A short story about why voting is important. Eight people are on a bus – three voted to drive off a cliff, two vote to go get ice cream and three do not vote at all because they don’t like either option. They all end up in the same place.

The 2025 election results show 2,052,031 people voted in New York City for mayor: 1,034,350 for Zohran Mandani, 853,106 for Andrew Cuomo, 145,880 for Curtis Sliwa, 12,330 for other candidates, and 6,365 for Eric Adams. That equates to only about 25% of the population who voted. So now we have a Democrat Socialist Mayor of New York City. Mandani claims to be a Democratic Socialist.

History has shown that Democratic Socialism usually evolves into socialism. The belief and reasoning is that capitalism and socialism are incompatible. That is how many democratic socialists gradually transition us to a total socialist society. Some Democrats, the so-called squad, is a good example. That includes ending private ownership of key industries.

New York City as of 2020 had a population of 8,740,306. Now as of 2025 results the population is 8,412,513. That’s a loss of 327,793 residents or taxpayers or almost 4% of its population. And now they are going to lose more residents.

Hence enter socialism. Socialism or any form of it is for those who are either lazy, misinformed or cannot make it on their own. One study found that 62% of American adults under 30 say they have a favorable view of socialism. Another study found that 50% of voters under 30 indicated they want a democratic socialist to win the next presidential election.

Roughly 1 in 3 adults ages 18 to 34 are living with at least one of their mommies and daddies according to a recent study. They claim they don’t make enough money to live the life they want due to the high cost of living. The jobs are out there all you need is a little motivation. To make matters worse, why aren’t 25% of prime age Americans working? But don’t worry because Mandani is here to help you.

He campaigned on a platform of cacophonies that can only be described as a death sentence designed to take down New York City and New York state. That included a $30 minimum wage, tax hikes on businesses and the rich, and other policies like creating city-owned grocery stores and imposing a rent freeze on landlords. If he follows through with his campaign promises there will be a big sucking sound leaving New York City. New York City could soon resemble Havana with the election of Zohran Mandani as mayor.

Mandani claims to be a Democratic Socialist. However, socialists also believe capitalism and socialism are incompatible. That is how many democratic socialists gradually transition us into a total socialist society. That includes ending private ownership of key industries. Mandani wants to create city-owned grocery stores. That is where the chaos will start. Imagine a situation where we can’t get food. Welcome to the shores of hell. That is where our society will start to break down.

Why are so many young Americans falling for it? Many are college graduates. Socialism pits groups against each other. Socialism doesn’t work. Once people figure out that they don’t have to work as hard, or work at all, and will still receive the same payout they will stop working altogether. However in a socialistic society if you don’t work you go to prison or you are terminated.

Free markets drive innovation through competition and entrepreneurship. Under socialism, state-run industries lack incentives to improve, leading to technological and economic stagnation. Capitalism has not failed. The problem seems to be with those who take advantage of the system and don’t contribute to society.

There is a fine line between socialism and liberalism. So you went to college and sucked up all the grants and maybe your parents savings. Well what did you learn? I would guess not much. The best thing that could happen to you is for your parents to “kick you out.” Your professor probably right up front said “all you have to do is show up to my class and you will get a passing grade.” That is why so many A students work for so many B students. That was told to me by a professor friend of mine. No wonder you didn’t learn anything.

One thing is for certain. New York city residents will regret the day they allowed this to happen. The consequences will be frightening and severe. This is an attempt to dismantle New York and the United States like the open border catastrophe. And by the way – only about 25% of eligible voters voted in our election. God help us! It’s up to the younger generation now. Be careful what you wish for.

Bruce Piatz is a Jamestown resident.