Glenn: Here’s the reason socialism appeals to so many people

October 30, 2013

Writer

Glenn opened the radio program this morning with his theory on why socialism seems to have a growing appeal in America today. The founding principles of the United States of America were based in liberty and self-reliance, but the mentality of “they have it. I don’t have it. I want it. Go get ‘em” replace the ideals of individual responsibility far too often. Why? The simple answer, as Glenn sees it, stems from fear.

“It's because Americans have given up on themselves and their ability to succeed. We don't believe anymore that we are exceptional,” Glenn explained. “And you know what? In some ways, the President is right. We're not exceptional. We're really not. People are people, and they can choose to be exceptional or not. We as a nation chose to be exceptional, and the only thing that made us exceptional was that we, as a group of people, decided to go a different way. That's what made us exceptional – not that we were born any different, not that we have anything special that nobody else has.”

If American exceptionalism was a conscious decision made by the American people, what has changed?

“Why is America failing? America is failing right now because we have chosen to go the way the rest of the world has always gone,” Glenn said. “We have everything we need. We just have to choose it. And what does make us different is that we used to have an understanding of this. We used to have a real innate understanding and one that wasn't just bred into us… It was something in the head and in the heart. We believed that we could build it – we did build it before and we could build it again.”

Glenn explained his favorite thing to do in New York City is people-watch, and during his most recent trip to the city, he noticed two distinct things about the people he observed.

“When you watch them, you will see two things: One, there's a lot of hope if, two, people lose their negativity. Most people are looking down. They're not looking forward because they're convinced that they can't make it on their own,” he explained. “They've been brainwashed – some by outside sources and some by inside sources – brainwashed that you can't make it. And that leads to fear. That's really what it is. It's just this simple: Fear.”

On tonight’s Glenn Beck Program, Srinivas Rao, author of The Art of Being Unmistakable, will join Glenn to talk about the importance of overcoming this fear. Glenn discovered the book, currently only available for the Kindle, several weeks ago, and he is confident that Srinivas’s theory “is the future.”

“I've never met him before. I don't know him from Adam. His father was a college professor. He went to I think Berkeley… and then he went and got other degrees and just kept going and going and going. He found his life completely empty and without meaning. And so he lost his job and was like, ‘You know what? I'm going to surf. I want to learn how to surf. I've always wanted to be a surfer. I'm going to learn how to surf. And then after the tide changes, I will go and I'll put on a suit, and I'll change in my car, and I'll go and see if I can get a job someplace.’ But in that time period, he learned who he really was.”

Glenn explained that the book tackles the theme of overcoming fears – fear of failure, fear of being misunderstood, fear of being wrong – as to show the importance of following one’s own path and writing one’s own story.

“It's fear of failure. It's fear of what other people think. It's fear of being wrong… The biggest fear of all: That I will be alone,” Glenn said of the book. “But there's two sides to that coin: There's faith and there's fear. Faith teaches us you're never, ever, ever alone. Fear begets more fear, and the ultimate fear of being alone… We are all born, we are all created, equal. What does that mean… In other words, we are all a blank canvas. We're all a blank piece of paper, a blank page.”

Most people can wrap their heads around the idea of their life being a blank page, but can we wrap our mind around the idea that each and every day is a blank page? And if every day is a blank page, who is writing on those pages – is it you; is it your parents; is the government?

“Every day you open up your eyes, you can either start over again or you can continue writing on a page that you disagree with… And so you either continue writing it, or even worse, you have somebody else write it for you,” Glenn explained. “You can do it if you want. You can have your parents write it for you… You can let your boss write it… Who's writing on your page? Many people want the government to write it now… But how can the government write it? How can anybody else write it? They don't even know you. The story that anybody else will write for you is the one that pleases them, the one that will make them feel good, at your expense, one that will serve their needs, not yours.”

As the light rises on every day, you are given a choice: You can write your own story. You can write a bold adventure that will be told for generations to come… You can tell a story that is filled with lessons and learning and joy and pain. Or you can let somebody else write it for you. But I'm telling you now, it will be an etching, it will be a pencil line drawing. It will have no color in it,” he continued. “And I promise you, just when you feel like quitting, just when you feel that maybe you’re going to let somebody else write the story, I promise you that is the point when you're about to do the most amazing work of your life. I don't know if you've already started writing your story today. Write a new one. Start with a blank page. It is your choice. It is your life and no one else's. Find your story, and maybe someday somebody like me will be lucky enough to tell it to others.”

You can watch Glenn's interview with Srinivas Rao tonight at 5pm ET only on TheBlaze TV. Not a subscriber? Start your 14-day free trial HERE.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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