Zohran Mamdani For Mayor!

I had an entertaining time this Summer watching a Netflix show called “The Middle” with my wife and daughter before my daughter retuned to college for her senior year. Having grown up in southern Indiana, I was especially attracted to this show fictionally based in Indiana with Indiana cornfields and loud sounding crows featured prominently at the beginning and ending of the show. The frequent mention of Indiana cities such as Bedford, Jasper, and French Lick made me feel right at home! The show featured a dysfunctional family of five who tried to put a normal spin on work, school, church, and family life with little success! 

The Middle was almost as much fun to watch as watching elected New York Democratic officials as they sought to navigate the primary election of Democratic Socialistic candidate Zohran Mamdani as the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City. Seeing United States Senator Charles Schumer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and United States Congressman Hakeem Jeffries squirm and equivocate when responding to the question of whether they will support Mr. Mamdani in the Fall general election for Mayor has been most entertaining!  Mr. Mamdani has an interesting policy pedigree. He has previously called for a boycott of Israeli institutions. He has also refused to condemn the phrase “Globalize the Intifada” which is often understood as a call to encourage violence against Jews and the Nation of Israel. Mr. Mamdani also previously advocated the defunding of the New York City police but has recently changed his position on this. If that wasn’t enough, Mr. Mamdani’s socialistic platform calls for a rent freeze, fare-free buses, city run grocery stores, and free childcare. All of these “freebees” would need to be paid for through higher taxes imposed on businesses and “wealthy” individuals.  Are there even enough wealthy individuals and businesses to tax and pay for the cost of these freebees? Is it fair to assume that the imposition of taxes high enough on wealthy individuals and businesses in New York City to pay for Mr. Mamdani’s socialist agenda will have no impact on retention of businesses and wealthy individuals? Will any wealthy individuals or businesses choose to relocate to Florida or another more tax friendly state? Will it encourage new business formation in New York City?

 As elected Democratic officials in New York wring their hands at the implications the possible election of Mr. Mamdani might have for the national Democratic party, Washington Post Columnist George Will has an interesting perspective. In a recent column, he has stated that he believes the election of Mr. Mamdani would be a positive for New York City and the nation as his election and the implementation of a socialist agenda would serve to demonstrate for all to see the failure of socialistic policies and the resulting economic damage socialism would do in New York City.  Ouch!

I am intrigued by Mr. Will’s idea. I wonder what Senator Schumer, Governor Hochul, and Congressman Jeffries think? Ironically, Mr. Will’s perspective was shared thousands of years ago in Old Testament Scripture around the 11^th Century B.C.  In First Samuel Chapter 8, the political atmospherics were in some ways like present day New York City. The leader of Israel was a Judge named Samuel. While he had been a capable leader in the past, he was getting old, and his sons were corrupt in accepting bribes and seeking to benefit themselves at the expense of the nation and not seen as capable successors. Has this type of behavior been alleged to have been committed by a Mayor in New York City recently? The leaders in Israel were concerned about the future of the nation and demanded that Samuel appoint a King to lead the Nation of Israel as was the case in the nations surrounding Israel. This was an extreme request which deeply troubled Samuel. In response to this request, Samuel prayed to God. God answered Samuel’s prayer and told him to grant the demand for the appointment of a King. But God was emphatic in his answer to Samuel that appointing a King for the Nation of Israel would be a huge mistake and implored Samuel to make clear to the people what they would suffer with a King, including frequent wars and the loss of life for their young men and the destruction of personal property. Samuel made this clear to the leaders, but they could not be dissuaded in their desire for a King. And just as Samuel warned, the appointment of the King did result in frequent wars and the loss of life for the nation’s young men and the destruction of personal property. The Nation of Israel learned a painful lesson for all to see. Will the voters of New York City learn a similar lesson for all to see?

God bless you and thank you for the privilege of your time in reading my blog.