-old still on moms Obamacare see a problem with demanding free stuff student loan forgiveness and the freedom" to eat sustainable organic fast food and enjoy the latest tech gadget on a Starbucks part-time salary?
Four years after candidate Obama tried to disavow himself of a socialist slip he made to a plumber in Ohio President Obama openly denigrated entrepreneurs telling them they didnt build" their businesses. Four years after that he unabashedly attended a baseball game with a Communist dictator.
Culture matters. And for the last eight years the Obama Administration has been selling big government and dependency to a compliant media and through a relentless and effective use of popular culture. So no one should be shocked that recent Pew polling reports that for nearly 50 of people under the age of 30 socialism carries no stigma.
This is an unbelievable generational shift when you consider that over 60 of Americans over the age of 65 have a negative view of socialism.
The normalization of socialism and government dependency may turn out to be President Obamas most potent political legacy.
Its worth noting that young people who dont go to college have a more favorable view of capitalism than those who do. However the indoctrination begins long before they meet their Marxist professors. In fact children begin hearing messages that denigrate the notion of competition" in the preschool years.
It starts with kids shows that equate a desire to win with insensitivity to others. From Barbie to Dragon Tales healthy competition is too often portrayed as a sign of anti-social behavior which needs to be addressed and rectified. These shows are the primer for the sports programs theyll later join that de-emphasize competition awarding medals just for participation.
I try of course to teach my kids that cooperation and teamwork have an important place but so does competition. It helps us to identify and develop our gifts. Healthy competition helps parents raise kids who will one day be self-reliant confident independent and contributing members of society.
The good news is that the left-wing indoctrination machine that seems to envelop our children from crib to grad school has its limits. No matter what the social engineers plan or do or how much taxpayer funding they get they cant reverse the fact that my son will run faster to the mailbox if he runs with his sister than if he runs alone. They cant take away the transcendent feeling of accomplishment my child feels when she gets an A wins a scholarship or takes first place in an art competition.
The intrinsic desire for freedom to pursue big dreams to compete and succeed are written on the human heart. Winning isnt
everything but experiencing the feeling of winning propels all of us including children to achieve great things in life.
Thats why I am so encouraged by the popularity and growing number of television shows featuring young people like NBCs The Voice" the Food Networks Chopped Junior" or Kids Baking Championship" or even shows that you might not think are targeted to kids such as Shark Tank" Cupcake Wars" Strong" and The Apprentice."
My kids and millions of others are drawn to these competition-driven reality shows. They cheer for their favorite competitors and learn valuable lessons about character dedication hard work and the sometimes unfair distribution of natural talent.
Sometimes they learn that having parents who can channel and nurture a childs talent or interests makes all the difference. Other times they learn how hard work and passion can overcome everything including poverty. Watch an episode of Bravos Project Runway Junior" American Idol" or any of the kids cooking competitions and you will walk away hopeful for the future of American genius and capitalism. You just know one day soon youll be downloading their hit song purchasing one of their designer gowns or waiting three months to get a reservation at their restaurant.
These kids have studied their craft and they have put hours into training and preparing for these televised competitions. Most importantly they desperately want to win and make something of themselves. Its heartening to know that in America its still ok to want to win.
Thats a good sign for economic liberty and entrepreneurial capitalism. Its enough to make this conservative moms heart burn with pride a different kind of burn."
Rachel Campos-Duffy is an author & political pundit. Shes a regular guest host on FOX News Outnumbered and the National Spokesperson for The LIBRE Initiative an organization promoting Economic Liberty Empowerment & Opportunity for Hispanics.
