The puzzlement of this 2016 presidential election is not Donald Trump’s success, it’s the ability of Bernie Sanders, an avowed social democrat, to make a connection to the Millennial generation, (Americans ages 16 to 34). There are almost 80 million Millennials — more than there are French people, Brits or Spaniards.

A great deal of Sanders’ support comes from a generation carefully groomed since birth to embrace some form of socialism, a form of government that gives you free health care, free schooling and an equal take of the economic pie. In other words, socialism takes care of you.

Here’s how we’ve encouraged Millennials on their path to socialism.

At home, in the ’80s and ’90s, helicopter parents hovered over their children, accompanying them to college interviews, graduate school interviews, even job interviews. The Affordable Medical Care Act lets young adults stay on their parents’ medical policies until age 26. And, many Millennials choose to move back home with parents during tough economic times. Simply put, there is always someone they can lean on.

As youngsters, Millennials were given trophies for simply showing up, not achievement, for team sports. At college, Millennials mostly go to schools where ideas from the ’60s are in vogue. Universities today are enablers that don’t welcome debate, but provide “safe rooms” where students, upset by hearing something they don’t agree with, can go to be comforted and cosseted by counselors. Millennials further calm themselves in safe rooms by playing with Play-Doh, watching videos of frolicking puppies and cuddling stuffed animals. Millennials don’t go to the school of hard knocks, they go to twentysomethings’ kindergarten.

When Millennials join the workforce, the waves part. Corporate America is changing how it runs a workplace — from designing Millennial-friendly office space, extended time off, more flexible hours, open spaces, lots of windows and amenities offered at a five-star hotel. Employee benefits also are being changed. For example, LinkedIn lets family and friends eat with employees at its cafeteria; Millennials like a balance between family and friends. LinkedIn gives employees $5,000 per year for professional education; Millennials want to “grow.” LinkedIn lets employees have one Friday a month for personal projects; Millennials need their downtime.

These influences are neither good nor bad. But, when bundled together, they send messages to Millennials at home, at school and in the workplace that self-reliance is not as important as having someone to watch over them.

Bernie Sanders is that someone. He is the lovable parent with open arms, the good parent, not the one who has to discipline and teach life’s hard lessons. He is the man who will kill the goose that laid the golden egg, ably aided by Millennials who think they can have everything without consequence.

Today we are a divided America as a result of the fallout from the attitudes of several of the previous generations, mainly Baby Boomers. Millennials are the modern-day version of the great World War II generation. With or without Sanders, Millennials are the can-do kids whose trends will change the course of our country. Let’s quit encouraging them to follow the promises of socialism, which will not work in a country as large and diverse as ours. Instead, let’s promote our democratic roots, which always have demanded the self-discipline and self-reliance of its citizens.