In Fareed Zakaria's op-ed in The Washington Post, he says that voters’ growing dissatisfaction with inefficient progressive governance is driving a shift toward more conservative leadership around the world. (Shutterstock)
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More than half of the world’s population voted last year, sending a clear message of frustration with left-leaning governments, Fareed Zakaria writes in The Washington Post.
Across Europe, left-of-center parties hold power in only a few countries, and the European Parliament’s main leftist group occupies just 136 of 720 seats.
In the U.S., Donald Trump’s sweeping 2016 victory reflected similar dissatisfaction, with nearly 90% of counties shifting right.
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Decades of High Taxes, Regulation Have Disappointing Results
This trend signals a broader crisis for progressive governance. Critics argue that decades of high taxes, regulation, and inefficiency have yielded disappointing results.
For instance, New York, with a $239 billion budget, spends twice as much as Florida, yet performs worse in poverty rates, homeownership, and homelessness, Zakaria noted.
Despite higher per-student education spending, New York’s outcomes are comparable to Florida’s.
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Waste and mismanagement compound these issues. New York City’s Second Avenue subway construction cost $2.5 billion per mile — several times more than similar projects abroad.
Pension obligations consume nearly 22% of the city’s budget, highlighting structural inefficiencies.
Big cities often symbolize liberal excess. California’s weak shoplifting laws fueled rampant theft, while New York City struggles with homelessness and crime.
Rising frustration has prompted many to leave blue states like New York and California for red states such as Florida and Texas, reshaping political representation.
Emerging ideologies like Elon Musk’s blend of cultural conservatism and government reform could appeal to disillusioned voters. Democrats, however, risk long-term losses unless they address inefficiencies and move beyond defending cultural elites and bloated systems. Without reform, progressive governance may continue to falter globally.
Read more by Fareed Zakaria in The Washington Post.
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