Socialism viewed positively by 53% of U.S. Democrats

[Marzupialis]

The same percentage (53%) views Capitalism positively. Beware of false statistics being spread around over the internet, such as the unsourced allegation that Democrats are "95% Capitalist, 5% Socialist."



http://www.gallup.com/poll/125645/socialism-viewed-positively-americans.aspx

59% of Liberal Democrats view Socialism positively versus 46% who view Capitalism positively, according to another poll (Pew). More Lib-Dems view Capitalism negatively (47%) than Socialism (33%): http://www.people-press.org/2011/12/28/little-change-in-publics-response-to-capitalism-socialism/

Even among Conservative/Moderate Democrats, in the same Pew poll, the difference between those who view Capitalism positively (42%) and those who view Socialism positively (37%) is small, while the negative ratings (49% capitalism, 51% socialism) are similar: http://www.people-press.org/2011/12/28/little-change-in-publics-response-to-capitalism-socialism/

[Permanut]

1. Okay, so 83% of Republicans

should stay off the public roads, stay off the internet, refuse any USDA inspected meat, refuse to call 911 in case of emergency, and refuse all vaccines. Works for me.

[Cleita]

2. Lulz!

[freshwest]

3. +1

[sadbear]

11. 47% of Democrats, too

[former9thward]

18. BTW none of those are socialist.

You should really look up the definition.

[freshwest]

4. Tragedy here is that conservatives don't grasp that Democrats know what that those refer to economic

Systems and not how they will be ruled by their government. Conservatives have a blanket belief that the Big C or the Big S mean totalitarian government style and a centralized world government.

Democrats realize that you can have a democratic government, centralized or decentralized in most aspects of life with socialism. And if communism were fully enacted, which it never really made it, that would be decentralized.

You can have an anti-democratic, centralized and totaliarian government with a capitalist economy. You can have mixed goverrnmental and economic system. It's not black and white, it's not all evil in one and all good in the other.

You can have a theocratic system that is totalitarian, or just a mild influence. We've been fed a lot of mushroom fodder here for years. The fact that the Democrats are more educated doesn't mean they are socialist or communist or whatever.

These polls come out probably in order to whip up Cold War boogeymen for the GOP. Ugh.

[karynnj]

13. Even if they though Norway, England, or France, it would still be "foreign"

and disliked for that reason. Not to mention, none are pure "socialism" - just as we are not pure "capitalism".

I agree with you that they are conflating two different things. From listening to some of their rhetoric - unfortunately in Congress, not just on RW talk shows - their definition of "freedom" stems from rugged individualism. (ie Romney and others EARNED those billions and it is unfair "to take more of it away" - aka raise taxes on the wealthy. Yet, they still fight for the spending that benefits their district.

They really still are fighting against the new deal - even though they mostly are not fighting honestly because they know that the too many people like the FDR (SS) and LBJ (Medicare) programs.

[Selatius]

5. A good chunk of what we take for granted is socialism. Our roads are the most obvious thing.

Our public schools, fire departments, police stations, the military, any publicly owned asset is collectively owned by the people. Oh, I also just used that big no-no word "collective." Uncle Joe would be happy.

[former9thward]

19. The Romans built roads through out Europe 2000 yars ago.

Who knew they were socialist? They left out that vital fact from my history books.

[nxylas]

6. 17% of Republicans view socialism positively?

Who ARE these people? I know that the plural of anecdote isn't data, but I've never met a Republican who has anything good to say about socialism, which they define as government oversight of anything (also their definition of fascism).

[harmonicon]

7. Maybe they were counting National Socialism and feeling proud with a *wink wink, nudge nudge* nt.

[nxylas]

10. Nice try, but I doubt it

Tea Party Republicanism may fit (or at least resemble) most definitions of fascism, but few Teapublicans self-identify as fascists or National Socialists. Far from having a positive response to the phrase "National Socialism", they're more likely to use it to peddle the old "Hitler was a man of the left and nothing to do with us" hogwash.

[harmonicon]

15. I think you're largely right...

but to reference your previous post, I've also never met a Republican who would say a positive thing about socialism, but I have met Republicans who are holocaust deniers.

[backscatter712]

14. Probably small-town liberals...

I do know a few of these people - the Democratic party is non-existant in some really small towns, so the liberals, rather than making a futile effort to start a Democratic Party that would be so small as to be permanently locked out of any influence at all, choose to infiltrate the local Republican party and make inroads that way.

That's how Wyoming passed laws requiring disclosure of fracking fluids, for example.

[Dawson Leery]

17. Likely.

[Saving Hawaii]

8. I've never understood why "small business" gets such high marks.

I work for a large employer right now. We have 10,000 employees. I have a strong union, a good pension, great healthcare, and a decent living wage. I've worked for one other large business in the past and the same was true there. Of the half-dozen times I've been employed by small businesses I've never gotten any of that. No union, maybe a joke 401k, pay for it yourself healthcare, and minimum wage. I have no interest in working for a small business myself. I like to work for large employers that adhere to the rules and that provide a good career-track to their employees. At all the small businesses I've worked in before the only realistic career path appeared to be nepotism. Seriously.

Maybe it strokes our ego a little bit. We all have a dream that someday we're the head honcho calling the shots and firing the lazy 20 year-olds. But that dream is a myth. Some of us want to become good as a worker who knows how to do their job well. I don't really care about making money. I want a respectable wage for myself and my peers. I want decent benefits. I have no ambition to waste my time becoming good at business. I want to become good at what I actually do for my clients. That is what interests me.

But we have this fascination for "small business" which based on my life experiences strikes me as nothing more than non-union, minimum wage, no benefit crap. I guess most Americans are suckers for the idea that someday they'll be the fat man. Anybody else agree?

[David__77]

9. I have positive marks to socialism, entrepreneurs, and capitalism.

Capitalism is progressive vis-a-vis much of the crap in the world. Socialism grows out of it normally. And we always need those with initiative.

[Starry Messenger]

12. k&r

[socialist_n_TN]

16. Kick........

And from everything I've read, it's a growing trend.

It's an old story for polls though, self identification or positions on issues. Self identification can be influenced by MANY things and is NOT as good of an indicator of a true political position as how you feel about actual ISSUES.

Almost EVERY poll I see about self identification vs stands on issues can ONLY be reconciled if you include self styled "moderates" with the more left identifiers. Then the numbers dovetail almost exactly.