http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/04/socialism-gaining-ground-in-america.html
--------------------------------------snip
Rasmussen just released the results of a recent poll on political
attitudes. It found only 53% clearly preferred capitalism (hat tip
reader David H):
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.
Yves here, Not surprising results break along income lines (investing
being a rough proxy for income). Back to the article:
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...
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.
Yves again. The phrase "free markets" should be banned. It is a
slippery, ill defined concept, and perversely conflates "freedom"
(lack of restrictions) with "markets" which rely on laws (even
Friedman would grant that) and exchange. A market with no rules is a
brawl (think of drug dealers, who operate outside the law. deal in
often adulterated goods, and contracts are often enforced via
violence). It is a brilliant bit of Newspeak. Back to the article:
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.
Yves here. See, everyone fell for the advertising. "Free markets"
means the advantages accrue to the big and powerful, but its promoters
managed to sell it to libertarians, who somehow bought that this
construct would help the little guy. Sorry, you were had.
-raghu.
--
"Last night my friend drank 26 bottles of O'Douls... He is a non-alcoholic."
- Mitch Hedberg
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