The Daily Signal Victor Davis Hanson: Mayor Mamdani’s Socialist Vision Is Setting NYC Up for Failure
Nov 12, 2025
The recent election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor sparks a deep dive into the implications of his socialist views for New York City. Victor Davis Hanson critiques socialism's track record, arguing that it undermines private initiative and economic growth. He explores how historical examples from the Soviet Union to Cuba demonstrate its failures. Hansen connects Mamdani's affluent background with the contradictions in his policy stances, while arguing that political elites often escape the consequences of their ideologies. Is Vancouver's social model crumbling under pressure?
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Mayor Mamdani's Radical Economic Vision
- Victor Davis Hanson argues Zoran Mamdani is a devout socialist who may favor seizing the means of production.
- Hanson warns such views threaten New York's role as the world's financial capital by undermining private property.
Socialism's Historical Failures
- Hanson states socialism consistently destroys economies and erodes civil liberties in practice.
- He cites the Soviet Union, Mao's China, Cuba, and Venezuela as historical examples of failure.
Market Elements Salvage Authoritarian Economies
- Hanson notes China and post-Soviet Russia improved only by adding market elements to authoritarian systems.
- He concludes partial market mechanisms perform better than pure socialism.
