Socialism Viewed Positively by 36% of Americans per Gallup

Bullet1987

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Sat Feb-06-10 06:13 PM
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Socialism Viewed Positively by 36% of Americans per Gallup

PRINCETON, NJ -- 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" was one of seven terms included in a Jan. 26-27 Gallup poll. Americans were asked to indicate whether their top-of-mind reactions to each were positive or negative. Respondents were not given explanations or descriptions of the terms.

Americans are almost uniformly positive in their reactions to three terms: small business, free enterprise, and entrepreneurs. They are divided on big business and the federal government, with roughly as many Americans saying their view is positive as say it is negative. Americans are more positive than negative on capitalism (61% versus 33%) and more negative than positive on socialism (36% to 58%)...

...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/Socialism-Viewed-Positively-Americans.aspx?version=print">Gallup Poll

This is an interesting poll. I'm sure that number wasn't that high even when Bush left office. As the economy gets worse and worse, people begin to look for alternative views and news ways of looking at things. The public does this much quicker than the elite do. This poll destroys the myth that this is a center-right country. It doesn't prove we're center-left either, but it does prove the Left is a much bigger force than the Democratic Party gives credit to...or the MSM. I really think it's US LIBERALS that's the sleeping giant. Not the Teabaggers.

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Cassandra

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Sat Feb-06-10 06:15 PM
Response to Original message

1. It's not really that Americans like socialism as much as...

they like policies that the right keeps identifying as socialism.

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baldguy

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Sat Feb-06-10 06:18 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Free & fair elections, making corporations responsable & telling the truth?

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Smarmie Doofus

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Sat Feb-06-10 06:19 PM
Response to Original message

3. My guess is that 36% can define it. nt

Edited on Sat Feb-06-10 06:20 PM by Smarmie Doofus

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Bullet1987

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Sat Feb-06-10 06:26 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. If they unify under one banner yes they could

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iceman66

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Sat Feb-06-10 06:32 PM
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5. That's probably more than support teabagger-ism

So when is the damn 'liberal media' going to hype a Socialist convention???

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Sanity Claws

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Sat Feb-06-10 06:55 PM
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6. That's what I was thinking too

I never hear any reporting on socialism but so much on teabaggers, birthers, and other rightwing fringe groups that are much smaller.

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krabigirl

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Sat Feb-06-10 07:40 PM
Response to Reply #6

9. it actually is...I think 33% support the teabaggers

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4lbs

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Sat Feb-06-10 06:59 PM
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7. I once explained the concepts of Socialism to an acquaintance of mine, He was one of those

die-hard Republicans that saw a Communist lurking behind every liberal hippie and a Fascist behind every government worker. He also hated the rich and powerful, the elite.

Without using the word Socialism, or any "-ism" term, I told him what it entails. He was all for it, even said that's how we should operate.

Then I told him that was what Socialism was, and he had a dumbfounded look on his face, then said meekly, "really?"

Yes, really.

My triumph was short lived though, since he went back to railing against Communism, Fascism, and yes, Socialism, a few days later.

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bvar22

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Sat Feb-06-10 07:23 PM
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8. Sarah Palin was the biggest "Socialist" governor in the USA.

Edited on Sat Feb-06-10 07:25 PM by bvar22

While Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin RAISED TAXES on Oil Corporations, and used a percentage of these proceeds to give a check to every Alaskan, in addition to funding State social programs and education.
Imagine That!
Redistributing the PROFITS of the HUGE Corporations to The People!!!

If Sarah would promise to do this as President, I would consider voting for her.

I wonder if Sarah Palin or any of her followers can define "Socialism"?

On Edit:
"That check will come on top of the annual dividend of about $2,000 that each resident could receive this year from an oil-wealth savings account."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html

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elocs

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Sat Feb-06-10 08:17 PM
Response to Original message

10. Yes, that was posted here 2 days ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7641810

That thread included nice graphs as well.

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avaistheone1

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Sun Feb-07-10 03:12 AM
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11. I imagine if more understood it and were

familiar with how successful socialistic democracies are for example in Europe - the numbers who view socialism positively would probably be more like 65%.

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LatteLibertine

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Sun Feb-07-10 01:18 PM
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12. Honestly

I don't care what label they slap upon it, I'm for economic and social justice.

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Name removed

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Wed Feb-10-10 06:47 AM
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13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Vinca

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Wed Feb-10-10 07:58 AM
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14. If Americans actually knew what socialism was, the number would be higher.

Who would have thought grandma's Medicare was a socialist plot?

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