Gallup has a fascinating study out on Americans’ views on socialism, capitalism, etc.
This is helpful, given Bernie Sanders strong support for “Democratic Socialism” and the election of 28-year-old Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Thirty-five percent of Americans have a positive view of the term socialism, similar to what was found in 2012 and 2010. The 60% who have a positive view of capitalism is also unchanged from six years ago.
The love of socialism rose during the Obama years. No surprise there. Who doesn’t want free stuff paid for by others?
What’s fascinating is how the progressives love socialism. It’s as if they have never studied the 100% failure of socialism.
Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are somewhat more positive about big business, free enterprise and capitalism than are Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents.
Democrats, on the other hand, are much more positive than Republicans about the federal government and socialism. Notably, Democrats have a more positive image of socialism than they do of big business, and their images of socialism and capitalism are essentially the same. These broad patterns aresimilar to what was found in 2012.
Also fascinating is how the opinion of socialism changes the older you get. I guess getting stuff for free when you’re in your 20s feels great. But when you’re older, having to pay for everything that the 20-somethings want is less enjoyable.
Younger Adults More Positive Than Older Adults About Socialism
Young Americans, aged 18-29, have more positive views of both the federal government and socialism than older Americans do. Young adults’ ratings of the federal government, capitalism, big business and socialism are similar — between 55% and 58% positive for each.
Older Americans’ views of capitalism are more positive than those of Americans under 50 years of age, and older Americans’ views of socialism are more negative than those who are younger. Overall, Americans across most age groups see capitalism more positively than socialism. The exception is among those aged 18-29, who are equally positive about both.
It’s worth reading the entire study. You can also see how the government schools have indoctrinated children into thinking socialism is a positive good. But since they don’t teach history or economics any longer in the government schools…