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A 2011 Pew Research poll found that half the general population of the US respond 'positively' to 'capitalism' (only 40% are 'negative' about it), while only 30% respond positively to 'socialism' (and 60% are 'negative').
But the most recent group to move into voting age - those aged 18-29 in 2011 - have a markedly different perspective: support for 'capitalism' has fallen to 46% (and is now lower than opposition, at 47%), while virtually half now have a positive view of 'socialism' (and only 42% oppose it).
Of course, there could be various ways of reading all this. Does it imply that Americans are becoming much more left-wing, and, if trends persist, may completely re-think their economic system? Or is it more that 'socialism', which to children of the cold war was associated with the totalitarianism of the USSR, is by the younger generation more likely to be associated with more moderate interventions like increases to the minimum wage or universal healthcare?
I'm thinking there will be further moves toward socialism, but not because of the younger demographic - it'll be because the formerly comfortable middle class boomers and GenXers are living longer without the money to do so, some because of choice (laziness), but more often because they've been rendered economically non-viable/non-employable as they hit their 50s. Entitlements to seniors will keep going up and up as this group will remain one of the largest active voting blocks for the next 20-30 years and this will become the basis for different social programs to try and protect what's left of the still employable middle class.
At thea rate we are taxed at and our income distributed we are already socialist and have been so for a half a century. We are socialist in denial.
This is interesting. So, in your understanding, socialism is when governments impose taxes.
This is not the same as Soviet socialism of course - in which, by and large, it wasn't a matter of governments imposing taxes, but rather of them owning companies directly.
It would be interesting to know which of the above Americans of different ages think of first when the think of 'socialism'.
And another thing it would be interesting to know - if Americans wanted (for argument's sake!) to bring in socialism, would that mean that capitalism would have to be got rid of, or can the two co-exist?
I simply think this means that the younger generation understands that we truly have a mixed economy that includes socialist aspects so socialism in and of itself isn't this great evil to be avoided like the plague--and might even be seen as a check on unfettered capitalism.
I would bet with 99% certainty that their idea of socialism is wildly inaccurate. Just as the poster above me proved.
So you mean, younger Americans are more amenable to socialism because they (mistakenly?) associate it with fairly mild changes to the systems that presently exist in the US (which are not what socialism is really about)?
Or, that older Americans oppose socialism [and they do very strongly, by 72% to 12% for those 65+] because they associate it with Stalin and Mao (who, some would argue, were not practicing what most socialists would advocate)?
A 2011 Pew Research poll found that half the general population of the US respond 'positively' to 'capitalism' (only 40% are 'negative' about it), while only 30% respond positively to 'socialism' (and 60% are 'negative').
This is because most Americans have been conditioned to believe that Socialism=pure evil. Even the word 'Socialism' might as well be considered profanity in some areas of the country.
And that's a shame because it seems to me that the accusatory tone in which some people throw around the terms 'socialist' or 'socialism' then makes it easier to vilify the poor.
So you mean, younger Americans are more amenable to socialism because they (mistakenly?) associate it with fairly mild changes to the systems that presently exist in the US (which are not what socialism is really about)?
Or, that older Americans oppose socialism [and they do very strongly, by 72% to 12% for those 65+] because they associate it with Stalin and Mao (who, some would argue, were not practicing what most socialists would advocate)?
Both. But they both have misconceptions as you pointed out. Especially those who think Obama is a socialist or that we're becoming a socialist country now. The term seems to be thrown around very carelessly.
At thea rate we are taxed at and our income distributed we are already socialist and have been so for a half a century. We are socialist in denial.
I'm guessing you're from a middle class background.
If you were poor, you would know that income is not really distributed very widely. Nobody is getting rich off food stamps. The arts and our schools are struggling to stay afloat. Philadelphia public schools no longer have libraries. Soldiers who are risking their lives for our country are being paid peanuts, and are cheated out of a college education.
If you were rich, you would not being complaining about paying a 15% income tax, far lower that the middle- and upper-middle classes.
More and more middle-class people are sliding into poverty, yet the middle class seems to think it's the fault of the poor.
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