New Poll Finds Majority of Registered Democrats Prefer Socialism Over Capitalism
A new Fox News poll has found more registered Democrats favor socialism over capitalism, marking a significant shift from last year’s results.
The poll, conducted from Aug. 7 to Aug. 10, showed 59 percent of Democratic voters surveyed have a positive view of socialism, while 49 percent responded in the same way regarding capitalism.
Those numbers flipped from February 2020 when Fox last asked the question. At that time 50 percent of Democrats viewed capitalism positively, while only 40 percent felt the same about socialism.
So Democrats’ support for socialism has leapt 19 percent since the previous survey.
Thousands attend #BerniesBack rally in New York, where @AOC is officially endorsing @BernieSanders for president. “Our priority is not only defeating Donald Trump. It’s defeating the system of which he is a symptom,” she says. pic.twitter.com/ySJtzk7cxw
— Democracy Now! (@democracynow) October 19, 2019
Meanwhile, among Republicans, there is quite a different picture, with 67 percent having a positive view of capitalism and only 8 percent feeling the same about socialism.
Fifty-six percent of respondents overall have a favorable view of capitalism and 32 percent, a favorable view of socialism.
The Fox News poll surveyed 1,002 registered voters nationwide and reported a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
[firefly_poll]
These findings come as self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont seeks to guide a $3.5 trillion spending bill — that would significantly expand the entitlement state — through Congress.
On Wednesday, Democrats passed a budget resolution in a 50-49 vote, which provides the blueprint for the spending legislation.
As floor debate on the resolution began Tuesday, Sanders, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, chastised Republicans for “finding it hard to believe that the president and the Democratic caucus are prepared to go forward in addressing the long-neglected needs of working families, and not just the 1 percent and wealthy campaign contributors.”
“Today, we move this country in a very different direction,” he said.
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez similarly is a known proponent of socialism and has frequently voiced her support of socialist policies, several of which are included in the $3.5 trillion legislation.
AOC says Bernie Sanders gave her “inherent value as a human being” and suggests the government should provide everyone “healthcare, housing, education, and a living wage”
This is communism because what she’s saying is that the government must provide for all of everyone’s needs pic.twitter.com/YApVwxu2SL
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) October 19, 2019
Among other big ticket items contained in the proposal are universal pre-K, rental assistance payments, tuition-free community college, paid family and sick leave, expanded health care benefits, climate initiatives and permanent residency status for those who entered the country illegally.
Former President Donald Trump characterized the proposal as a “communist plan.”
“Good morning, America! While you were all sleeping, the Radical Democrats advanced a plan that will be known as the $3.5 trillion Communist Plan to Destroy America,” Trump said in a Wednesday statement.
“This legislation is an assault on our Nation, on our communities, and on the American Dream.”
NEW!
“Good morning, America! While you were all sleeping, the Radical Democrats advanced a plan that will be known as the $3.5 trillion Communist Plan to Destroy America. This legislation is an assault on our Nation, on our communities, and on the American Dream. pic.twitter.com/tB5vuoUutS
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) August 11, 2021
“It destroys our Borders and the rule of law by granting dangerous amnesty that will flood America’s beautiful cities. It will overwhelm our schools, and make our Nation less safe,” he continued.
“It raises taxes like we have never seen, while also making many things you buy everyday more expensive (gas, groceries, and much more). And don’t forget the crazy Green New Deal. America, you are being robbed in the dark of night. It’s time to wake up!”
