DEAR EDITOR:

The newly elected mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, won over a majority of voters with promises built around the words free, affordable and empowerment of working people. Throughout his campaign, he leaned heavily on class envy, promoting a coming “new era” that would mandate change through competence and compassion.

Some of Mamdani’s proposed policies include freezing rents, making buses faster and free and providing universal child care — funded largely by the wealthy residents of NYC. But, as with socialism, these ideas can sound appealing in theory yet fail in practice, with the working class ultimately suffering from a declining standard of living.

Socialism is a form of governance that presents itself as compassionate and caring, but historically always fails to deliver, always impoverishing the masses. Capitalism, by contrast, emphasizes work, personal responsibility, accountability and the opportunity to reap the rewards of one’s efforts. Despite socialism’s repeated failures, the allure of an “easy button” government — where everything appears free until other people’s money runs out — remains tempting. As Mamdani said in his victory speech, “We will prove that there is no problem too large for government to solve and no concern too small for it to care about.”

Why should we care about what’s happening in New York City? How does it affect those of us here in Ohio?

If a majority of voters in NYC can elect a socialist leader, how long before we see a socialist governor or even a president? Policies such as forced rent stabilization or government-run grocery stores erode the free market and, with it, our liberty.

As government expands and assumes control over the means of production, individual rights and opportunities diminish at the same rate.

Once people become reliant on government for their livelihood, they become subject to the authority of those in power. This is how populations are controlled — not only through debt and dependence, but also through restrictive laws that dictate how people live and work.

So why are we shifting from self-reliance to government dependence? Why are so many willing to surrender their rights, self-esteem, and dignity in exchange for government support? What is happening to the spirit behind “the home of the brave and the land of the free”? Today, many people seek comfort, ease and quick fixes — but that is not the reality of life. Life is work. It is the relationships we form, the challenges we overcome, and the ways we help one another that truly build a better future. Government is not the answer; in many ways, government has become the problem. At national parks, we’re warned not to feed the wildlife because it creates dependency — so why do we accept generations of government-dependent welfare?

TIM SANTELL

Kinsman