NOTE: Today's Daily News Article is actually a commentary on one of New York City's candidates for mayor, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani's policies: making all buses free.

1. When did Kansas City begin a free bus program, and when did the city council vote to once again charge passengers to ride the bus?

2. NYC socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wrote a commentary in 2024 praising Kansas City's free bus program as a successful model.
a) What benefits did he claim free buses gave to residents?
b) What did he omit from his commentary?
c) Why do you think he omitted this information?

3. How did assaults on bus drivers in Kansas City change between 2020 when Zero Fare was launched and 2025?

4. a) What is loop riding?
b) What type of conditions did loop riding create on buses?

5. What reaction did a group of Kansas City bus operators have when asked if they want to reimplement bus fares?

6. What did the city do to address the skyrocketing number of bus disturbances that occurred once bus rides were free?

7. The purpose of an editorial/commentary is to explain, persuade, warn, criticize, entertain, praise or answer. What do you think is the purpose of this commentary, written by Nathan Willett (R), Kansas City’s City Council and Nicholas Miller, president of ATU #1287, KC’s local union representing bus operators? Explain your answer.

8. Many people in the 18-29 year old age group like Mamdani and are not concerned with his socialist policies. He is young (34), attractive, smiles constantly and appears extremely happy all the time.
He focuses on issues like affordable housing and other affordability concerns - and making things free. One older voter said they liked him because "he is cool" and wanted someone new.
Voters who oppose his election understand how socialist and Marxist policies destroy a country's economy and freedom - and make everyone's life equally miserable. (e.g. Venezuela, Cuba, the Soviet Union [USSR], North Korea, Zimbabwe in the 2000s)

New York City is widely considered the epicenter of global finance and commerce and a powerful symbol of the free enterprise system. Thanks to free enterprise, one billion people left poverty and a new middle class has formed around the world. Capitalism - not socialism - has brought greater wealth and more freedom to more people than any other economic system in history.

Ask a parent what they know about Democratic socialist policies and whether they support them.