Despite its abysmal record of sowing poverty, misery, death, and envy in every place it has been implemented, socialism is gaining traction with young Americans.

According to a new poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports and The Heartland Institute, more than half of likely voters age 18 to 39 “would like to see a democratic socialist win the 2028 presidential election.”

Moreover, as the poll shows, nearly 80 percent of young likely voters think that “major industries like health care, energy, and big tech should be nationalized to give more control and equity to the people.”

I know what you’re thinking: How is this possible? Why in the world is America’s youth, who represent the future of this nation, smitten with socialism?

The answer is complicated, but I will try my best to simplify it.

In my opinion, the problem is twofold: First, America’s education system has utterly failed to teach American students about the truth concerning socialism for many years. Second, many of today’s youth have not grown up in a robust free-market economy that offers ample opportunities to pursue the American dream.

As a former high school social studies teacher, I know from experience that public schools are telling a twisted tale when it comes to the history of socialism. During my years in the classroom teaching World History, U.S. History, and American Government, I was shocked and dismayed when I witnessed my colleagues giving their students a whitewashed version of socialism’s horrific history.

For example, when it came time to discuss the Russian Revolution during my student teaching at a prestigious high school in the northern suburbs of Chicago, I could not believe my ears when I listened to my “mentor” teacher describing Bolshevism and Marxism as morally superior to the American Revolution and free-market capitalism.

Sadly, this was the norm that I encountered during my five years of teaching. Even in South Carolina, where I spent most of my teaching career, I was surrounded by social studies teachers who were simpatico with socialism.

For young impressionable minds, high school teachers can have a big influence. Instead of teaching students the unvarnished truth regarding socialism, the status quo was for teachers to emphasize all the potential positives of collectivism while downplaying/ignoring the sinister side.

As far as I can tell, the socialist indoctrination at American colleges and universities is far worse. To be honest, I experienced a little bit of this when I attended Indiana University in the early 2000s. However, back then, we at least debated both sides of the issue. Nowadays, it seems like the room for debate is nonexistent. Institutions of higher learning are embracing socialism, rallying for its renaissance, and silencing all dissent.

However, this should not come as a major surprise considering that socialist professors infiltrated America’s top universities decades ago. Today, socialists have an outsized presence in academia.

On the other hand, I doubt that socialist rhetoric would resonate nearly as much as it currently does with America’s youth given the broken, crony capitalist economy we currently have.

Although America is still by far the best nation on the planet, it goes without saying that the American dream seems less attainable today than it was for past generations.

My dad was able to work and pay for his college degree. He graduated with no debt. After he began his marketing career at Quaker Oats, he was able to purchase a new car and save for a home within a few years.

Like many of my friends, although I am technically no longer considered young, I worry that I will not be able to afford a home.

Today, the cost of living—particularly for the basics like shelter, health care, and higher education—is higher than ever.

Make no mistake, this is not because free-market capitalism has failed. Rather, it is because crony capitalism and big government interventions in these marketplaces have skewed the costs while upending the law of supply and demand.

Of course, this is not free-market capitalism. It is socialism lite.

The funny thing is that when I asked my students about socialism, they thought it seemed fair. But when I asked if they all should get a B on a test or assignment, regardless of the effort they put in, they almost universally complained how unfair that seemed.

I think young Americans are embracing socialism because they do not understand its history, nor do they understand how intellectually bankrupt this ideology truly is. I remain confident that all is not lost. These young Americans are not true socialists. They are confused, frustrated, and ignorant. Therefore, the best we can do is give them a crash course in socialism’s dark and depressing history of failure while reminding them that the American dream can be revived as long as we return to our free-market roots.