Democratic Socialism? It's More Favorable Than You Think
In-depth polling suggests there's little to fear for elected officials that take strong stances on ICE, trans rights, and Gaza
New polling from Data For Progress is shedding light on how Americans feel about democratic socialism and the economic system as a whole.
When asked whether Americans agree with the idea that the current economic system is rigged in favor of the rich and should be replaced with a system that gives working people a fair shot, 70% of Americans agreed.
Support for this notion is highest among Democrats at 82% and lowest among Republicans at 58%, while independents fall between the two at 67%.
The fact that even six in ten Republicans think the system needs to change should give leaders of both parties pause, even if neither will actually act on it.
However, one area where Republicans still hold a strongly pro-capitalist position is the belief that more billionaires in America is a good thing for the nation, with 51% agreeing with the idea.
By contrast, only 33% of Americans say that increasing numbers of billionaires is a good thing, while 51% say they disagree with that notion.
Democrats were the most likely to disagree at 65%, alongside more than half of independents (54%). Less than a quarter of both Democrats and independents say it is good to see more billionaires in America.
The survey becomes particularly interesting around the idea of democratic socialism and how Americans view the prospect of such a vision for the future, alongside the impact that speaking out on hot button issues has on elected officials’ electability.
