Your Neighbor Hearts Socialism
by Bret Jacobson… at least that’s what the latest Gallup numbers would suggest: “Socialism Viewed Positively by 36% of Americans”
Ugh.
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369 Comments
I can't believe that poll. 20% of self-identified Conservatives have a positive view of socialism? Did they make these numbers up or did they only poll ultra-liberal areas?
http://factsarestubbornthings.net
These liberals that favor socialism should just be herded up put on a boat and taken to see Hugo.
The poll is likely accurate. The problem is that most people don't know what "socialism" actually means or what the history is. This is why we need to start educating ourselves, our children and others in order to save our country. Your children sure are not going to learn about the true meaning of freedom in school.
I think that when many people hear "Socialism" these day they think about Western Europe and its Socialist Parties. This is hardly Castroism.
Liberals make up the smallest percentage of Americans and the rest of Americans don't like Socialism, so why do these Socialist Liberals keep trying to cram this stuff down our throats? November election…HERE WE COME!
Well over 40% of the population do not pay taxes; why shouldn't they think socialism is a good thing?
The most disturbing part of this poll is the 20% favorable view among conservatives. How can you call yourself a conservative and have a favorable view of socialism? That makes no sense.
Simple solution?
If you don't pay taxes you don't vote.
If you are on welfare or another government handout then you don't vote.
This stops people from voting themselves money.
1 out of 5 'conservatives' view socialism favorably? we're f___ed…
36% of American's favor socialism?!
Good God! Are they insane! Really do these people read history?! The only thing worse than socialism is down right communism! Jeez it feels like my head is gonna explode. I'm gonna go take an aspirin.
But still! Really?!?! I knew part of this country is brain dead, heck a little more than half voted for Obama, but 36 percent?!
Okay I'm coming down from my shock but I gotta tell ya, this is one way I do NOT want to start a morning.
That's right. The poor and the rich don't have to pay taxes. It's us, what's left of the middle class in this country that pay for all of it.
Socialism = entitlement/re-distribution
You can't make a poor man rich by making a rich man poor.
The "Welfare Lobbyists"…there are millions of them!!!
58% of those polled don't favor it. What's the big deal? That's still a majority.
Perhaps a better poll would be to ask them to define socialism. That's always fun.
Scary stuff.
The only reason a person would support socialism is that you cant compete in the free market, they should call socialism the Losers Party. Plus I'd bet the supporters of socialism have no idea what socialism is.
It was on "The Man Show" and they sent out a boy scout to collect those signatures to end women's suffrage. Classic bit and hilarious. Only one woman started yelling at him, the rest signed right up. Hilarious!!!!
I can't imagine that this is a suprise to anyone who went to public ( or some private east and west coast ) schools or have had kids in them. There has been a co-ordinated effort over the last 25 years to paint socialism in a positive light. The efforts of the progressives are now being realized. We need to start pushing back and reclaiming our schools. If this is left alone for even one more generation you are going to see the results of a poll like this being over fifty percent. That fifty percent will be able to vote! Where will we be then?
I doubt over a third of our country has a favorable opinion of Socialism. More likely, about 15-20% (mainly far left liberals) see it as a good thing and the remaining 16% don't understand what Socialism truly means. The fact that any person that would classify themselves as conservative has a positive view of Socialism invalidates the seriousness of this survey. This survey would be more interesting if they asked those with positive feelings toward Socialism to name a prominent leader in a Socialist movement, disqualifying opinions by those that couldn't answer.
It is incredibly ironic that those whose ancestors were most affected by slavery now want everyone to be shackled and toil away on the Democrat Plantation.
I'm sorry, but if you are socialist…what the hell are you doing trying to change America?? Move to any of the already socialist countries. Lets start a fund for airfare for all of these socialists and ship them out. America is not based on Socialism, its based on Capitalistic Republican Democracy. If you don't like it, move, don't "fundamentally transform America".
Considering that's the very path that leads down the Road to Serfdom, it ain't exactly comforting, either.
I blame the propaganda from our state-run education system.
When are you morons going to realize there are no absolutes in life?
Some socialist policies work extremely well.
The national parks. The rights to access the use our lakes, rivers, and beaches.
And I suppose the republican Teddy Roosevelt was a socialist because of the national parks. How about it teabaggers, would Teddy be welcome in today's tea bag party?
God you people are stupid.
example of socialism
Venezuela had beautiful parks. Hugo got rid of the user fee. Results: No money to maintain the parks and now they are all overrun with weeds and falling apart.
The big deal is that the number can always get bigger. If that many can believe it this soon after the Cold War, 51% very well could one day in the not-so-distant future.
I am reminded of the Oprah visit to Denmark: <a>http://www.oprah.com/world/Oprah-Tours-a-Typical-...
This is what a 50% tax rate looks like. This is socialism.
The above posts make a good point – anyone thinking positive about socialism isn't thinking about how would it work here. You can compare Venezuela and Norway for a good comparison on how an idea can and can't work. I don't think socialism would work here – the government's useless as it is!
The Glenn Beck-ers want to go back to the founding fathers….the only people who could vote were white property owning males. Sounds like you would enjoy going back to that!
thanks to the current youth — the lost generation of public school educated americans — brainwashed by teacher unions, Sal Alinsky marxists community organizing tactics — e.g., Che, Mao, Marx et al…………..and then further reinforced by our Colleges and Universities all across USA……how did we let this happen???? Oh, I forgot…..we were all working extra long hours to make enough money to put our kids in the best schools…never knowing we were sending them to Marxist boot camps (public schools) every day. Shame on us, now we have to fight the system to stop this madness…………………take back our freedom.
"Results: No money to maintain the parks and now they are all overrun with weeds and falling apart."
God you people are stupid.
What do suppose those parks were like in centuries past? Could it be they had weeds growing in them and were falling apart? Kinda like nature works?
Every time I think I've seen top stupid for the day someone tops it.
This simply reinforces what we already discovered when Barack Obama was elected. A majority of Americans are clueless when it comes to politics. Much of this may have to do with the fact that our schools are teaching less and less about these subjects. Classes like "civics" are becoming a thing of the past and so having so little knowledge of the political processes and systems the younger generations are far more naive and easily dis-informed.
Perhaps if our educational system were as "comprehensive" as some of the bills our "representatives" try and force on us, the voters would considerably more discerning and free thinking.
It's all a matter of how you phrase the question.
If asked thusly:
How do you feel about living in a workers' paradise where your every need is met, there a chicken in every pot, pot in every bong, and kittens poop rainbows while riding unicorns?"
You are likely to get a fairly enthusiastic response, especially if the sample pool is Berkeley.
If however, it is phrased thus:
What do you think of the government treating you like a slave for half the year, if not more, your health care choices are made for you by bureaucrats, and no matter how far you run, drive, or fly, you are always in the middle of Milwaukee?
The reaction would be decidedly different.
…
Unless the sample pool is Berkeley.
Well there are lot of different reasons people identify themselves as conservative. Not everyone associates conservatism with free markets first and foremost. For the more religiously based, it might make sense. Socialism has always found a degree of sympathy from Christian philosophers.
Nooooooooooooooooooooo………………….it's that they are stupid and have NO idea what Socialism means. They don't even know that many European countries are Socialistic.
I would love to see the same graphs used to show donations to charity.
Correct, sensible99 !
The dumbing down of the American populace has been accomplished; for the most part. There has never been such a huge number of our populace this incredibly ignorant and yes, stupid.
Not to correct someone as smart as you, but Teddy was a progressive RINO. His policies, while not all bad, were mostly socialist. He is the one that started us down the path to socialism. Do I agree with national parks, nope, its not in the Constitution. Do I believe in state parks, absolutely. Read the Constitution and then you'll know that there is no room for socialism in the federal government.
Exactly right!
You can thank the the Left's iron-like grip of the public school systems for the out come of this poll.
Would that include those on Social Security?
Ponder a bit, before you answer that question, but here's a hint to steer you in the right direction…………most people over the age of 65 know what Socialism is and don't like it.
i think those are the rino's who are being smoked out. now i know there are more than 20% rino's, but some may have figured it out, and could lie.
The rich pay taxes, you moron!
Sure, some pay less taxes than you think they should; however, it all depends on just WHO you want to call "rich". Obama and Biden believe that "rich" starts at those earning, depending on which speech they're reading, $150,00, or $200,000, or even $250,000 a year. That's NOT "rich" and it isn't even UPPER MIDDLE CLASS.
The top 10% of tax payers ( which includes those making about $200,000 a year, which includes bank interest, BTW ) pay most of the taxes.
How bout an Island 1mile in diameter, and if we're lucky,
they'll sink!!
.
If democrats could stay in school and out of jail, they wouldn't need so much free stuff from the government.
Greedy people are the ones who sit on the couch smoking dope waiting for the government check to arrive.
.
is this an immigrant poll?
The sad fact is that there are a whole LOT of illeducated stupid out there. They don't know any history, political terminology is completely out of anything they know, let alone understand, and they just don't pay any attention to the news.
the problem with socialism: eventually you run out of other peoples money
A question I would like to see added to this poll.
Do you have a favorable impression with Socialism if you are NOT one of those in charge?
I think most of those with a favorable view of socialism are assuming that they will be in the "more equal than others" part.
Hasn't "philosophy" met "reality" yet?
There's something more going on here, and I suspect it's just plain old ignorance. Maybe when the pollster said "socialism", people heard "socializing".
That effort, in schools, goes back much farther than just one generation, or 25 years.
You're wrong about the best of private east coast schools ( I don't know enough about west coast ones to talk about them ) , many of which still not only teach the Constitution, but also the FEDERALIST PAPERS and the ANTI-FEDERALIST PAPERS, as well as far more than you know about.
Even MORE important than trying to get change in schools, parents need to stop abrogating their jobs and teach their children what's what !
Great post, Spanky2; you nailed it !
That would make it a better poll, I agree.
Want to see < B>STUPID, harpy ?
GO LOOK INTO THE NEAREST MIRROR !
And your potty mouth posts prove just what an imbecile you are. ;^)
Yes, harpy, every one of your replies is stupid beyond compare!
I think the results of the poll are misleading. If you were to ask that 36% what they think socialism means, I think they might describe social democracy. The constant misuse of the word by certain right wing media goons might have something to do with it.
Without personal attacks, tell me how what they set up is wrong. Also, please identify a BETTER basis for a system of government.
From 35 to 45% of what we earn is taken by some form of government in some form of tax.
I'm sorry, what did you say socialism is?
Bob:
I think Haiti is in need of new leadership…perhaps we could round up all 62 million Libs who voted for the "One" and their childen, give them a one way ticket, never permit re-entry to the USA and, Ba-Da-Boom Ba-Da-Bing!
Those poor folks down there need some help and are quite used to the "nanny state"
Robert, go back to MEDIAMATTERS…………….or are you from KosKids or HuffPo?
You're right about it going farther back than 25 years. And I wasn't lumping in all prive schools, just some. Just like there are still a few public schools that teach responsibly. Luckily here in the South they are still around but are becoming fewer and fewer.
"Results are based on telephone interviews with 972 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Jan. 26-27, 2010."
They still didn't say enough about the sample, it didn't say it was a "random" sample of people called on landlines or cell phones. I thought that was kind of odd. They could have called people who were members of some American socialist party for all I know, or called on area codes known to have high union memberships, democrats, left leaning college towns, etc.. bleh, I don't believe that many people would have a favorable opinion of socialism based on this unknown sample gathering. I think the pollsters would like us to believe socialism is gaining positive favor. Don't buy it…
Could, but don't currently. I guess I'm a uh…. cup is half full person? (I think that's how that idiom goes.)
Bret:
did the Gallup poll ask those who were polled if they possessed a deep and clear understanding of Socialism?
There ARE absolutes in life, jharp.
There's "absolute zero", for instance; the temperature at which molecular motion stops.
There's "absolute stupidity"; this is often demonstrated here by folks like yourself who manage the saturation of a comment with name-calling, non-sequiturs and factual errors made while completely missing the point of an article.
Go back to the basement and stop teabagging your dog.
So, you feel that Socialists should all live in caves and make fires with two sticks.
Go run with that, stupid.
Agreed. Any time I bring up the absolute failure of every socialist and communist government, I only get reassured that "they weren't doing it right". Of course they weren't doing it right. The only way to get socialism right is to not be human.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVsr-_-v2sI
The only way to save our republic is to replace congress!!!!
No one cares what you think something might mean in your fantasy land brain. It's a poll. There are numbers. they asked a question and got some answers. End of story.
.
Teddy would be appalled.
He'd shoot the ignorant commies who told him he'd now have to give the parks and mineral rights to the Chinese or everyone would have to spend the rest of their life working for the government to pay a national debt of 14 Trillion dollars.
.
Apparently not.
"How about it teabaggers, would Teddy be welcome in today's tea bag party?"
Probably not seeing that Theodor Roosevelt was a Progressive.
K-O!!!
Good schools are disappearing in the South, as fast as they are everywhere else.
Did you see what they want to do in one of the Carolinas? Sorry I forget which one, I didn't pay attention to whether it was North or South. Instead of teaching American history, from the beginning, in 9th grade, they want to begin it in 1877…………….1877, for crying out loud!
Thomas Dewey was behind pushing Socialism, as well as such crackpot notions as doing away withe bothering to teach penmanship, because he claimed that everyone word be using typewriters, of all things and THAT was more then 100 years ago.
I think most people when they think about socialism are thinking of a democratic welfare state – like many of the countries of western europe – and frankly – that is not too bad. In real life social democracy – there is an ongoing tension and interplay between market forces, social forces, and government forces. For a time – social forces, including labor, hold sway. Later, market forces assert themselves effecting how the the economy and the state are organized. It is very interactive and plauristic. And it is not what the simplistic vision of libertarians would have you believe.
I beg to differ. There may be absolute zero, and something like the speed of light may also be absolute, but there is probably no absolute stupidity.
Just when you think jharp has reached the pinacle of his abusiveness and idiocy, he'll find a way to surpass previous behavior.
You're right – most people have no idea of what "socialism" means. They probably don't have any idea what "communism" means either, except to say "I thought that went away when the Berlin Wall fell."
Really, this reminds me of those interviews (similar to another post) that Jay Leno used to do where he had someone ask random people on the street if they knew the name of the vice president. As I remember, even when these people were fed the name and given all kinds of hints, they still couldn't pinpoint it. So this doesn't surprise me at all. We have a hell of a mountain to climb, though, in terms of education, to get people to realize what it really means.
Keep making posts dude. It's just you give such a fine example that the stupidity of pro-Socialists is beyond reproach.
I'm not a "libertarian", know exactly what Socialism is, and you're an idiot; not to mention damned dead wrong, on all counts.
Socialism, in any form, doesn't work, is detrimental to every section of society, removes initiative, and isn't anything any American should perceive as benign.
Ladies and gentlemen, the first strawman of the thread.
The article said, "Respondents were not given explanations or descriptions of the terms."
I am in favor of democracy. And democracy is an evolving concept. First – just white males with property – then – all white males – then – all males – and then finally – all people. And at each step we have had to fight for increased rights. 1776 does not totally encompass the founders of the American democracy. These founders also include Fredrick Douglas, the Abolitionist and Martin Luther King. And my founders include Susan B. Anthony – the feminist and leader of the effort for women's vote. And my founders include Walter Reuther and the hundreds and thousands of leaders who founded the labor movement and gave working people a fair shake. And I am for the expansion of democracy to include economic democracy as well as political democracy. It is part of the expansion and evolution of democracy. Something our founding fathers in 1776 never contemplated and never could have contemplated.
Sure, Teddy R. would be invited to a Tea Party (your faulty nomenclature is supposed to be cute, right?). Even Teddy K. would be invited to a Tea Party. Would they show up? Doubtful, as they're Lib and Liberaler.
Teddy R. was indeed a big government RINO. That said, he was also a tough cuss who wasn't afraid of guns, fisticuffs, and dealing correctly with terrorists: "Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead!"
There have been red blooded Americans who have believed what I believe since the beginning our country. If you don't realize that – you are not looking around.
How much you wanna bet that most of the 36% of the pro-Socialists are in the 18-25 age range.
Because if it is my generation is so screwed!
I don't think my last comment posted, if it did I apologize in advance for the double post. The article said, "Respondents were not given explanations or descriptions of the terms."
that 20% needs to be put in the Dem/Lib/Prog pile, assuming it is based on self-identification, they've self-identified themselves out of being conservative.
It's not too bad until the birth rate drops so low that you have to import unassimilated Muslims from places like Algeria and Turkey to fill in the work force and wake up one day to find your country has disappeared and you're basically a stranger in your homeland.
It's not too bad until you have a permanent 10 percent unemployment rate because your population would rather sit around on the dole than take an entry-level job.
It's not too bad until your entrepreneurs are the first ones who emigrate because they believe they can make a lot more money starting a business in Dubai or Hong Kong or Costa Rica.
Western Europe is absolutely the wrong model. We're probably better off being Venezuela – at least if you're Venezuela the people get fed up and have a revolution in relatively short order. Western Europe is more like a slow death.
No, it PREDATES the beginning of this nation and was not just found wanting, b ut horrod and abolished.
The Mass. Bay colony tried out collectivism and it failed, failed badly; as it ALWAYS does. Some people did as littl;e as possible, while others worked as hard as they could and the outcome was equally divided. Those who had worked hard were furious and rebelled. This little experience was then stopped and everyone went back to the way things REALLY work and that was the end of that !
Obviously you don't know much history at all !
You believe CRAP, so why should anyone believe a single thing you post, when it's all utter garbage?
Are you even an American citizen?
Socialism, of any stripe, is NOT freedom; it is SLAVERY.
tell him that's what goes to the "Obama stash."
So 36% have a postivie view of socialism, thats only a third. Where's the beef? I mean, 42% of Republicans think Obama was not born in America. Its easy to see who sits on the throne of idiocy in this country. And besides, the right has done well in defining Obama as a socialist, so if one has a positive view of Obama is it not natural to also have a postive view of socialism? Unintended consequences.
Ask them if they like Hitler or Stalin or any of the other Socialists / Dictators / Marxist and then ask them the question!
You're blaming the wrong propaganda.
But take your low hanging fruit, good right wing lemming.
I really distrust Gallup as a reliable pollster and have for several years. They never really disclose how the questions are framed to those being polled. In this case they didn't seem to do a random sample or disclose how they chose their sample upfront. They said national sample, but what states and cities did they call? How many from each of these locations? They can easily skew the results to make something look like a popular trend if they choose to, all they have to do then is get the dis-info passed into the media. Few people question how these surveys are conducted or hold them accountable for honesty. The media just passes it off as valid without question. I suspect your generation is going to be ok.
If your generations is not ok then we are all screwed. I was born at the end of the baby boom generation, do you know how tired I have been steppin in the poop some of those asshats have left for the rest of us? 
Excellent point. Given Obama's approval about 48% that puts about 12% between positive socialism view and O approval. Easily within margin of error to match your numbers.
Honestly, the right has ruined the definition of socialism by using it so viruently as an attack word on anything the government is involved with.
Maybe you're right. I may have wanted to use "consistent" instead of "absolute". I think I could still say that jharp's comments are absolutely, consistently stupid, but maybe it is more proper to say that they are consistently absolutely stupid?
I wish Wm F Buckley were around to be asked.
Oh man I could only imagine. I was born, well more like conceived after my dad came home from Desert Storm. So I was a newborn for the last seven months of Bush Sr 's administration so the first President I really remember was Clinton. *shudders*
I do remember cheering for Bush Jr. during the 2000 election, mostly cause my parents told me he was the good guy. But by 2004 I well much more well versed in the issues of the election then. The economy was really a back-seat issue for me since I was far more interested in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (being from a military family and all).
Today I've seemed to have made a total 180 on the priority of issues. But at least I gotten the best of both worlds when it comes to issue. Militarily back then and currently Economic. It's not to say that I don't care about Afghanistan and Iraq. I do remember screaming at the T.V. when Obama was taking so long to decide to put forces into Afghanistan. To me that's a 'no-brainier' decision, give them what they need NOW! But I digress.
Right now its the economy and we definitely do NOT need socialism!
Hoping to bang a hippy chick probably.
Forget the liberals; what I want to know is, who are these 20% of "conservatives" that view socialism positively?!
Yeah, like Alger Hiss, Julius Rosenberg, Tom Hayden…wait a minute…
The "rich" pay 90% of the taxes to the Feds. The "middle class" pays the other 10%. The "poor", if you want to call a family with only 1, instead of 2 flat screen tv's, but also having at least 1 car and a place to live, "poor", are paying "0%". At least you got half of it right.
Your reasoning that a Public Park is by definition socialism is a canard.
A police department is not socialism. A Government building is not socialism. A road is not socialism.
All of these things existed in Ancient Greece. In Monarchies. And in Totalitarian states.
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