I just posted on pirate/kleptocracy, with a link to a Cuban woman who has lived under the "Umbrella" of social benevolence.

When viewing the Bell Curve, it is important to remember that only half the people are above average. How did ACORN's get out the vote thing work?

Change!™
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It's not as bad as it might seem--only 20% think that socialism is better. Also, another poll shows that 70% of Americans "prefer a free-market economy".

I suspect the problem here is with the definition of "capitalism". If people are linking that word with oligarchic crony capitalism, then that might explain the hesitation to wholeheartedly choose capitalism.

I think this points out the opening for a political party (probably Republicans, but not necessarily) to embrace the free market but without coddling big business as the Democrats and Country Club Republicans have tended to do.

I read that poll as more of a poll on what people think the terms "capitalism" and "socialism" mean. After all, in the same poll only about 17% said the government can run big businesses better, which is certainly not a resounding endorsement for one of the prime tenets of socialism. As such, the poll better reflects the poor quality of many people's education or information networks.

Also, while the headline implied that 47% prefer socialism, that minority was actually almost evenly split between "socialism is better" and "I don't know." Considering the bad press capitalism has gotten recently, 53% actually seem pretty good.