US attitudes to Communism and Socialism (2017 Report)

This is one of those subjects that may go off in many directions, so I've put it in the "current events" sub-forum as its more open-ended. The Victims of Communism Memorial foundation has published it's second annual report on US attitudes to Socialism and Communism. (if you want to look at the one for 2016, click here). It is unusual to get polling data on this so it is worth sharing to get a better understanding of American's views and perceptions.

2017 Report
See link to pdf here.


Key findings of the 2017 Report:

• Increase in perception that Communism was and is a problem (up by 5% since 2016), including a 10% increase amongst millennials.
• 7 in 10 Americans don't know the definition of Communism or misidentify it, confusing it with Socialism and Fascism. 7 in 10 Americans can correctly define Capitalism (including 51% of millennials).
• 7 in 10 Americans under-estimate the number of people killed by Communism.
• Communist leaders cited as "heroes" to their countries by 10-20% of Americans, whilst favourability of Communist leaders among millennials has dropped overall since last year.
• 59% of Americans would opt to live in a Capitalist country, whilst 34% would opt to live in a Socialist one. (for millennials, it is 42% Capitalist, and 44% Socialist).
• Millennials are the least unfavourable to Communism with 36% having an unfavourable view of Communism, and 44% being insulted if they were called a Communist.
• 68% of Americans do not feel that high earners pay their fair share, and of those 49% favour increased taxation and 37% favour a complete change in the economic system.
• 80% of Americans think that the divide between Rich and Poor is a serious issue with 65% believing it is serious for the Gender pay gap and 67% beliving it is serious for income inequality between races.
• Irrespective of views regarding the favourability of Capitalism, Socialism and Communism, Americans agree that freedom of speech should be protected.

Do you find the results of the report encouraging? Would you answer the questions the same way as a majority of those polled or would you have voted differently?

Both encouraging and discouraging. there is little mention of Communism I doubt it is even glossed over in school. most don't know exactly what it is. however, its connection to socialism is not a misunderstanding. socialism comes before communism. no country has truly achieved communism. in the sense, the only country even halting it as a banner anymore is China and they are extremely capitalist and seem to have no interest changing.

it is worth educating the people on what it is. for unlike Fascism which economically speaking could function. even though it is almost always considered synonymous with Nazism. Communism cannot work. it has never worked. socialism can work but only seemingly in small nations with low immigration and high employment. it would never function here with our amass of welfare parasites.

what is extremely disconcerting is

"68% of Americans do not feel that high earners pay their fair share, and of those 49% favor increased taxation and 37% favor a complete change in the economic system"
I am of the top 3% if I showed you how much money the government takes away from my Father's check. you would feint.ts not high earners it's the 1% who don't pay.

also, it is fine to add socialism in drops to capitalism but no system is superior to capitalism. even as one who holds a somewhat favorable light on Fascism it is still inferior. any system besides Capitalism is inferior.

"7 in 10 Americans under-estimate the number of people killed by Communism."

thanks to the left.

few months back when Trump pointed out "shame on both sides" most lost their hats when Antifa. is Communist. many of those groups opposing the "nazis" are Commies. The Nazis killed on purpose. the Communists besides their even higher tally of premeditated killings they are renowned for killing on accident due to their stupidity. if we dont want this nation to fall any farther we need to purge the universities and deeply stress the Evil and i dont use that word lightly. of both the Nazi's and Communists

Father said:

also, it is fine to add socialism in drops to capitalism but no system is superior to capitalism. even as one who holds a somewhat favorable light on Fascism it is still inferior. any system besides Capitalism is inferior.

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Tis the Oldest System so long as Village's and Trade hath been around. why fix what is not broken?

I would suggest a mixed economy as you find in Europe, much of the far east, and all commonwealth countries. Works better for the people than far right capitalism.

Laika said:

Do you find the results of the report encouraging? Would you answer the questions the same way as a majority of those polled or would you have voted differently?

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It's hard to gauge these results without some kind of context of why they're conducting these polls or what they hope to demonstrate. At the top of the report, it said "Basic knowledge of communism is lacking." This is interesting, since most of us who grew up during the Cold War were fed heavy doses of anti-communist propaganda designed to "educate" people in the dangers and evils of communism. However, since the Cold War ended, a lot of that propaganda died down in intensity, so the younger generations haven't been fully inculcated in the overzealous, fanatical beliefs of anti-communists and their fellow travelers.

So, it seems that the authors of this report are unhappy that the younger generations are not being brainwashed against communism as effectively as previous generations. Frustrated McCarthyites who had been used to getting their way all their lives are suddenly finding that their fear-mongering ideas and propaganda aren't as readily accepted as they were back in earlier times.

The authors of the report appear to be operating out of some kind of insular ideological bubble, automatically assuming that communism is evil, capitalism is good. Therefore, they believe everyone should be against communism, while simultaneously acting clueless about any possible reasons why anyone would have an unfavorable view of capitalism. A bunch of spoiled, overfed Marie Antoinettes who ostensibly believe that "communists have cooties - eeewwww!"

Stevicus said:

Therefore, they believe everyone should be against communism, while simultaneously acting clueless about any possible reasons why anyone would have an unfavorable view of capitalism.

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I don't think its quite that black and white. Communism usually comes to power violently against another tyranny, dictator.
And then the people wake up to the realization one tyranny is the same as another in restricting freedom. The problem is confusing communism with socialism.

pcarl said:

I don't think its quite that black and white. Communism usually comes to power violently against another tyranny, dictator.
And then the people wake up to the realization one tyranny is the same as another in restricting freedom. The problem is confusing communism with socialism.

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I agree, although when dealing with the more ideologically hardened anti-communists, I've found that they really do see things in a very rigid black-and-white manner.

Stevicus said:

It's hard to gauge these results without some kind of context of why they're conducting these polls or what they hope to demonstrate. At the top of the report, it said "Basic knowledge of communism is lacking." This is interesting, since most of us who grew up during the Cold War were fed heavy doses of anti-communist propaganda designed to "educate" people in the dangers and evils of communism. However, since the Cold War ended, a lot of that propaganda died down in intensity, so the younger generations haven't been fully inculcated in the overzealous, fanatical beliefs of anti-communists and their fellow travelers.

So, it seems that the authors of this report are unhappy that the younger generations are not being brainwashed against communism as effectively as previous generations. Frustrated McCarthyites who had been used to getting their way all their lives are suddenly finding that their fear-mongering ideas and propaganda aren't as readily accepted as they were back in earlier times.

The authors of the report appear to be operating out of some kind of insular ideological bubble, automatically assuming that communism is evil, capitalism is good. Therefore, they believe everyone should be against communism, while simultaneously acting clueless about any possible reasons why anyone would have an unfavorable view of capitalism. A bunch of spoiled, overfed Marie Antoinettes who ostensibly believe that "communists have cooties - eeewwww!"

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Its by the Victims of Communism memorial foundation, so you're kind of right. here's a bit of history;

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) is a Washington, DC-based educational and human rights nonprofit 501c3 foundation devoted to commemorating the more than 100 million victims of communism around the world and to the freedom of those still living under totalitarian regimes.

VOC was authorized by a unanimous act of Congress, which was signed by President Bill Clinton on December 17, 1993. VOC incorporated in 1994. Since then, its historical research, policy analysis, educational programs, and commitment to remembering every victim of communism have been praised internationally.

VOC raised private funds and built the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, DC. It is the only memorial in the world commemorating every victim of communism, and was dedicated by President George W. Bush on June 12, 2007.

Mission | Victims of Communism

Communism is a bad thing, potentially very bad. What else does one need to know about it?

DavidFirth said:

Communism is a bad thing, potentially very bad. What else does one need to know about it?

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Communism is a consequence to bad behavior of capitalists, so the best way to avoid communism is to restrain capitalism from behaving badly. Capitalists stubbornly refuse to shape up, which leads to more discontent, which leads to revolution.

DavidFirth said:

Communism is a bad thing, potentially very bad. What else does one need to know about it?

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Well, what specifically is bad about it, maybe?

Despite what many Americans seem to think "Communism is bad" isn't actually axiomatic.

Father said:

I am of the top 3% if I showed you how much money the government takes away from my Father's check. you would feint.ts not high earners it's the 1% who don't pay.

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Given that social mobility is very low and most wealth is inherited, you'll probably be one of the lucky ones. The future looks pretty bleak for the rest of us, so make the best of it and look after yourself.