How Progressive Policies Destroyed Oakland | Victor Davis Hanson

Progressive policies in cities like Oakland have created environments of lawlessness and economic decline, serving as a cautionary model for the broader American political landscape. These urban enclaves, defined by defunded police and unchecked squatting, reflect a shift toward communal property ideologies that alienate the middle class. Meanwhile, economic precarity among younger generations in the West fuels support for socialist narratives that blame capitalism for systemic failures. The rise of antisemitism, often masked by diversity, equity, and inclusion rhetoric, further destabilizes institutions and erodes meritocratic standards. As AI accelerates productivity shifts and media narratives intensify political polarization, the traditional social contract continues to fracture, leaving citizens to navigate a landscape where historical foundations and property rights are increasingly under siege by ideological agendas.