{"id":40802239260,"date":"2019-05-06T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-06T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/?post_type=poll&p=40802239260"},"modified":"2019-06-05T15:41:31","modified_gmt":"2019-06-05T19:41:31","slug":"monmouthpoll_us_050619","status":"publish","type":"poll","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/reports\/monmouthpoll_us_050619\/","title":{"rendered":"Socialism vs. Capitalism?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

West Long Branch, NJ<\/em> \u2013\nMost Americans say socialism is not compatible with American values, but only\n4-in-10 hold a decidedly negative opinion of it.  The latest Monmouth University Poll<\/em><\/strong>\nalso finds that less than half the country has a clearly positive opinion of\ncapitalism. Republicans have stronger, largely negative, views of socialism.\nDemocrats tend to be more neutral; at the same time they give overwhelming\nsupport to universal health care \u2013 a policy which both supporters and\ndetractors have painted as a socialist policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            A\nmajority of Americans (57%) say that socialism is not compatible with American\nvalues. Just 29% say it is compatible. About 4-in-10 (42%) have a negative\nopinion of socialism in general, with another 45% having a neutral opinion and\njust 10% holding a positive view of socialism. \nPublic opinion about capitalism \u2013 while largely positive \u2013 is not\noverwhelmingly favorable, however. Nearly 4-in-10 Americans (39%) have a\npositive opinion of capitalism in general and a similar 40% have a neutral\nopinion. Another 17% hold a negative view of capitalism.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taken together, Americans divide into two dominant camps \u2013 29% who\nhave a positive view of capitalism and a negative view of socialism and 30% who\nhave neutral opinions of both capitalism and socialism.  The remaining 4-in-10 Americans hold a range\nof mixed views on the two economic systems. \nThe vast majority of pro-capitalist\/anti-socialist Americans identify as\nRepublicans (49%) or lean toward the Republican Party (29%). Just 8% are\nDemocrats or lean Democratic.  This group\nalso skews older \u2013 nearly half (47%) are aged 55 and over, compared to 34% who\nare aged 35 to 54 and just 19% who are under 35 years old.  Almost two-thirds (64%) of this group are men\nversus 36% who are women. On the other hand, the majority of Americans who are\nneutral about both economic systems identify as Democrats (46%) or lean toward\nthe Democratic Party (17%). Another 18% are Republican or lean Republican.  This neutral group skews slightly younger\nthan the population as a whole, with 37% who are 18 to 34 years old, 30% who\nare 35 to 54, and 33% who are 55 and older. \nThe gender split for this group \u2013 55% women and 45% men \u2013 is only\nslightly more female than the public as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe may be in a period of flux with how these economic systems are\nviewed. Socialism still carries a stigma, but many Americans feel they are\nbeing left behind by the current capitalist system.  Policies that have traditionally been seen as\nsocialist may be getting more popular even if the term itself is not,\u201d said\nPatrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling\nInstitute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                The poll finds some contradictory opinion on what socialism means to\nthe public.  Most Americans say that\nsocialism \u201ctakes away too many individual rights,\u201d either a great deal (35%) or\nsomewhat (25%).  Just one-third say this\nphrase describes socialism not much (13%) or not at all (20%). On the other\nhand, half of the public feels that socialism \u201cis a way to make things fairer\nfor working people,\u201d either a great deal (15%) or somewhat (35%). Just under\nhalf, though, say this describes socialism not much (11%) or not at all (33%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Applying these terms to a policy\nproposal that many say has its roots in socialism provides an illustration of\nthis dissonant opinion. Specifically, a majority of Americans either strongly\n(41%) or somewhat (17%) favor creating a universal health care system while\nfewer than 4-in-10 either strongly (26%) or somewhat (11%) oppose this\nidea.  When asked how they view this\nproposal in systematic terms, 37% describe universal health care as a socialist\npolicy while just 4% describe it as a capitalist policy. However, a majority\n(53%) say they see universal health care as neither socialist nor capitalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Democrats are the most likely to strongly favor (65%) establishing a\nuniversal health care system and see it as being neither socialist nor\ncapitalist (76%).  A plurality of\nindependents (42%) strongly favor universal health care and 55% see it as\nneither socialist nor capitalist.  A\nmajority of Republicans (54%), though, strongly oppose universal health care,\nwith 75% saying it is a socialist policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t ignore the possibility\nthat \u2018neutral\u2019 could be a way for some Americans, especially Democrats, to\ncouch their policy preferences without using a term that has historically negative\nconnotations. This is going to be a real challenge for left-leaning candidates\nin the 2020 presidential race. The party base seems to be saying, \u2018We like your\nplatform, just don\u2019t use the word socialism to describe it,\u2019\u201d said Murray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Public opinion about these economic\nsystems in general breaks along party lines. \nAmong Republicans, 76% have a negative view of socialism and 66% have a\npositive view of capitalism. Among Democrats, 67% have a neutral view of socialism\nand 53% have a neutral view of capitalism. \nIndependents tend to be more divided on both socialism (45% negative and\n43% neutral) and capitalism (39% positive and 40% neutral). Most independents\n(59% to 27%) and Republicans (87% to 7%) say socialism is not compatible with\nAmerican values compared to those who say it is, while this is a minority view\namong Democrats (32% is not to 50% is).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The poll also finds some sizable age\ndifferences in public opinion of these terms. While about half of Americans\nunder the age of 35 (49%) feel neutral toward capitalism, the remainder are\nevenly divided between seeing it as positive (24%) or negative (22%). This is\nsignificantly different from the more favorable views of capitalism among those\naged 35 to 54 (43% positive to 15% negative) and aged 55 and older (48%\npositive to 13% negative).  The poll also\nfinds that younger adults (31%) are less likely to be negative toward socialism\nthan are those aged 35 to 54 (47%) or older (49%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These age differences hold even when controlling for partisanship,\nalthough there are some notable variations. \nAmong those who either identify with or lean toward the Democratic\nParty, those under 35 years old (12%) are less likely than those aged 35 and\nolder (24%) to feel positive about capitalism and more likely to feel negative\n(35% aged 18 to 34 and 20% aged 35 and older). \nYounger Democrats (48%) are about as likely as Democrats aged 35 and\nolder (51%) to feel neutral about capitalism.  Among\nthose who identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, those under 35\nyears old (53%) are less likely than those aged 35 and older (69%) to feel\npositive about capitalism, although they are not significantly more likely to\nfeel negative (10% aged 18 to 35 to 7% aged 35 and older).  Younger Republicans (37%) are more likely\nthan Republicans aged 35 and older (23%) to feel neutral about capitalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Democrats and Democratic-leaners under 35 years old (6%) are less\nlikely than older Democrats (19%) to feel negative about socialism, although\nthey are not much more likely to be positive (19% to 15%).  Younger Democrats (73%) are somewhat more\nlikely than Democrats aged 35 and older (62%) to feel neutral about\nsocialism.  Republicans and\nRepublican-leaners under 35 years old are slightly less likely than older\nRepublicans to feel either positive (1% to 5%) or negative (72% to 78%) about\nsocialism, but are somewhat more likely to feel neutral (26% to 16%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cWe\u2019ve seen younger voters trending\nmore Democratic in recent elections which has played a role in the party\nshifting leftward. This means socialism is poised to become a defining feature\nof the 2020 presidential contest. Will progressive Democrats be able to\nredefine the term or will the GOP be successful at vilifying this agenda as\nanti-American?\u201d said Murray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Murray added, \u201cPolling about socialism poses a number of challenges.\nThe meaning of the term is fluid and some respondents are reluctant to share\ntheir thoughts on a concept with historically negative baggage.  Monmouth will be doing more polls on this\ntopic but it will require approaches from a variety of pollsters to help us\nbetter understand this concept in the current political environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Monmouth University Poll<\/em>\nwas conducted by telephone from April 11 to 15, 2019 with 801 adults in the\nUnited States.  The question results in this release have a margin of\nerror of +\/- 3.5 percentage points. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth\nUniversity Polling Institute in West Long Branch, NJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUESTIONS\nAND RESULTS      <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(* Some columns may not add to 100% due to\nrounding.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Q1-25 previously released.<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26.<\/span> Do you favor or oppose creating a universal health care system in America? [Do you favor\/oppose that strongly or somewhat?]<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n April
\n 2019<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Strongly favor\n <\/td>\n 41%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Somewhat favor\n <\/td>\n 17%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Somewhat oppose\n <\/td>\n 11%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Strongly oppose\n <\/td>\n 26%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL)\n Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 5%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (801)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

27.<\/span> Do you tend to view universal health care as a socialist policy, as a capitalist policy, or neither?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n April
\n 2019<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Socialist policy\n <\/td>\n 37%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Capitalist policy\n <\/td>\n 4%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Neither\n <\/td>\n 53%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Both\n <\/td>\n 1%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL)\n Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 6%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (801)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

[QUESTIONS 28 & 29 WERE ROTATED<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28.<\/span> In general, is your opinion of capitalism positive, negative, or neutral?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n April
\n 2019<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Positive\n <\/td>\n 39%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Negative\n <\/td>\n 17%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Neutral\n <\/td>\n 40%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL)\n Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 4%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (801)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

29.<\/span> In general, is your opinion of socialism positive, negative, or neutral?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n April
\n 2019<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Positive\n <\/td>\n 10%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Negative\n <\/td>\n 42%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Neutral\n <\/td>\n 45%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL)\n Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 3%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (801)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

30.<\/span> In general, is socialism compatible or not compatible with American values?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n April
\n 2019<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Compatible\n <\/td>\n 29%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Not compatible\n <\/td>\n 57%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Depends\n <\/td>\n 7%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL)\n Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 7%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (801)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

31.<\/span> How much do each of the following descriptions match your view of socialism \u2013 <\/em>does this describe socialism a great deal, somewhat, not much, or not at all? [ITEMS WERE ROTATED<\/em>]<\/span><\/p>\n

It\ntakes away too many individual rights<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n April
\n 2019<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Great deal\n <\/td>\n 35%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Somewhat\n <\/td>\n 25%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Not much\n <\/td>\n 13%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Not at all\n <\/td>\n 20%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL)\n Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 7%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (801)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

It\nis a way to make things fairer for working people<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n April
\n 2019<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Great deal\n <\/td>\n 15%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Somewhat\n <\/td>\n 35%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Not much\n <\/td>\n 11%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Not at all\n <\/td>\n 33%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL)\n Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 6%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (801)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

METHODOLOGY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Monmouth\nUniversity Poll<\/em> was sponsored and conducted by the Monmouth University\nPolling Institute from April 11 to 15, 2019 with a national random sample of\n801 adults age 18 and older, in English. This includes 320 contacted by a\nlive interviewer on a landline telephone and 481 contacted by a live\ninterviewer on a cell phone. Telephone numbers were selected through random\ndigit dialing and landline respondents were selected with a modified\nTroldahl-Carter youngest adult household screen. Monmouth is responsible for\nall aspects of the survey design, data weighting and analysis. Final sample is\nweighted for region, age, education, gender and race based on US Census\ninformation. Data collection support provided by Braun Research (field) and\nDynata (RDD sample). For results based on this sample, one can say with\n95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of\nplus or minus 3.5 percentage points (unadjusted for sample\ndesign). Sampling error can be larger for sub-groups (see table\nbelow). In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that\nquestion wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce\nerror or bias into the findings of opinion polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n DEMOGRAPHICS (weighted)<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Self-Reported<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 25%\n Republican<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 44% Independent<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 31% Democrat<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 48% Male<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 52% Female<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 30% 18-34<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 33% 35-54<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 37% 55+<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 64% White<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 12% Black<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 16%\n Hispanic<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n   8% Asian\/Other<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 69% No\n degree<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 31% 4 year\n degree<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em> <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

Click on pdf file link below for full methodology and crosstabs by key demographic groups.<\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Socialism not seen as compatible with American values,
\nbut opinion is not overwhelmingly negative<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":40802239262,"template":"","geography":[18],"class_list":["post-40802239260","poll","type-poll","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","geography-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802239260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/poll"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802239260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40802241248,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802239260\/revisions\/40802241248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40802239262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40802239260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"geography","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/geography?post=40802239260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}