Six months ago, in February, Steve Bannon, host of the WarRoom, issued a stark warning to young Americans considering voting for Democrats in the upcoming November elections. Bannon painted a bleak picture of the future, drawing parallels between modern American taxpayers and Russian serfs from the past. His comments were intended to provoke thought and expose what he sees as the growing burden placed on ordinary citizens by an expansive and costly government that is out of control.

“If you’re under 35 and vote for Democrats, you’re voting to be a Russian serf,” Bannon said in the Feb. broadcast. 

To understand Bannon’s reference, it’s crucial to know who the Russian serfs were. Serfdom in Russia was a system in which peasants were bound to the land owned by the nobility. These serfs were required to work the land and provide a significant portion of their produce to their lords, effectively working for free. They had no rights to own property or pursue personal economic freedom, making them akin to slaves in many respects. This system was abolished in 1861, but the serfs’ plight serves as a powerful metaphor for oppression and exploitation.

Bannon uses the analogy often on the WarRoom of the Russian serf to describe the modern American taxpayer’s plight, claiming that young people, by voting for Democrats, are essentially voting to become economic serfs. He argues that the government, through high taxes and what he views as reckless spending, forces citizens to work without reaping the benefits of their labor. “If you’re under 35 and vote for Democrats, you’re voting to be a Russian serf,” Bannon proclaimed. This statement is designed to provoke a reaction and to get young voters to reconsider their choices.

The Burden of Government on the Taxpayer

Bannon’s critique centers around the idea that the government, particularly under Democratic leadership, prioritizes spending on foreign interests and non-citizens over the needs of American taxpayers. He points out the irony of American soldiers defending foreign borders while the U.S. border, particularly in the South, remains under threat from illegal immigration. He criticizes the Chamber of Commerce for supporting policies that he believes would further compromise American sovereignty and economic stability.

“What’s happening over the last couple of weeks, you had these heroic servicemen and women from Georgia give their lives for their country, defending the border of Jordan and Syria. Not the border where the invasion is happening—our country, in the southern border, either Rio Grande Valley, or the southern border, United States and South Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico,” Bannon argued.

His point is clear: the American government is misallocating its resources, and taxpayers are footing the bill.

Bannon’s comments also highlight the broader implications of government policies on young Americans’ ability to achieve the American Dream. He argues that high taxes and government debt limit individuals’ ability to save, invest, and build a future for themselves and their families.

“We’re bankrupting these future generations,” Bannon warned, suggesting that the current trajectory of government spending and economic management is unsustainable.

In the broadcast, Bannon urged young people to think critically about the long-term impacts of their votes, emphasizing that supporting policies that increase government spending and debt ultimately undermines personal economic freedom. Bannon’s rhetoric is undoubtedly provocative, aiming to stir up discontent among voters and push them towards a more fiscally conservative stance.

Bannon’s remarks are a call to action for American youth to consider the economic consequences of their political choices. By drawing a parallel between modern taxpayers and Russian serfs, he underscores his belief that the government’s current path leads to economic bondage rather than prosperity. Whether one agrees with his assessment or not, his comments serve as a reminder of the importance of economic policy in shaping the future of the nation.

Watch this footage from the WarRoom from February 2024 for more about how Bannon sees young voters with an important choice to make as the election draws closer and closer: