“Where Do We Go from Here?: How Tomorrow’s Prophecies Foreshadow Today’s Problems” by David Jeremiah.

Very interesting.

“Socialism, Prophecy, and You Right now, you might be wondering what all of this has to do with you. If Venezuela has proven that socialism is a bad idea, why should anyone care? You should care because socialist visions and policies are invading the United States. You’ll hear them discussed under four different names: socialism, communism, Marxism, and cultural Marxism. From my studies, it seems many people consider these terms nearly synonymous. As you read the rest of this chapter, these four titles will show up, but they all refer to the same invasive ideology, one that seems to deceive people with unusual ease. Consider this: Hugo Chávez had plenty of cheerleaders in the United States during his rise, including Hollywood stars like Sean Penn, Michael Moore, Oliver Stone, and Danny Glover. Socialism seems to hold an almost hypnotic power over many thinkers, and it’s spilling into the common culture. A 2020 poll showed that 40 percent of Americans had a favorable view of socialism. That was up from 36 percent in 2019. Even more frightening, 47 percent of Millennials and 49 percent of Generation Z viewed socialism favorably.4 Indeed, one 2019 poll in AXIOS found that 61 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 have a positive reaction to socialism.5”

“And then there is this: In 2020, Bernie Sanders nearly won the Democratic Party’s nomination for president of the United States. This is the same senator from Vermont who declared, “I am a socialist and everyone knows it.”6 In addition to Sanders, recent elections have seen record numbers of socialist candidates win roles as representatives both in state legislatures and in Congress. Notable among them is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In 2018, she became the youngest congresswoman in history. Ocasio-Cortez is an avowed member of the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organization in the United States. Given her young age and massive following, many believe she’ll run for president of the United States one day. That’s a sobering thought given her stated goals of ending capitalism and implementing the same socialist agenda that failed so spectacularly in Venezuela.”

“Remember Venezuela Today, Venezuela is a social and economic wasteland, with 96 percent of citizens living below the poverty line. Most people earn less than a US dollar a day. Poor economic management brought about inflation rates of more than ten million percent, which is why a roll of toilet paper cost 2.6 million bolivars (the Venezuelan currency) in 2018.36 And the lack of investment in commodities means the nation is barren of essential medicines and medical services. As a result, an estimated 5.5 million refugees have fled Venezuela in recent years—a number that represents more than a sixth of the nation’s total population from 2014.37 In short, a country once defined by freedom and opportunity is now oppressed, barren, and hopeless. That is the fruit of a Marxist revolution. No form of government on earth is perfect. Every political philosophy is defective, including democracy and the free market system. But some ideas are worse than others. Marxism is among the worst ideas ever conceived. Just ask its oppressed multitudes and its countless casualties. We should be aware of its history, herald its dangers, and oppose its spread.”