The fact that presidential candidate Sen. Bernard Sanders, a Democratic socialist, can surge in popularity among U.S. college students shows that the education system has failed them greatly, not only in history, government and economics, but also in “basic morality,” according to University of Oklahoma professor David Deming.

Mr. Deming penned a recent op-ed for The Oklahoman arguing in favor of capitalism and slamming Mr. Sanders’ socialist views as a “moral failing,” EAGNews.org reported Monday.

“You don’t have to be a student of ancient history to know socialism doesn’t work,” he wrote. “The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 was an unequivocal demonstration of the moral and economic superiority of capitalism. The misery caused by socialism is unfolding today in Venezuela. Since Venezuela embraced socialism in 1999, poverty, crime and corruption have all increased. Grocery shelves are empty and the annual inflation rate is estimated to be as high as 200 percent.

“The United States is a constitutional republic founded on political equality, not equality of income or circumstances. Our system of government was designed to secure the natural rights of its citizens. These rights include not only ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’ but the right to acquire and maintain private property. The Founding Fathers considered property rights to be sacred and

paramount,” Mr. Deming continued.

He went on to argue that a society based on freedom and trade “promotes good will and civility. Our free-market system has produced the greatest prosperity in human history.”

“If socialism is allowed to progress to its logical extreme, it culminates in a military dictatorship like North Korea,” he asserted.

“Socialism isn’t so much a legitimate economic system as it is a moral failing. It will always exist because ignorant people will always want something for nothing. If we want to retain our freedom and prosperity, then we must educate our children that the purpose of government is to secure liberty, not provide free lunches,” Mr. Deming concluded.

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