Hemingway questions Mamdani's vision of a society that owes individuals

Zohran Mamdani said his campaign aims to replace rugged individualism with a warmer form of collectivism to foster solidarity among New Yorkers. Mollie Hemingway responded on Fox News by saying collectivism has been linked to shortages and that U.S. civic norms view individuals as owing duties to society.

Zohran Mamdani framed his campaign as aiming to draw New York "closer together" and to replace what he called the "frigidity of rugged individualism" with a warmer collectivism that fosters solidarity. The exchange was raised on a Fox News segment where host Guy Benson characterized collectivism as a utopian-sounding idea and mentioned historical examples of coercive collectivism. Commentator Mollie Hemingway responded by saying collectivist systems have been associated with shortages and hardship and contrasted that with how she views U.S. civic norms. Notable remarks: - Zohran Mamdani said his campaign would foster solidarity and replace rugged individualism with a warmer collectivism. - Guy Benson described the idea as "utopian-sounding" and referenced historical instances of coercive collectivism leading to suffering. - Mollie Hemingway said collectivism is associated with not having heat or food in winters and argued that in the U.S. people view society as something where individuals owe duties to it. - Hemingway also referenced former communist countries, saying the vision Mamdani described "has not worked out well for any of them." Summary: The exchange highlights a public debate over individualism versus collectivism in political rhetoric, with Mamdani promoting solidarity and commentators warning about historical downsides of collectivist systems. Undetermined at this time.