What Would We Do Without Pollsters?

The 'Just 53 Percent' headline is intended to lead us to believe that Capitalism wins in a squeaker.

How about;

By More Than A Two To One !!
Americans Say Capitalism is better than Socialism. Only the recent students of our Marxist indoctrinating Universities prefer the gov't teat.

I think Nearly 3-1 would be more accurate than "more than 2-1".

Remember, this is a sampling of people who only six months ago voted for Change, which they are indeed getting. Wait until the rest of Obama's agenda is enacted, and the true cost of it begins to become evident. Let it sink in for a year or two. Then I bet we'll see the numbers of rabid socialists decline. If polls are still allowed at that point, that is.

the number of socialists will never decline, but the undecideds probably will.

All errors aside, would you be surprised at this result?

Here's another figure: half of yanks don't pay any taxes at all. I guess it's the OTHER half who chose Capitalism...

And if you asked the 20 percent that thought socialism was better if they still supported it if it meant there would be only one cellphone cable and Internet provider I bet two thirds would change their choice.

I think a better test would first probe if the people who were asked knew the difference between socialism and capitalism.

What do you think were the numbers in this poll who had no idea what each term really meant in economic and political effects?

I read this as 20% of people polled don't know what socialism is, but it must be better than capitalism because rich people are evil.

So it begins, The Dark Ages.

"We're all Romans now!"

Circa 378 AD...

Remember the Simpsons' episode when Homer laments at finding twenty dollars when he wanted peanuts and his brain explains that with twenty dollars he could buy several peanuts. That's the glory of capitalism- several peanuts.
Try living in a "socialist paradise" like North Korea.

ScottInRMH: "but it must be better than capitalism because rich people, at least the ones who didn't make their money in entertainment or sports or who aren't big wheels in the Democrat party, are evil."

FIFY.

Oh my goodness! A typo!!!!

The 'results' are 'posted' as Capitalism vs Capitalism vs not sure. This must be a 'Scottie Ried' type pole. If the truth would be 'questionable' use the typo thingie to exonerate yourself. No one in their right mind wants their children to subsist in a Communist state (and Socialism IS the full blooded sister of Communism). Nice catch Kate.

that's an interesting number. when 60% plus of canadians vote for one form of socialism or another it just doesn't add up.

With the typo, no one voted for socialism". If you eliminate the "not sures", the results are 100% for capitalism. Numbers and nonsense.

Isn't it interesting that most of us read past these typos or errors and answer as if we understood the question, further skewing any meaningful result (if that was possible at all by this dumb, dumb question).

when a 100% of the people are on welfare, then ask the fools if they like socialism

as ET pointed out, do they even know what capitalism/socialism are, and when they say YES, ask them to explain it. I simply think back on the U-tubes made when the "PEOPLE"
were asked questions during the election and many didn't even know who was who's VP running mate

"There is a partisan gap as well. Republicans - by an 11-to-1 margin - favor capitalism. Democrats are much more closely divided: Just 39% say capitalism is better while 30% prefer socialism. As for those not affiliated with either major political party, 48% say capitalism is best, and 21% opt for socialism.

Bottomline: Democrats, not any American, favor socialism. That's what the headline should read in all honesty. And, re-reading it, am I alone in that their numbers don't add up with their conclusion?

Absent the proper discussion as to exactly how their sample was generated, this "result" is pure nonsense, as anyone with a decent understanding of statistics could tell you.

I wonder just what the demographics were? Ages, employed, students or on the dole. That would probably add a lot more meaning to those polls.

This is a false choice...

You don't have to choose between capitalism and socialism. You can have both at the same time simultaneously.

I am a capitalist and I am a socialist. I am both.
I believe that in free private business with RULES!!! I also believe that also that taxation is necessary to create social justice.

The ultimate system come from mixing capitalism and socialism together. Then you add a little bit of culture (Alcohol) and you have the perfect drink.

socialist quebecois capitalist just spouts more socialist crap

The stats reveal a failure of both the public school system to instill basic economics understanding and the current US market to police itself an stay a pure free marker capitalist vehicle.

If there were not so much fraud and corruption in the US markets and finance systems, perhaps "capitalism" would have a better rep....even with those with no money left after payroll deductions to invest.

WL Mackenzie Redux...

"The stats reveal a failure of both the public school system to instill basic economics understanding and the current US market to police itself an stay a pure free marker capitalist vehicle."

I agree with the education part but on the second part the regulation and interference in Pure Free Market Capitalism by Governments is what causes the problem, you see in a Free Market if you provide a crappy service or product you go out of business as well as when you conduct business in a misleading or unethical way.

Under regulations and consumer protections customers make assumptions of value and businesses look for competitive advantage via loopholes rather than quality and performance because the quality and performance is regulated.

That is how you get wind power accepted after being rejected as a viable electrical generating system for over 30 years, without any improvements. The Government simply creates a market via regulations, consumers assume it is better, businesses operate under subsidy. Not a free-market in sight.

SQC:

go look up a definition for capitalism. no where will it say there are no rules. In fact the right to own property is key. Government's role is to help draft the rules and empower those whose job it is to enforce them. Nothing more.

But then you think a basket-case POS crown corp like Quebec Hydro is a good idea. and don't get me started on what crappy money managers (socialist/olitically controlled) the caisse are.

Socialism is an utterly failed ideology that fascists like ACORN and BO use as a false and vaguely understood shibboleth ideology (which your understanding typifies).

I agree wholeheartedly with Kokola!

"The ultimate system come from mixing capitalism and socialism together."

Yes, but there never seems to be a mutually agreed-upon happy balance to the equation, does there? There seems to be a definite downward slide/ooze/push in one direction, egged-on by the ubiquitous MSM (themselves not particularly known for overachieving in anything other than their own echo chamber, "consensus-seeking" and self-preservation).

"I think a better test would first probe if the people who were asked knew the difference between socialism and capitalism."

Under Capitalism, man exploits man; under Socialism, it's the other way around.

LOL

The Government simply creates a market via regulations, consumers assume it is better, businesses operate under subsidy. Not a free-market in sight.

Didn't you miss a minor, itsy-bitsy element there, that being the (ignorant/lazy/politically motivated, take your pick) MSM operating as a noisy cheerleader for some technologies and as ignorers/deniers towards others?

I think the ages and education of the participants should be published on this one. Somehow I don't think too many of the surveyed even know what socialism is much less have relevant life experience. "Communism (substitute socialism) doesn't work because people like to own stuff". Frank Zappa