John Steinbeck once said that “Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”

Does the popularity of Bernie Sanders and his socialist message reflect the fact that we have entered a new phase where the American Dream is not really alive and thriving?

Some of Bernie’s most popular messages are making public colleges and healthcare totally free. I went to a private college and took $40,000 in loans. But I didn’t mind because I was confident I will make enough money to pay back the loan.

What does it say about the perception of the millennials when they are not even asking for a) ways to reduce the college tuition fees, or b) ways to reduce the interest rates on the student loans? They just want to pay nothing.

Similarly, rather than trying to figure out a way to reduce the rise in healthcare costs, they are just saying, “Give me free healthcare.”

Demands of millenials in both cases – student loans and healthcare – have the same underlying theme: young Americans believe that they don’t have a great future and they won’t be making enough money to meet their financial obligations.

This may be the first time since the Great Depression that Americans are so pessimistic. Of course, that was the time when socialism was very much in vogue and swept FDR into power — the big difference being that FDR had tools that Bernie Sanders won’t.

RIP American Dream.