Despite Decades of the Welfare State, Socialism Still not Popular With Americans

With the massive advance of socialism we’ve seen under our Marxist president in the last year, Gallup has come out with an interesting poll on how Americans view socialism.

Overall, only about 1/3 (36%) have a favorable impression of socialism while 58% view it negatively.  While this is good news on one level, it’s appalling on another that in America, it isn’t 100% disapproval of socialism.  Our Constitution, after all, is the antithesis of socialism.

Socialism is a milder form of Marxism.  Marxism is anti-freedom and promotes state control.  Marxism is epitomized by wealth redistribution, taking property from one person (that the state in its infinite wisdom deems has too much) and giving it to another person whether that second person has a genuine need (or whether their own sloth and irresponsibility contributed to a genuine need) or not.  Under Marxism and socialism, the state is all-powerful and all-knowing; the individual takes a back seat to the power of the state and the state-defined good of the collective.

The U.S. Constitution, on the other hand, recognizes the inherent predisposition of humanity toward tyranny and abuse.  The Constitution divides power between the central government, and the states and the people–with the states and the people retaining the overwhelming majority of power.  The Constitution also divides power between three branches of government, and implements checks and balances to mitigate abuses.  Inherent in the philosophy of the Constitution is also the recognition that individuals are responsible for their own destiny and their own welfare, and that wealth redistribution is not a proper function of the central government.  Property rights are also at the foundation of the U.S. Constitution.

So why are not 100% of Americans repulsed by socialism?  Because we have become a profoundly ignorant people.  Our public education system does an abysmal job of educating American children about their own government and their own history–perhaps in part because many within the education system have little regard for freedom and our heritage, and are quite willing to “rewrite” history.  Too many parents for the past several generations have also failed to pass on the legacy of liberty that has belonged to Americans for more than 200 years.

The differences between the political parties on socialism are even more striking.  Only 17% of Republicans view socialism positively, but 53% of Democrats do.

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