Gallup: 43% View Socialism Positively, a Trend High

Gallup’s latest survey found that 43% of U.S. adults view socialism positively, the highest share in its trend since 2010, even as capitalism and free enterprise remain more popular overall. The survey, conducted August 3-24, also found that small business was viewed positively by 95% of adults, while 55% viewed capitalism positively and 35% viewed big business positively. The 43% result marks the first time socialism’s favorability has exceeded 39% in Gallup’s tracking, which began in 2010. The findings show a change in public attitudes, but do not establish what caused it. Across the longer trend, positive views of socialism have risen by seven percentage points, while favorability toward capitalism and free enterprise has fallen, according to the reported Gallup figures. The latest increase was concentrated among political independents, whose positive view of socialism rose from 37% last year to 45%. Their favorability toward big business fell to 32%, according to two accounts of the survey. Democrats’ rating of socialism was 65%, essentially unchanged from the previous year, while 14% of Republicans viewed it positively. Views also differed by age.