Thomas Sowell, a living legend in the field of economics, says he fears the U.S. may eventually succumb to the siren song of socialism.

The author of “Basic Economics,” “The Vision of the Anointed,” “The Quest for Cosmic Justice” and numerous other books said the U.S. may very well go down a path of financial ruin due to “wonderful-sounding” rhetoric.

Mr. Sowell, a Marxist in his youth, made the remarks Tuesday while appearing with Fox Business Network’s David Asman.

“I do have a great fear that, in the long run, we may not make it,” Mr. Sowellsaid. “I hate to say that. The one thing that keeps me from being despairing is that we don’t know. There are so many things that we can’t possibly know. And so, we may make it, but I wouldn’t bet on it.”

The author said that time and time again, people adopt willful ignorance regarding socialism’s track record around the world.

“So many people today, including in the leading universities, don’t pay much attention to evidence,” he said. “When you see people starving in Venezuela and fleeing into neighboring countries and realize that this is a country that once had the world’s largest oil reserves, you realize that they’ve ruined a very good prospect with ideas that sounded good but didn’t turn out well.

“These so-called exceptions [to socialism failing] are almost universal on every continent among people of every race, color, creed and whatever,” he continued.

The latest edition of Mr. Sowell’s “Discrimination and Disparities” is in stores and available online.