A recent Rasmussen Reports survey states only 53% of Americans think capitalism is better than socialism.
I am not entirely sure what to make of that, not least because: "The question posed by Rasmussen Reports did not define either capitalism or socialism."
At the very least, some of those polled might not think socialism is a dirty word.
(Hat tip SWP blogger Richard Seymour.)
Problem is, as evidenced by the recent cover of Newsweek, most Americans equate socialism with even the most trivial of government regulation. This delusion is so severe that Mike Huckabee could say that "Lenin and Stalin" would "love" the recent 'bailouts' and one liberal columnist could write that Bush traded in Karl Rove for Karl Marx.
ReplyDeleteyou can also hear on liberal talk radio (as I have, unfortunately) the notion that whenever something is undertaken for a reason other than profit, that that's "socialism." Thus roads prove that America is "part socialist."
Anyhow, this poll really doesn't inspire any more hope in me than the months and months of right-wing ranting about Obama the Marxist.
Anyhow, you guys already pointed out the weakness in the poll, so I guess I'm not really adding much. :)
Are American's becoming socialists? I don't believe so.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that a growing number of Americans have no idea what real socialism is. Browsing around - I've seen hundreds of definitions for it, few of them accurate.
"spreading the wealth around" is not socialism. That's simply screwed up taxation.
Socialism is when government takes ownership completely away from a business owner and then decides what everyone in the company should make.
And we are indeed headed that way.
When government officials - like Obama or his underlings - presume to fire a CEO and hire someone in it's place...... an act that has no basis in law..... you are well on your way to socialism.
When banks beg to give bailout money back - but the government tells them they cant.... That is socialism.
When the government begins deciding what executives in a company can make... that's socialism.
All of which have transpired in the past few months.
So the American people are going to have to decide if they are truly ready to become a slave to the state.... To be controlled, owned and rationed by the state.
How is that freedom?
Would you rather fail as a free person..... or just get by as an owned person.
That choice is here.
Danny Vice
http://www.theweeklyvice.com