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THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH – MANY PROMINENT SOCIALIST LEADERS AND SUPPORTERS HAVE ORIGINS IN AFFLUENT ENVIRONMENTS – AND THEY ARE INFECTED WITH “LUXURY BELIEFS”

“LUXURY BELIEFS” REFER TO IDEAS AND OPINIONS THAT CONFER SOCIAL STATUS ON THE UPPER CLASS AT MINIMAL COST, WHILE OFTEN IMPOSING NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ON THE LOWER CLASSES.

THIS TERM WAS COINED BY ROB HENDERSON IN 2019.

CHARACTERISTICS OF “LUXURY BELIEFS” 

KEY FEATURES

STATUS SIGNALING: “LUXURY BELIEFS” ARE PRIMARILY HELD BY PRIVILEGED INDIVIDUALS WHO USE THEM TO SIGNAL THEIR ELITE STATUS.

DISCONNECTION FROM REALITY: THOSE WHO HOLD THESE BELIEFS ARE OFTEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF WORKING-CLASS OR MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS.

NEGATIVE IMPACT: WHILE THESE BELIEFS MAY SEEM BENEFICIAL IN THEORY, THEY CAN LEAD TO HARMFUL OUTCOMES FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE.

EXAMPLES OF “LUXURY BELIEFS”

DEFUNDING THE POLICE

ADVOCATED BY SOME ELITES, THIS BELIEF CAN LEAD TO INCREASED CRIME RATES AFFECTING POORER COMMUNITIES.

DECRIMINALIZING DRUGS

SEEN AS A PROGRESSIVE STANCE, BUT MAY HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON LOWER-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY STRUCTURES

THE BELIEF THAT NON-NUCLEAR FAMILIES ARE EQUALLY BENEFICIAL CAN OVERLOOK THE CHALLENGES FACED BY CHILDREN IN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENTS.

EXAMPLES OF WEALTHY SOCIALIST FIGURES

BERNIE SANDERS

ONCE CRITICIZED MILLIONAIRES, NOW A MILLIONAIRE HIMSELF.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ

GREW UP IN A WEALTHY SUBURB AND ATTENDED AN EXPENSIVE COLLEGE.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR FROM A WEALTHY FAMILY WITH A FIVE-BEDROOM MANSION.