A recent survey conducted the by the reactionary Cato Institute and YouGov provides a quite promising perspective for the U.S society. Despite decades of severe anti-communist propaganda in education and media, a significant number of young men and women in the States seem to hold positive views on the concepts of socialism-communism.
According to the Cato/YouGov survey, 62 percent of Americans aged 18–29 say they hold a “favorable view” of socialism, while 34 percent say the same of communism.
More specifically, the survey asked a national sample of 2,000 Americans aged 18 and older about US fiscal policy, including the following: “Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of Socialism?” and “Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of Communism?”
A total of 43 percent said they have a “favorable” view of socialism, and for those aged 18–29, 62 percent said favorable. For communism, a total of 14 percent said they have a favorable view; however, in the 18–29 group, 34 percent said favorable. That’s about 18 million people. (The findings are estimates: there are an estimated 52 million Americans aged 18–29, so 34 percent is 17.68 million; 62 percent of that age group is roughly 32 million people).
On this point, it must be pointed out that the survey did not define the concept of "socialism" and therefore it's pretty unclear how the respondents perceive it. Is it related to scientific socialism, that is Marxism-Leninism and the socialization of the means of production, or with the so-called "democratic socialism" (mixed economy, welfare state) within the capitalist system? Taking into account that the word "socialism" in the U.S has been associated with social democrats, like Bernie Sanders and AOC, the second option seems more favorable.
In any case, the results of the survey consist a blow to the anti-communist mechanisms and institutions, like Cato Institute, which have heavily invested in the vilification of socialism-communism and the promotion of imperialist policies. Furthermore, it demonstrates the tragic impasses to which a large segment of the youth has been led by the barbarity of capitalism, which creates and exacerbates unemployment, impoverishment, social injustice and marginalization.
A total of 43 percent said they have a “favorable” view of socialism, and for those aged 18–29, 62 percent said favorable. For communism, a total of 14 percent said they have a favorable view; however, in the 18–29 group, 34 percent said favorable. That’s about 18 million people. (The findings are estimates: there are an estimated 52 million Americans aged 18–29, so 34 percent is 17.68 million; 62 percent of that age group is roughly 32 million people).
On this point, it must be pointed out that the survey did not define the concept of "socialism" and therefore it's pretty unclear how the respondents perceive it. Is it related to scientific socialism, that is Marxism-Leninism and the socialization of the means of production, or with the so-called "democratic socialism" (mixed economy, welfare state) within the capitalist system? Taking into account that the word "socialism" in the U.S has been associated with social democrats, like Bernie Sanders and AOC, the second option seems more favorable.
In any case, the results of the survey consist a blow to the anti-communist mechanisms and institutions, like Cato Institute, which have heavily invested in the vilification of socialism-communism and the promotion of imperialist policies. Furthermore, it demonstrates the tragic impasses to which a large segment of the youth has been led by the barbarity of capitalism, which creates and exacerbates unemployment, impoverishment, social injustice and marginalization.
It is reminded that back in 2019, a survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of the CIA-funded "Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation" had shown that 36% of millennials said that they approve of communism, which was up significantly from 28% in 2018. At the same time, 70% of U.S. millennials- young men and women between the ages of 23 and 38 - answered that they would support a socialist candidate for president.
Capitalism, rotten and outdated, is doomed to die and its proponents cannot do anything to prevent history from going forward.
