Poll: The capitalists are dying off!

[Joanne98]

Looks like the love of capitalism is a generational issue. BYE BYE!

Poll: Just 53% Favor Capitalism Over Socialism

Only 53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 20% disagree and say socialism is better. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are not sure which is better.

Adults under 30 are essentially evenly divided: 37% prefer capitalism, 33% socialism, and 30% are undecided. Thirty-somethings are a bit more supportive of the free-enterprise approach with 49% for capitalism and 26% for socialism. Adults over 40 strongly favor capitalism, and just 13% of those older Americans believe socialism is better.

Investors by a 5-to-1 margin choose capitalism. As for those who do not invest, 40% say capitalism is better while 25% prefer socialism.

There is a partisan gap as well. Republicans - by an 11-to-1 margin - favor capitalism. Democrats are much more closely divided: Just 39% say capitalism is better while 30% prefer socialism. As for those not affiliated with either major political party, 48% say capitalism is best, and 21% opt for socialism.

The question posed by Rasmussen Reports did not define either capitalism or socialism

It is interesting to compare the new results to an earlier survey in which 70% of Americans prefer a free-market economy. The fact that a "free-market economy" attracts substantially more support than "capitalism" may suggest some skepticism about whether capitalism in the United States today relies on free markets.

Other survey data supports that notion. Rather than seeing large corporations as committed to free markets, two-out-of-three Americans believe that big government and big business often work together in ways that hurt consumers and investors.

Fifteen percent (15%) of Americans say they prefer a government-managed economy, similar to the 20% support for socialism. Just 14% believe the federal government would do a better job running auto companies, and even fewer believe government would do a better job running financial firms.

Most Americans today hold views that can generally be defined as populist while only seven percent (7%) share the elitist views of the Political Class.

http://www.commondreams.org/further/2009/04/09

[slackmaster]

1. Without any information about trends, all this survey shows is that people become more capitalistic

As they get older. Which does not surprise me at all.

[Joanne98]

4. Or the older people remember a day when capitalism worked...

Before the Republicans took off the controls. Or before the Reagan revolution.

As far as people in their 30's go, those are the children of the Reagan revolution. A small generation stuck between two big ones.

I've noticed that generations that are alike in beliefs are separated by one.

World War 1 and boomers. World War 2 and Xer's. Boomer's and Millennium's.

The right had to disrupt historical norms to win this fight. They tried but couldn't make it. It's over.

WE WON!

[Deep13]

2. Capitalism isn't a belief, it is a practice.

A capitalist is one who owns the means of production. A worker bee who believes in capitalism is not a capitalist.

Frankly, I don't see the two points of view as being mutually exclusive. We can have a vibrant, capital-driven economy and still make sure everyone receives a fair share.

[wyldwolf]

3. this definitely comes from a misunderstanding of the terms

I'd wager most being polled don't know the true definition of "socialism," believing it to be what the GOP has redifined it as: "big government." And I'm sure they view "capitalism" negatively based on how it's been unregulated and effected them.

As your post indicates, Fifteen percent (15%) of Americans say they prefer a government-managed economy, similar to the 20% support for socialism. Just 14% believe the federal government would do a better job running auto companies, and even fewer believe government would do a better job running financial firms.

If those polled truly preferred socialism, the numbers of those preferring a government-managed economy would be much higher than 15%. The same could be said for those who believe the federal government would do a better job running auto companies.

[Joanne98]

5. You are right about the misunderstanding. Not surprising since the right has muddied the waters.

Still it's high in light of the extreme attack on socialism. I'm surprised even 15% are that brave. And remember people are still waiting to see the outcome of the bailouts. If they work these numbers will rise dramatically.

Thinking in terms of generations, this has been coming for decades. It's always been the Boomers verus World War 2. These numbers suggest the end of that fight.

[leftofthedial]

6. With rare and few exceptions,

we do not like, trust or approve of our political leaders; we do not like capitalism.

Why do we let DC and Wall Street control our lives?

[upi402]

7. Jesus was a socialist. His followers....

not so much.