Gallup: Four in 10 Americans embrace some form of socialism...

[posty 2,296]

https://news.gallup.com/poll/257639/four-americans-embrace-form-socialism.aspx

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans today are more closely divided than they were earlier in the last century when asked whether some form of socialism would be a good or bad thing for the country. While 51% of U.S. adults say socialism would be a bad thing for the country, 43% believe it would be a good thing. Those results contrast with a 1942 Roper/Fortune survey that found 40% describing socialism as a bad thing, 25% a good thing and 34% not having an opinion.

The Roper/Fortune survey is one of the oldest trend questions measuring attitudes on socialism in the U.S. Gallup's update of the question in an April 17-30 survey finds Americans more likely to have an opinion on the matter now, as well as a smaller gap in the percentage calling socialism a bad thing vs. a good thing.

Previous Gallup research shows that Americans' definition of socialism has changed over the years, with nearly one in four now associating the concept with social equality and 17% associating it with the more classical definition of having some degree of government control over the means of production. A majority of Democrats have said they view socialism positively in Gallup polling since 2010, including 57% in the most recent measure in 2018.

The April 17-30 survey also updates another historical question on socialism. Gallup first asked Americans in 1949 about their outlook on the spread of democracy over the next 50 years. At that time, seven in 10 Americans (72%) predicted that most countries in the world would have a democratic government. It's important to note that in much of the political rhetoric of the time, the terms democracy and capitalism were more intimately intertwined than they are today, perhaps synonymous to many.

The current update on this question finds a marked increase in the percentage saying that most countries during the next 50 years will have a socialist government (29%). It is unclear whether this is due to the flourishing of democracies -- particularly in Europe and Latin America -- led by what are often described as social democrats, or whether a fundamental shift is taking place among some Americans in their views of socialism.

In the same April survey, Gallup asked Americans whether they would prefer mostly free market or government control over several economic and societal activities. Americans are most likely to prefer free market control in the areas of technological innovation and the distribution of wealth. Majorities also want the free market to drive the economy overall, wages, higher education and healthcare.

Preference for the government to serve as the primarily responsible actor only garners majority support for protecting online consumer privacy and the environment.

Notably, more Americans favor free market than government control over healthcare and higher education, two areas in which Democratic politicians have made proposals to greatly expand government involvement. But at least four in 10 Americans appear sympathetic to policies that would increase the government's role in those areas.

While there is ample support for a market-driven approach to many of the issues cited above, Americans are divided on how they describe the current state of the U.S. economy. When asked whether they think the U.S. economy leans more toward free market control or toward government control, 40% say it leans more toward government control while fewer say it leans toward free market control (34%). One in four describe it as an equal mix.

Americans' views on socialism are complex. While some recent data can easily lend to overstated conclusions, there are marked changes in Americans' views of socialism when taking a longer, more historical look at the data. However, exactly what Americans mean by the term is nuanced and multifaceted. While half of Americans consider socialism as bad for the country, nearly two-thirds say that the U.S. economy is more influenced by the government than the free market, or that it reflects an equal mix of the two.

Additionally, while a majority of Democrats view socialism positively, that is not a major change in the eight years Gallup has tracked this metric. The major shift over this time has been the reduced rate of Democrats who now view capitalism positively (47%).

These data alone make it hard to generalize a simplistic conclusion about Americans' opinions of, and willingness to entertain, socialism. But there are a few clear takeaways. About four in 10 Americans are accepting of some form of socialism or socialist policies, and Democrats currently have a more positive view of socialism than capitalism. In addition, the April survey found that 47% of Americans say they would vote for a socialist candidate for president. While that figure represents nearly half of the U.S. adult population, even higher percentages say they would vote for an atheist (58%) or Muslim (60%) presidential candidate.

However, when they are asked what role they would like to see the government play in certain areas of society, Americans continue to endorse the free market.

Shifting attitudes about socialism, capitalism, and the current economic and political systems in America -- as well as what alternatives many see as solutions for current shortcomings -- will continue to be a major focus for Gallup.

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Doesn't surprise me any more since there are more and more people that want free handouts and don't want to work to succeed in life and just be a lazy ass and a burden to society...

[TimmySmith 2,782]

Should be 100%.  Consider all our taxes pay for something that someone embraces.  And we all embrace our military, and our judicial system, whether we admit it or not.

[RLLD 3,455]

This makes me sad....

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

When you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always count on the support of Paul.

With about 40% of the lower half of the country not paying much if any in taxes, I'm not surprised.

[wiffleball 4,635]

Isn't America's largest direct employer still the federal government? Then you add in companies and contractors on the federal Dole. And then add in our military - directly and through massive jobs programs via a trillion bucks in D spending.

At this point, I think it's just a matter of how many people take a bite out of the check between the federal government and the individual.

I mean s***, Trump already spent 12 billion dollars to pay Farmers not to farm. Now he wants another 15 billion dollars for the same thing. I remember when we used to laugh at the Russians for doing that.

 

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

https://dailycaller.com/2019/05/21/poll-democrats-socialism-good/

Speaking of the lower half..............70% of Dems support socialism. 

[posty 2,296]

1 minute ago, Filthy Fernadez said:

https://dailycaller.com/2019/05/21/poll-democrats-socialism-good/

Speaking of the lower half..............70% of Dems support socialism. 

NSFW please!!!

Damn that is one serious horse-face picture...

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

Just now, posty said:

NSFW please!!!

Damn that is one serious horse-face picture...

Can you imagine putting your peemus anywhere near those choppers?!

[sderk 1,040]

As long as the 6 out of 10 go out and vote.

[Baker Boy 1,484]

1 hour ago, TimmySmith said:

Should be 100%.  Consider all our taxes pay for something that someone embraces.  And we all embrace our military, and our judicial system, whether we admit it or not.

Because that is what happens under Socialism.

[DonS 3,066]

1 hour ago, posty said:

NSFW please!!!

Damn that is one serious horse-face picture...

It's the Baba Yaga!!!! 

[drobeski 3,061]

We should abort them 

[MDC 5,890]

Judging from the Geek Club people have no idea what socialism even is.

[RLLD 3,455]

 

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

1 hour ago, MDC said:

Judging from the Geek Club people have no idea what socialism even is.

I'd wager almost 40% of the U.S. population doesn't know either hence the support for that failed system.

[MDC 5,890]

2 minutes ago, Filthy Fernadez said:

I'd wager almost 40% of the U.S. population doesn't know either hence the support for that failed system.

Yep. Republicans have spent 30 years calling everything from a progressive tax code and employee / consumer protections to single payer healthcare “socialism.” No wonder America thinks it likes socialism now. 

[12th Man 884]

1 hour ago, MDC said:

Judging from the Geek Club people have no idea what socialism even is.

Please enlighten us secretary. 

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

1 hour ago, MDC said:

Judging from the Geek Club people have no idea what a creme crepe tastes like..........

[edjr 5,552]

I am for free everything, just don't tax me for it. Leave it up to church donations

[MTSkiBum 1,593]

 

This poll shows that almost 80% of American's support socialism.

https://www.nasi.org/learn/social-security/public-opinions-social-security

 

[lickin_starfish 1,479]

3 minutes ago, MTSkiBum said:

 

This poll shows that almost 80% of American's support socialism.

https://www.nasi.org/learn/social-security/public-opinions-social-security

 

I just want the money that the Government stole from me over the years. I was never asked if I wanted to participate in Social Security.

[EternalShinyAndChrome 2,513]

I say we send all those people that support socialism to Venezuela where they can experience it in it's full glory!!!

[edjr 5,552]

1 minute ago, lickin_starfish said:

I just want the money that the Government stole from me over the years. I was never asked if I wanted to participate in Social Security.

What about the poor (single) focks that pay in and die before 65.

[TBayXXXVII 2,108]

40 minutes ago, MDC said:

Yep. Republicans have spent 30 years calling everything from a progressive tax code and employee / consumer protections to single payer healthcare “socialism.” No wonder America thinks it likes socialism now. 

Did you get that from CNN?

[supermike80 1,285]

Polls are dumb and worthless.

Say this 1000 times and repeat.  

[RaiderHaters Revenge 3,569]

4 out of 10 don’t understand the difference between socialism and social programs

[Kanil 519]

7 hours ago, TimmySmith said:

Should be 100%.  Consider all our taxes pay for something that someone embraces.  And we all embrace our military, and our judicial system, whether we admit it or not.

This.  It's hard to have an opinion on this as they don't say what "some form of socialism" means in the article.

[MDC 5,890]

4 minutes ago, RaiderHaters Revenge said:

4 out of 10 don’t understand the difference between socialism and social programs

Based on the GC I’d say it’s at least 9/10.

[RLLD 3,455]

5 hours ago, Kanil said:

This.  It's hard to have an opinion on this as they don't say what "some form of socialism" means in the article.

There are essentially two forms, and often it rides on various forms of capitalism

[JustinCharge 2,397]

Bad poll.  You need to ask the 1942 definition of socialism ONLY, which was government control of the means of production.  You cannot change the definition, get a different result, and say ah-ha opinions have changed in one direction.  We might actually see a drop in support of the 1942 definition, who knows.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

Include public schools, and damn near everyone supports some form of socialism. 

[TimmySmith 2,782]

10 hours ago, riversco said:

Bad poll.  You need to ask the 1942 definition of socialism ONLY, which was government control of the means of production.  You cannot change the definition, get a different result, and say ah-ha opinions have changed in one direction.  We might actually see a drop in support of the 1942 definition, who knows.

Unlikely.  The government has great control over means of production rights now.  They control who you can hire, they control regulation, they control where and who you can sell to.  That they don't actually own the plant means very little.

[MDC 5,890]

I was at the gym last night and saw Tucker was doing some segment on this poll. He looked real mad. The irony is that guys like Tucker are largely responsible for expanding the definition of “socialism” to include every policy (progressive taxes, corporate oversight, social welfare, gun control etc.) they don’t like. Now Tucker is no doubt whining that a significant chunk of people support some policies that fall under the enormous tent he helped define. 

Dude is a straight up blowhard pseudo intellectual carny barker. He is really good at separating stupid people from their $ though.

[iam90sbaby 2,122]

7 hours ago, titans&bucs&bearsohmy! said:

Include public schools, and damn near everyone supports some form of socialism. 

I support public schools, but not federally funded public schools. I’d rather them be funded by the state/county you’re in like it was prior to 1979. We’ve gotten dumber and dumber every years since federally funded schools became a thing. 

Swing and a miss by another dumba$$ Democrat 

[EternalShinyAndChrome 2,513]

4 hours ago, MDC said:

I was at my gay Turkish bathhouse last night and saw Tucker was doing some segment on this poll. He looked real mad. The irony is that guys like Tucker are largely responsible for expanding the definition of “socialism” to include every policy (progressive taxes, corporate oversight, social welfare, gun control etc.) they don’t like. Now Tucker is no doubt whining that a significant chunk of people support some policies that fall under the enormous tent he helped define. 

Dude is a straight up blowhard pseudo intellectual carny barker. He is really good at separating stupid people from their $ though.

yeah, ok. 

[sderk 1,040]

4 hours ago, MDC said:

He is really good at separating stupid people from their $ though.

So you are broke now?

[MDC 5,890]

3 hours ago, EternalShinyAndChrome said:

yeah, ok. 

MDCDS