Surveys Show Socialism Growing in Popularity

Republicans remained overwhelmingly skeptical of socialism, with just 14% viewing it positively. Large majorities of Republicans continued to have positive views of small business, free enterprise, and capitalism, while 62% of Republicans viewed big business positively.

Still, Americans’ economic views are more complicated than the results might initially suggest, according to a Gallup analysis from August. The report, based on open-ended survey responses, found there is broad support for free-market principles like economic competition and market choice, despite concerns about capitalism spurring economic inequality and excessive corporate power.

The CBS/YouGov poll, meanwhile, found that support for government intervention crossed party lines, with 75% of Democrats, 62% of independents, and 54% of Republicans supporting government price controls.

And the Data for Progress survey showed 70% of 1,257 respondents said the U.S. economic system is “rigged in favor of corporations and the wealthy” and favored replacing it with one that “gives working people a fair shot,” including 67% of independents and 58% of Republicans. Additionally, 83% of respondents, including 81% of independents and 80% of Republicans, agreed that social work and mental health are necessary parts of a public safety budget.