Support for Socialism
From Axios:
A Harris poll for "Axios on HBO" finds that socialism is gaining popularity: 4 in 10 Americans say they would prefer living in a socialist country over a capitalist one.
Why it matters: Socialism is losing its Soviet-era stigma, especially among women.
Popular Democratic socialists like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders are bringing new life and meaning to the term.
55% of women between 18 and 54 would prefer to live in a socialist country than a capitalist country.
But a majority of men prefer to live in a capitalist country.
The big picture: "It's been a truth of American politics for decades that women are to the left of men, and I think that's playing out in this poll," Axios' Felix Salmon noted on "Axios on HBO."
Between the lines: As the Harris poll results below show, the public has varying levels of agreement on what exactly constitutes a socialist political system.
- Universal healthcare: 76%
- Tuition free education: 72%
- Living wage: 68%
- State-controlled economy: 66%
- State control and regulation of private property : 61%
- High taxes for the rich: 60%
- State-controlled media and communication: 57%
- Strong environmental regulations: 56%
- High public spending: 55%
- Government ’’democratizes’’ private businesses — that is, gives workers control over them — to the greatest extent possible: 52%
- System dependent on dictatorship: 49%
- Workers own and control their places of employment: 48%
- Democratically-elected government: 46%
