Socialists treat freedom as the obstacle. Studies prove it’s the solution

Democratic Socialists of America members and progressives who share their worldview are having a good political run. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani won office with a high-profile campaign promising city-run stores and severe new regulations on landlords. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is a top contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. In Michigan, progressive Democrat Abdul el Sayed has a slim lead in his U.S. Senate race with former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers.

Socialists and progressives seek better healthcare, education, housing, and environmental protection. We share these goals. But the evidence suggests the best way to achieve these aims is to use markets, not mandates; cooperation, not coercion.