Poll: Majority of Democrats are Socialists

[Drake Tungsten]

**** you, Thoth.

[Thoth]

[Kidlicious]

I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but come on folks...

Socialism Viewed Positively by 36% of Americans

More than one-third of Americans (36%) have a positive image of "socialism," while 58% have a negative image. Views differ by party and ideology, with a majority of Democrats and liberals saying they have a positive view of socialism, compared to a minority of Republicans and conservatives. ...

Socialism had the lowest percentage positive rating and the highest negative rating of any term tested. Still, more than a third of Americans say they have a positive image of socialism.

Exactly how Americans define "socialism" or what exactly they think of when they hear the word is not known. The research simply measures Americans' reactions when a survey interviewer reads the word to them -- an exercise that helps shed light on connotations associated with this frequently used term.

There are significant differences in reactions to "socialism" across ideological and partisan groups:

* A majority of 53% of Democrats have a positive image of socialism, compared to 17% of Republicans.

* Sixty-one percent of liberals say their image of socialism is positive, compared to 39% of moderates and 20% of conservatives.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/125645/So...Americans.aspx

I figured you for one of those who say that the US is a socialist country. Why then do 58% of USians hate America?

[Dauphin]

Not really. Socialism is a ponzi scheme. It pays off for a while, then the promised payouts exceed the accumulated receipts. They ones who voted it in reap the benefits, and future generations pay out the wazoo.

Depends on your definition of socialism. I don't see unemployment benefits, maternity pay or similar benefits as being a ponzi scheme.

On the other hand, pension payments, healthcare and other age related benefits in an aging population are effectively ponzi schemes. If age demographics weren't shifting, it is less clear to me whether it would be a Ponzi scheme - it depends on how funding and payouts are structured. It could be that you can pay the benefits indefinitely in a conveyor belt system.

[Drake Tungsten]

I figured you for one of those who say that the US is a socialist country.

The US is clearly not a socialist country, even by the expansive definition common on the American right-wing. Obama was attempting to push the country in a more social-democratic ("socialist") direction, but it looks like he has failed.

[Theben]

Gay texans are awesome. Don't mess with gay texans. Everything is big down there... in Texas. And gay texans are routinely discriminated against, which I will go into great detail in the next 36 posts of mine- in reality will be c&p of articles in which I only add 1 or 2 sentences of personal opinion.

[Riesstiu IV]

Are you calling me gay?

[GePap]

How do 20% of self-style conservatives (a full fifth of them) justify having a positive view of whatever they think of when the word socialism is said? That is far dumber than anyone who styles themselves as Liberal having a positive view of whatever they think of when the word socialism is said.

[notyoueither]

What makes one conservative, GePap?

[Darius871]

How do 20% of self-style conservatives (a full fifth of them) justify having a positive view of whatever they think of when the word socialism is said? That is far dumber than anyone who styles themselves as Liberal having a positive view of whatever they think of when the word socialism is said.

Not really; that 20% could have been those people who think the word "conservative" means nothing more than bible-thumping, and thus couldn't care less about who has the means of production. So long as Roe gets overturned, gays don't marry, creation gets taught in schools, kids pray in schools, etc. etc. etc., y'all can nationalize industries and redistribute wealth as much as you damned well please for all I care.

[Theben]

Are you calling me gay?

Where are you located in? Pretty much says it all.

[Riesstiu IV]

Texas, the straightest state in the union. Everyone here is a manly man.

[Theben]

1st of all, steers n' queers. 2nd, your 'location' sez in "a mentally retarded man". I don't care who you bugger, but when you advertise it it's hard not to notice.

[Straybow]

[Q=GePap;5747678]How do 20% of self-style conservatives (a full fifth of them) justify having a positive view of whatever they think of when the word socialism is said? That is far dumber than anyone who styles themselves as Liberal having a positive view of whatever they think of when the word socialism is said.[/Q] Fiscal conservative social liberals. True, they are oxymorons because whenever the fiscal part conflicts with the social part they always choose the social. But they like to think of themselves as conservatives, because they still hold a poor view of the radical parts of socialism.