Seems about as likely as pigs flying, right? But hold on. These days, the unashamedly socialist Bernie Sanders is taking his second crack at the job using the US primary system – one of the few elements of true democracy in a political set-up otherwise engineered to keep the rich rich and the poor poor. He did pretty well in 2016, with tens of thousands attending his rallies in such unlikely places as Texas and Arizona. This time he has even dragged other Democratic contenders along, supporting such social democratic policies as universal healthcare and taxing the rich.
A recent poll found 70 per cent of Millennials and 64 per cent of GenZers claiming they would be favourably disposed towards voting for socialist candidates. Unease with the future (or lack of same) on offer from climate-gobbling capitalism has swelled the ranks of organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America and is helping to elect radical candidates (such as the Bronx’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a bevy of others) both in and outside of the Democratic Party.
