A new vote in the House of Representatives has put a spotlight on a dangerous idea — socialism. On Friday morning, lawmakers in Washington voted on a resolution to officially condemn socialism in all its forms. The resolution passed with strong support: 285 members voted for it, while 98 voted against it. Every Republican who voted backed the resolution. Nearly 100 Democrats refused to support it — and that says a lot.
The resolution was introduced by Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar from Florida. She knows firsthand what socialism can do. Her family fled communist Cuba, where people lost their freedom, food was rationed, and anyone who spoke out was punished. She made it clear: “Socialism will never take root in the United States. Not while I’m here to stop it.”
As a veteran, I’ve seen what happens when socialist and communist regimes are allowed to rise. I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with good men and women who’ve put their lives on the line to protect freedom — not just ours, but for people around the world. Socialism isn’t just another political idea. It’s a failed, dangerous system that takes power from the people and gives it to the government. It crushes the human spirit, limits opportunity, and always — always — ends in misery.
Let’s make something clear: Socialism doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked in Cuba. It didn’t work in the Soviet Union. It’s not working in Venezuela. When the government controls everything, from healthcare to food production, regular folks suffer. There’s no reward for hard work, no reason to innovate, no motivation to strive for more. That’s not the American way.
But here’s the scary part — socialism is gaining ground here at home. In the last election, cities like New York and Seattle elected openly socialist mayors. New York’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, wants to raise the minimum wage to $30, give out free bus rides, and open government-run grocery stores. That all sounds nice until you ask one simple question: Who’s going to pay for it?
His answer? He doesn’t have one.
That’s how socialism always starts. It promises “free” things. But nothing is ever free. Someone always pays — and it’s usually working-class Americans like us. The government raises taxes, takes more control, and before you know it, you’ve lost your freedom and your paycheck.
A recent Gallup poll showed that 66% of Democrats now view socialism positively, while only 44% still support capitalism. That should set off alarms for every patriot. We’ve got elected officials in Congress — people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — who flat-out refused to condemn socialism. Others, like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, danced around the question and refused to give a straight answer.
To their credit, some Democrats did vote to condemn socialism. These were mostly from more moderate states or those running for Senate next year. They understand that outside of far-left cities, most Americans still believe in hard work, personal freedom, and the right to keep what you earn.
This vote showed that the Democratic Party is deeply divided. Some are still trying to hold on to traditional American values. Others are charging headfirst toward socialism. We can’t afford to ignore this.
As Americans, especially those of us who’ve worn the uniform, we must stand guard. We fought for freedom overseas — we must protect it at home. Socialism is not just a bad idea. It’s a threat to everything this country stands for. We need leaders with the guts to call it out and voters who are awake enough to see it coming.
Let’s be clear: Socialism has no place in the United States. Not now. Not ever.
