Voter demographics in the wave of Democratic Socialist and socialistic candidates being elected in Democrat primaries not surprisingly includes the idealistic young, and those finding difficulty attaining their goals and expectations in a free-market society. But why would affluent, educated progressives who have achieved success in that very same free-market society also be so strongly in support of candidates who vow to wreak vengeance upon it? Are they not part of the oppressive capitalistic system that seeks to subjugate the “working class”? Are they motivated by guilt?
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No. They are not. Most affluent progressives opportunistically achieve success in our free-market system in the pursuit of anti-capitalistic, not capitalistic, endeavors. They populate careers primarily in media, entertainment, academia, NGO’s, government, public service, law, and technology. They have dedicated their careers to advancing the common good and bringing down the “system” which subjugates the “oppressed.” And if they become affluent in the process, it’s all for the attainment of “social justice”!
Progressive leftists find the social structure to be dominated by threatening oppressive forces — racism, patriarchy, misogyny, capitalistic greed, xenophobia. Their insecurities lead them in two major directions. They can wallow in sanctimonious self-righteousness, becoming dissident and angry victims, or they can gravitate to positions which offer the opportunity to influence and steer behavior and societal outcomes. They can indoctrinate the young, generate media and entertainment bias, engage in public policy making or lawfare to “change the world!” into a community of nations and brotherhood of man. Add a little virtue signaling, and supporting policy makers who vow to actuate their cause naturally follows.
Socialism for underachievers and the “oppressed” is a pathway to financial relief. For many affluent progressives it is a pathway to control, revenge — and more affluence.
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