“Together, we will tell a new story of our city…We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani
“Collectivism and freedom are mortal enemies. Only one will survive.” – G. Edward Griffin
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural quote reads like a touching sentiment, born of a desire to do good for everyone in the community. But according to George Orwell’s popular 1945 book “Animal Farm,” collectivism teaches all animals are equal; but some animals are more equal than others.
Life is not without irony. Shortly after Mamdani was inaugurated as NYC’s first Marxist, Muslim mayor, the United States government announced that it had successfully carried out an operation to capture self-proclaimed Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro and fly him and his wife out of Venezuela. Delta Force, an elite special forces unit of the U.S. Army, carried out this dangerous and secretive operation. So, while NYC was installing a Marxist, Venezuelans were waking up to the removal of the Marxist who had terrorized their homeland for the past 13 years.
Maduro assumed power in Venezuela following the death of dictator Hugo Chavez in 2013. Venezuela had already suffered economic decline under Chavez, but Maduro’s policies contributed to greater financial crises, leaving the country in severe poverty. Many Venezuelan citizens were unable to afford even basic items. Hyperinflation began in 2014, resulting in a significant decline in Venezuela’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. Formerly the leading oil producer in the world, mismanagement of the oil sector along with political corruption worsened an already bleak economic situation.
Like fellow Marxist leaders, Maduro’s government was characterized by tyrannical practices, especially the suppression of his political opposition. Elections had no meaning, as Maduro always retook power regardless of the people’s choice. Rampant voter fraud undermined Venezuela’s democratic process.
Under the Maduro regime, Venezuelans experience widespread malnutrition, disease and increased mortality rates. Many citizens fled the country in search of better living conditions, creating a refugee crisis in Central America. Public services, including health care and education, fell apart.
For these reasons and more, Venezuelans have been dancing, singing and praising God – celebrating in the streets regarding the news of Maduro’s capture. This monstrous tyrant, whose policies caused such intense starvation that some Venezuelans resorted to eating zoo animals, was gone. Global Marxists like Maduro promise Utopia for everyone and deliver only disease, disaster and death.
Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, Benito Mussolini, Nicholas Maduro, Fidel Castro and now Mamdani have all advocated for collectivism. Collectivism is an ideology that emphasizes the collective over the individual. It promotes the state's shared ownership of property and control over resources. It has historically been associated with Communism.
“The individual is nothing; the collective is everything." – Stalin
“The interests of the individual must be subordinated to the interests of the collective.” – Mao
“Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State.” – Mussolini
Now, Mamdani has pronounced that the days of rugged individualism in NYC are done. Collectivism is the goal. This is every historically murderous dictator’s ideology. The “warm collectivism” of which Mamdani speaks is associated with significant human torment and killed nearly 100 million people in the 20th century.
In a social media post on X, Mamdani’s new tenant director, Cea Weaver, stated that New York City will transition private property to what is best for the “collective good.” She added that their property policies will have an extreme effect on white families, which means that “especially white families…are gonna have a different relationship to property than the one we currently have.”
In other words, it appears his administration is for theft.
During the COVID years, there were various debates about personal freedoms on social media. I remember several American Christians proposing that fellow American believers simply loved their individual freedoms too much. Maybe it would be best if we didn’t have these privileges?
I wonder how Venezuelan Christians would answer that? Those who have never had the privilege of shopping at a stocked grocery store, rather than standing in bread lines, or verbalized their true opinions regarding government without fear of tyrannical retribution? I wonder if they would casually denigrate the freedoms we enjoy in the United States?
Clearly, their shouting to the Lord, praising His name in the streets for the removal of Maduro is an indictment on our musings.
The late-great pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon condemned “Democratic Socialism” in an 1889 sermon. He described it as a counterfeit gospel that pretended to set up the kingdom of Christ without a new birth or need to pardon sin, while treating the Cross like an enemy of the state. “The latter-day gospel is not the gospel by which we were saved. To me, it seems like a tangle of ever-changing dreams,” Spurgeon preached. “It has not been given by the infallible revelation of God; it does not pretend to have been. It is not divine: it has no inspired Scripture at its back.” (Christianity Daily 1/2/26).
There is nothing beneficial or bold about Mamdani’s vision for New York City. The “warmth of collectivism” is a recycled, Marxist policy that will continue to result in the death and destruction of the people. By God’s grace, may America learn from New York City’s tragic folly and may the ruse of collectivism be exposed as detrimental to all who embrace it.
Kristin Landers is a substitute teacher and freelance writer. Landers’ previous work includes serving as Communications Director for the Alabama Policy Institute and working for Citizens Against a Legalized Lottery (CALL) to defeat legalized gambling in the state of Alabama.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
