It depends upon where you are at. In places where communism was historically tried it is not popular at all. It is definitely becoming popular in places that historically fought it. Though that is NOT because it has suddenly become a good idea.

It is because they really don't teach critical thinking to people. Without that in education people tend to be lead around more by emotions and what feels good. "That person is hurting, we should make the government help them", "Education is too expensive, we should make it free", "Everyone should pitch in, and all resources are shared". All of these things functionally end up having REALLY big problems with rushing in emotionally and because it feels good. Yet most people are clueless of this.

Also while they do teach some history in school it is a pretty piss poor job of it when you get down to it. They barely touch on many topics.

The for example do not cover the fact that these arguments have occurred many times before. They do not cover with any detail what happens when these things are tried.

Those who do not know history are doomed to make the same mistakes.

What you are describing definitely fits into that.

So the McCarthyism era Communist movement FAILED. It took some time after that and the actual people pushing for it back then are now Capitalist, and our country and many others are embracing Communism and Socialism like the feel good solution to the things they don't like.

Yet they know squat about economics, resource chains, etc. They just treat it like a magic pill. It is a fairy tale. Yet due to the lack of critical thinking it is emotions that are in the drivers seat for most of the population.

Throw into that giving every child a participation trophy and other acts of increasing entitlement and it paints a very FAKE picture of reality. When reality does not behave the way the entitled want they can whine about it and post videos crying demanding reality change.