53% of Americans say capitalism is better than socialism

[PoWR]

Here's a new Rasmussen Reports poll (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/just_53_say_capitalism_better_than_socialism) that could mean nightmares for Joe The Plumber: According to Rasmussen, just 53 percent of those asked say capitalism is a better system than socialism.

Twenty percent, meanwhile, said socialism is better. The remaining 27 percent weren't sure.

Among those under 30, the support for capitalism is even weaker. Thirty-seven percent prefer capitalism, 33 percent favor socialism, and 30 percent are undecided.

"Republicans - by an 11-to-1 margin - favor capitalism," note the pollsters. "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."

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/09/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4931888.shtml

[KurtFF8]

Wow very interesting. I wouldn't expect it to be that low. Granted of course if most of that 53% actually understood what was meant by the capitalist mode of production they may rethink it a bit. But considering how Americans are educated about Capitalism and Socialism, this is quite surprising.

[Die Neue Zeit]

This is a very confusing poll. Some of the 53% who support capitalism may indeed be using the proper definitions of capitalism and socialism (and may even be "social-democrats"). Some in the minority may be "social-democrats."

[ZeroNowhere]

I believe that DancingLarry already posted this.


"Democrats are much more closely divided: Just 39% say capitalism is better while 30% prefer socialism."
Yeah... I don't think so. I don't think that we should treat this poll with much credibility, it would only be possible to do a creditable poll on this by specifying on what you mean by 'socialism' (or just not using the word and replacing it with a description, I suppose). Otherwise, especially after the last election, you'll just end up with a load of reformists calling themselves 'socialists'.

[Psy]

Here's a new Rasmussen Reports poll (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/just_53_say_capitalism_better_than_socialism) that could mean nightmares for Joe The Plumber: According to Rasmussen, just 53 percent of those asked say capitalism is a better system than socialism.

Twenty percent, meanwhile, said socialism is better. The remaining 27 percent weren't sure.

Among those under 30, the support for capitalism is even weaker. Thirty-seven percent prefer capitalism, 33 percent favor socialism, and 30 percent are undecided.

"Republicans - by an 11-to-1 margin - favor capitalism," note the pollsters. "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."

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/09/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4931888.shtml

This mostly shows disillusionment with the capitalists crisis then anything else.

[KurtFF8]

This mostly shows disillusionment with the capitalists crisis then anything else.

Indeed. I doubt that much of the 53% that said they support capitalism are social democrats, however. Social Democrats in the United States tend to confuse the word socialism with Social Democracy (this is partially a result of Bernie Sanders, and also the conception that Western European social democracy is "socialist")

[PoWR]

Exactly. It's fair to guess that many or even most of the people who said they supported socialism don't know exactly what it means.

But what you're ignoring is that only 53% of those polled voiced support for capitalism. People know capitalism is the present system. That means 47% of the population is open and even looking for another system to replace it. That's a big opening that represents a large shift in consciousness.

Also keep in mind that "socialism" has been one of the most popular search terms for the last 6 months or so. Millions of people have search it. The first result when you google that term is the wiki entry for it which begins "Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating public or state ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and a society characterized by equality for all individuals, with a fair or egalitarian method of compensation. Modern socialism originated in the late 19th-century intellectual and working class political movement that criticized the effects of industrialization and private ownership on society. Karl Marx posited that socialism would be achieved via class struggle and a proletarian revolution, and would represent a transitional stage between the capitalist and communist modes of production."

I'm sure at least some of the people saying they support socialism are going from that (or a similar definition, found elsewhere).

The biggest reason so many people in the U.S. are confused about the meaning of socialism isn't that they're stupid or reactionary. The schools and media confuse the issue all the time and there is no real organized presence advocating socialism (other than a scattering of sects) to which people can identify it. The left bears a lot of the responsibility.

[Rosa Provokateur]

Its because all the "examples" like China, the USSR, Cuba, N. Korea, all suck. The other side of the double-edged sword is that if done in a viable manner it has to be small/local and then cant get any attention in order to be recognized.

[Dr Mindbender]

Theres a thread about this already in OI, can they be merged, please?

[Psy]

The biggest reason so many people in the U.S. are confused about the meaning of socialism isn't that they're stupid or reactionary. The schools and media confuse the issue all the time and there is no real organized presence advocating socialism (other than a scattering of sects) to which people can identify it. The left bears a lot of the responsibility.

Schools don't even properly explain feudalism as a class system.