CAPITALISM or SOCIALISM, which do you view MORE POSITIVELY?

[AviatorTom]

Recent polls in the United States indicate that Conservatives overwhelmingly rate Capitalism positively over Socialism (74%-14%) while Liberals rate Socialism more positively than Capitalism by a smaller margin (66%-42%).

What do you think?

Do you have a more positive view of Capitalism or Socialism?

Please vote in the poll, indicate where you are on the political spectrum, and add an opinion if you want. Be anonymous if you wish.

To ensure we all understand what we're talking about, here's a brief discussion.

Capitalism and Socialism are two distinct economic systems:

Capitalism is characterized by private ownership of the means of production and minimal government intervention in the economy. It promotes free market conditions where supply and demand dictate prices.

Socialism, on the other hand, involves public ownership of the means of production and greater government control over economic activities. The aim is to distribute wealth more evenly among the population.

The key difference lies in the extent of government control: capitalism favors individual initiative and private enterprise, while socialism emphasizes collective ownership and economic planning.

Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages, and many countries implement a mix of both to balance economic efficiency with social welfare.

I'm Conservative - I prefer CAPITALISM

I'm Conservative - I prefer SOCIALISM

I'm Independent - I prefer CAPITALISM

I'm Independent - I prefer SOCIALISM

I'm Liberal - I prefer CAPITALISM

I'm Liberal - I prefer SOCIALISM

Something ELSE - please tell

[OneViewpoint]

Capitalism and Socialism both have fundamental flaws. Irrational "belief" and blind faith in either one is stupid.

CAPITALISM: The free market will always make the right decisions.

• The free market is a bullshit pipe dream that doesn't exist. The moment someone gets power they will use it to tilt the playing field in their favor to gain more power. It becomes momentum that can't be opposed at some point until power is concentrated in the hands of a few. An Oligarchy. An aristocracy. Call it whatever you want.
• Yes, Capitalism will result in the right decision for someone. Those who hold power. And that may or may not be good for the society as a whole. Usually not.
• Capitalism is based on greed. It recognizes that flaw in humans and uses it to incentivize innovation and competition. That's good overall for society. What isn't good for society is monopolies that stifle innovation and competition. That's what unchecked greed will do every time. This is the fundamental flaw of Capitalism. It's best feature is also it's greatest weakness.

SOCIALISM: The government should centrally control assets for the good of society as a whole to prevent wealth inequality and deliver a higher standard of living to the greatest number of people.

• Central control of everything is a big task and something governments have historically failed at.
• If there is no chance to get ahead, climb the ladder of social hierarchy, because government is artificially suppressing wealth inequality too much, you may remove a lot of the incentive to take risks along with the innovation and competition that comes with it. That's overall a bad thing for society.
• Socialism fails to recognize human greed as a motivating force and assumes it can be controlled and regulated. It's a flawed assumption that ignores human nature.

So what's the solution. Some European countries have figured it out.

• A fundamentally Capitalist economic system.
• A recognition that some things are basic human rights that should NEVER be put in the hands of anyone with a profit motive or the constant volatility of "the markets". Healthcare, a military, a basic retirement income, etc.
• A strong central government to ride herd on the worst aspects of Capitalism and manage a few basic services that have been deemed human rights or too risky and costly to put in the hands of Capitalists.

That's the only way it's ever gonna work. Not Capitalism. Not Socialism. Using the best aspects of each while recognizing the flaws of both. The right tool for each job. And get the fuck over the moronic knee jerk Commie / Capitalist name calling. If you need a hammer, use a hammer. If you need a wrench, grab a wrench. It's OK to have a hammer AND a wrench in your toolbox.

[bayoubob]

European countries and 1st world industrial nations that are not the Unites States of America are proving outright what they are doing doesn't work. Is America perfect? Obviously not. Perfection is never possible. That being said, you could not pay me enough money to live in another country. If you want to be commie, be a commie, I'll fight against you until the day I die. If everything you want and strive for is handed over to you for no good reason because you feel it's basic human rights, you are already up a creek without a paddle. You'd have no reason to wake up. Utopia is not possible, never will be. Start taking responsibility for your own life.

[OneViewpoint]

@bayoubob ,

You are a moron.

[bayoubob]

Thank You, and Thanks for stopping by, would you like fries with that? No? Okay. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.

Crying "free healthcare, free college, free this, free that, free rent, free everything." What's the point? You are allergic to work and you want the Government to provide. That's mentally beyond comprehension. What will you personally give up for this "Utopian European lifestyle that is unsustainable?" The answer is nothing. Why is that the answer? You'll say you worked too hard for your lot in life. You should be giving up everything possible. Just go to your local Government, hand over your paycheck, your retirement fund, hand over your dwelling, hand over your vehicle, hand over everything, sign your life away. The Government will now provide you. Government is your God. Government knows best and will now assign you a job, you don't like it? That's what you want. They'll look at you and say "well we have a niche to be filled," here is your assignment. Now you really need to wake up. You have to wake up and do as the Government says, otherwise you aren't part of the "plan." You are 59 and retired you say? Fuck you, no. You are their slave. You gave up everything for your pity party of "basic human rights." Now you must do what you are told, if you don't, they will now not provide you anything. You sold your soul to the devil. You won't have income, you won't have a roof over your head, you will not own anything, all freedom is lost.

It's okay though. Government will provide!

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Capitalism exploits the vulnerable, while socialism empowers the lazy so both are bad because human nature is evil, lazy and greedy.

I favor 80% capitalism while mixing in 20% socialism to avoid exploitation of the needy.

Voted independent for capitalism.

[purplepoppy]

We have the longest democratically elected socialist government in the world (labour) and in many counties the far left Plaid Cymru is popular classing itself as "community socialism" whatever that means. We "borrowed" the idea from the French but we like to think we invented socialism or at least played a big part in it's creation before the Russians fucked it up.

We should have been one of the richest countries in the world thanks to coal but the entire wealth of the country was funnelled into the pocket of one man with virtually nothing reinvested into the country. Death rates among miners were high and life expectancy short. Capitalistism was seen as exploitation and to many still is and a distrust has been passed down the generations. Thankfully socialism has never been demonised here as it has been in the USA.

The problem is socialism on it's own doesn't work. I believe many things are too important to leave to people chasing a profit but you still need money generators. I believe things like energy, transport etc should be government controlled but factories, shops etc private. I believe people are idiots. Without regulation things fall apart. I want the government to step in when my neighbour treats his sick sheep with "magic crystals" before they affect mine or bring down export prices. Government should be there to support the people and work for them not take hands off "not my job" attitude.

Capitalistism left unchecked will always exploit people, a Capitalist will kick you down and if you try and get back up kick you down harder. I see socialism as giving people a hand up not a hand out with the expectation they'll benefit society in return I believe socialism is about treating people fairly like human beings rather than nonsense about equal wealth distribution. In short Socialism is about keeping Capitalistism ethical, I don't think either can exist without the other because left unchecked both are dangerous but I lean more positively to socialism.

[bayoubob]

What a crock of non sense. Where does one even start to respond? All I see is word salads which are impossible to respond to. Perhaps you would have been a good speech writer for Kamala Harris.

[FreyaRed]

I'm Independent - I prefer CAPITALISM

Capitalism bases in theory in market competition. It has natural reward and punishment mechanic. Capitalism turns always in protectionism after growing phase when end phase of capitalism begins, because those who dominate markets don't allow others to take their resources away even though they aren't capable to compete anymore.
Socialism bases in redistribution of generated resources. It gives weak and needy ones same resources as those who generate them. Socialism can work in small and limited social groups where individuals have some kind of social or emotional bond with each other, but in bigger anonymous system it will always end in dictate of those who want to redistribute resources to gain power and control. Socialism is not conform with human nature and always fails in long run.

[OlderAndWiser]

Socialism requires the sacrifice of personal liberties that I’m not willing to surrender.

[Anonymous]

I believe in taking aspects from all systems and all countries into consideration to fixing problems. Capitalism is what I grew up under, though there have been times in America where we did do “Socialist” things without sacrificing the core of who we are as a nation.

I believe in People’s rights to choose a leader , people’s rights to be paid adequately for their hard work , and that everyone including big business can make it in this world and be happy with the financial success they’ve built , though I am pro regulation however not someone who likes govt buying stocks or owning companies like communists do.

Socialism like Nazis took rich people’s property , homes , businesses to give government money however that didn’t last long. Though taxing the richest of the rich like multi billionaires and trillionaires isn’t radical so, I’m in favor.

I don’t like the idea of Autocrats or Oligarchs in power utilizing the ruins of Liberty to abuse American system of self governance to licentiousness, I believe all Americans believe in preservation of US Constitution , The Bill of Rights , and Constitutional Amendments. We have certain unalienable rights endowed by our creator for the government to never take away however I fear billionaire influence is starting to erode American understanding of what it is America stands for which is allowing it to slip away. I don’t want to see that happen.

I support Social Programs that uplift the worker too.

[Cormac995]

I went with Independent and capitalism but that said there are certain socialist policies I would love to see be enacted like universal income, universal health care, workers' rights and aid programs. That said any non-capitalist economy system is doomed to fail long term we've seen it over and over in history. Capitalism is the natural state of human trade and we've been trading since we were monkeys. Now instead of bananas for sex it's cash for whatever you want. Either way capitalism is the only system that works long term because it's natural.

[Tarifa]

The problem with socialist-inspired regimes is that, in the long run, they will lean towards a totalitarian regime, creating clearly defined classes, with the upper class developping a tendency towards abuse of power. Even if at the start, everything was good on paper.

Anyone interested in this topic should read Animal Farm: it gives a sharp critique on how socialist and communist ideals can be corrupted by authoritarian power, leading to a system no better than the capitalism they wanted to overthrow. The initial socialist-inspired revolution of the animals aiming for collective ownership is betrayed by a certain animal species who create a new totalitarian regime.

[loveslongnails]

The problem isn't in the definition, it's in the actual real time workings of both systems, but mainly it's capitalism that's the problem. In reality, the "free market" becomes monopolistic very quickly and profit taking for investors and shareholders becomes the primary goals. It's 100% inevitable that wealth will be wildly accumulated by a small percentage of people. This might not be a problem if those people were benevolent, but that's rarely the case.

Many people believe Capitalism is completely based on merit, but a careful analysis shows it's far more generational than merit based at this point in time. Sure, there are always new advances and new fortunes being made, but the pattern of Capitalism never changes.

[Anonymous]

Socialism sounds good but what always happens is that Socialism becomes capitalism. The politicians tax people more heavily for social programmes and being politicians they consider taxes as a bottomless pit that they can waste and lease out the contracts for these social programmes to their political dinners.

Give you an example. Period poverty. So say AOC wants to fight Period poverty by giving every woman in the US free tampons and maxipads. Say every multi pack of Maxipads is $9, how it will work is that administration cost, delivery and wholesale cost from the company will drive the price of the same pack up to $10, $16, $20. Companies will charge whatever they what because they can and of course politicians in charge aren't going to haggle or negotiate if the maxipad company is donating to their campaigns.

Thats just an example. Obamacare worked the same in a lot of cases. Medical corporations and health insurance companies just saw piles of easy money.

[Anonymous]

I'm not American, so I don't identify with either party (both Liberals and Conservatives would be considered right parties in other places of the world, with the exception of Sanders, who I think is a democratic socialist), but I believe that capitalism in its current form is the root of all evils.

By its very design, capitalism siphons away most of the value created by workers to go to the owning class and steals the fruit of another's labor, so it's inherently exploitative. It's a ruthless system in which the rich become even wealthier and the poor even more impoverished and destroys the environment, through excessive consumption, which is propagated by mass media (which are in turn owned and controlled by the owners of these companies)

[dustybiker2]

Currently, in the United States, neither is happening. It is one man grabbing power.

His goal is neither gov or public ownership or control. He keeps saying "I have all of the power." He does not. This country is built on The People have the power.

Gov entities were set up to help control the people's choices.

Those entities are currently tied by one sole greedy bastard.

Personally? I think a mix is healthy. Some things ran smoother when the gov is funding them, so long as the base decisions are still up to the people of a country.

[Paige90]

It's amazing that anyone would think positive of socialism!!

[Billlewis]

You can usually tell who the socialists are; they'll typically be from liberal colleges.

[Paige90]

@Billlewis Yes they are

[Cubus]

Most of these people are the ones that never had to live under socialism.

[northerngal]

If we are viewing them as "pure" Socialism or Capitalism i view them both the same and negatively. I think the best model is a hybrid model. An economy that is fundamentally Capitalism with controls and a society that looks after the weak and those who fall through the cracks. Oh and public health care for all.

[BCRanger10]

I'm not a full-blown capitalist, I've come to have some skepticism and criticism of some aspects and practices over the last few years. However, socialism is objectively and inherently EVIL.

And no, Jesus Christ was very much NOT a socialist. Spare me.

[jshm2]

Neither system functionally exists. All societies have varying levels of socialism and capitalism. They just call it something else.

For example, you lose your job you get welfare. Its socialist policy with the taxpayer paying. But a bank or corporation doing the same gets called a "bailout" or "incentive". Despite being the same thing.

[bayoubob]

Ask the people who prefer socialism what they will give up personally. Answer? They will give up nothing. Why? They say they work too hard to just give everything away. Therefore they prefer capitalism and don't know it, or are too stupid to understand their contradictory stance.

[andreasderjuengere]

Both ideas had been perverted, exaggerated - and: stagnate. They are both 'too old' to respond to modern life circumstances.

New ideas... don't come.

Instead of ''more positive'' I can actually only comment on 'socialism' as being ''less negative'' - in my own perception.

[genericname85]

i prefer neither of these things by themself. both systems slowly accumulate power in few people over time. but they both do it through different mechanisms so if you have a mix of both, they can effectively block each other so the accumulation of power can be mediated to a certain degree.

[convo_king89]

I think things that needed for everyday life should have government control or highly regulated like health insurance.

Capitalism is great for innovation and getting investment. But when it affects everyday life and the environment regulate it or control it.

[mysteriousNicholas]

Something else - I prefer "modern socialism" or "think of it all as + brands and companies still exist, yet turned from shareholders into semi-independent government owned businesses - there.

[mysteriousNicholas]

@AviatorTom or the shareholders can still exist. - who doesn't love making money on the stocks and stock market - yet in that version of socialism, stockholders have no say and no voting rights in terms of company decision making, board selection, or etc :) 😁👀 ironically, that wonderful socialism in my mind starts to resemble companies and brands becoming figureheads and "the government manages the economy, the price, the competition, for the betterment of all, workers, managers, classes, alike" - some may say that would be a fairer kinder world - but I guess some would say "so I can't become a billionaire or a millionaire if I wanted to" - well I mean does anyone really need a mansion versus "people are allow a large home, or a small home if they desire, but there's limitations" in that daydream :) and humbly making a populace humble

[mysteriousNicholas]

@AviatorTom always important to distinguish "government election voting rights" of voters versus "shareholders "apparently" in capitalism have rights to vote at annual general meetings, pick the board members, can nominate for the boards or applies for CEO chair etc etc" well in my modern socialism - I much prefer day to day operations and other actions having much more government fairness control 🎂👀

[goaded]

Neither works without a working democracy. Capitalists don't like democracies, people can vote to reduce their profits. Just look at all the capitalists who are supporting Trump and who supported Hitler, back in the day.

[Anonymous]

I'm partially conservative, but I'm not religious.

I'm mostly independent, but I'm certainly not a liberal/democrat.

I voted for socialism but - I think the ideal system is Market Socialism (just like in China).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_socialism

[Avicenna]

The carcasses of socialism are littered all over the gulags of China, the Society Union, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and elsewhere.

[TrueConfection]

Annnnnnnnd… Germany, The Netherlands, Britain, Austria, Belgium, FRANCE…

[katiesmuff]

I think there is a place between the two where everyone has the opportunity to gain success, but we also stay compassionate to some point for the unfortunate.

[DryGermanGuy]

I prefer a healthy mixture, like Germany and other European countries have.

[DryGermanGuy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxDKeFVA0Ms

[sage2021]

The problem with socialism is that it's that the rich get richer and the poor stay poor. Do we even have a middle class anymore?

[BeenThereLovedIt]

Would have been nice to see "democratic socialism", pure socialism sucks. Capitalism arguably worse

[Agape93]

Of the two? Socialism because at least my stolen tax money goes towards something I can actually see a benefit for.

[Sal_Monella]

Capitalism is an economic construct. Often compatible with a Republic government format. Socialism is a failed socio-economic theory. I voted.

[TrueConfection]

Well said!

[CaptainObivous]

Independent who likes capitalism with some socialism sprinkled in.

[beefcakebradybatson]

SOCIALISM!!!(Yesterday, I heard a commercial about homelessness directly after one mentioning Jeff Bezos' FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX BILLION DOLLAR wealth and Elon Musk's QUARTER-TRILLION DOLLAR ($250,000,000,000) riches. Seriously, that sums up capitalism's immorality in a nutshell.)

[Anonymous]

The problem with socialism is that it requires benevolent leaders. Human nature screws things up every time.

[Kelley1]

The US hasn't had much capitalism in sixty years. Currently, we are 30% capitalism, 45% socialism, and 25% fascism, with the trend toward socialism and fascism.

[AviatorTom]

@Kelley1 I don't know where you're getting your numbers from. I would estimate the US is 60% capitalism and 40% socialism. We can have a meaningful discussion about fascism.

[Staximus]

I don't work my ass off at two jobs to support freeloading bums, they can get a fucking job

[Dongie]

Yep, socialism only works on paper. People are to greedy and the hierarchy live as kings while the rest do all the work for meager scraps.

[AngryCarl2]

You need a subtle mixture. Socialism fails without Capitalism and Capitalism fails without Socialism.

[douride2]

I like the majority who voted so far I went with the first choice.

[msc545]

Capitalism is great for about the 5-10% of the population who essentially live off the remaining 90-95%.

[Joshydavid25]

Capitalism is the way to go.. It's been proven to actually work.. When you give people the freedom to do commerce and trade, society flourishes.. I'm a Right leaning Libertarian..

[noohair]

Go to the Hillsdale website and take the Economic courses. It is enlightening…

[Billlewis]

Socialism has never, ever even once in the history of the world, worked, so there's that.

[Anonymous]

people who love socialism only love it until it's their turn to redistribute their own resources including human resources i. e. state mandated girlfriends

[DonaldDarko]

I'm an eclecticist I prefer to use them both.

[exitseven]

Capitalism for 100 dollars Alex.

[chrissykerdock]

you need balance no extremes

[OneViewpoint]

In all things seek balance.

[slatyb]

Social democracy, like the Scandinavian nations.

[WonderingManII]

I'm Conservative - I prefer CAPITALISM

[DrPepper12]

It's not binary. We need a blend

[Anonymous]

How do you define socialism? In your opinion, is France currently a socialist country?

[Anonymous]

Socialism doesn’t work

[Massageman]

Capitalism.

[Amur8711]

Capitalism