Jonah Goldberg: Can socialism ever be more than just a fad in America?
In recent months, the discourse surrounding socialism and capitalism in the United States has taken a notable turn, with various polls indicating a growing discontent with capitalism among registered voters. A recent NBC poll reveals that a majority of respondents express unfavorable views toward capitalism, mirroring findings from a Gallup poll in September that also noted a decline in support for the economic system. Meanwhile, a Data for Progress poll suggested a rising affinity for democratic socialism, particularly among younger voters. This shift has sparked headlines and discussions, including a segment on an NPR podcast titled “How socialism got sexy,” highlighting the renewed interest in socialist ideologies. The political landscape has seen figures like New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, gain popularity, prompting speculation about the potential mainstream acceptance of these ideas.
However, the enthusiasm for socialism may not be as robust or widespread as it appears. Historical context reveals that similar trends have emerged in the past, such as in 2018 when a Gallup survey showed a majority of Democrats favoring socialism over capitalism. Yet, despite this apparent shift in sentiment, Joe Biden, who distanced himself from the socialist label, ultimately secured the Democratic nomination in 2020. This discrepancy raises questions about the reliability of polling data and the influence of current events on public perception. For instance, during President Trump’s tenure, capitalism’s popularity waned, likely due to voters associating the economic system with an unpopular administration. Critics argue that the brand of capitalism promoted by Trump, characterized by significant government intervention and favoritism towards certain industries, deviates from traditional free-market principles, further complicating the public’s understanding of capitalism versus socialism.
The author, Jonah Goldberg, cautions against overinterpreting these polling trends, suggesting that they often reflect transient sentiments rather than deeply held beliefs. He argues that many Americans may not possess a nuanced understanding of socialism or its implications, and that their preferences are influenced more by current dissatisfaction with the status quo than by ideological commitments. Goldberg posits that labeling the existing economic structure as “capitalism” leads to negative perceptions, particularly when associated with the perceived failures of the current administration. Ultimately, he asserts that while socialists may celebrate their growing popularity, the real test lies in governance; if those advocating for socialist policies were to take charge, public support could quickly diminish. This nuanced analysis invites readers to consider the complexities of political ideologies and how they resonate with the American public in a rapidly changing socio-economic landscape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs0DeBs2KTA
Here we go again.
Socialism is making a comeback, according to friend and
foe
alike. A new
NBC
poll
now suggests that a majority of registered voters don’t like capitalism.
A Gallup poll in September also found that support for capitalism was
slipping
. A Data for Progress poll around the same time showed that — after asking some decidedly leading questions about democratic socialism — people liked democratic socialism. Still,
Politico
combined the results to declare: “Capitalism is out … and socialism is in.” And just this week, an NPR podcast dedicated a segment to explaining “
How socialism got sexy
.”
This has happened
before
. In 2018,
Gallup
found for the first time that a majority of Democrats had a more favorable view of “socialism” than of “capitalism.” And we got
similar headlines as a result
. No doubt such polls partly explain why Democratic presidential primary candidates overwhelmingly ran in the Bernie Sanders lane in 2020. Joe Biden, the candidate who mostly avoided that lane, however, won the nomination.
Like Sanders, New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani describes himself as a democratic socialist. His popularity has driven many to claim that democratic socialism is popular too. It may well be, especially in New York City. But what plays in NYC may not have legs far outside the Big Apple. Indeed, Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in neighboring New Jersey, which shares much of the same media market, didn’t run as a democratic socialist and beat primary candidates who more or less did.
But punditry is not my aim here. My problem is with these periodic, poll-driven, “socialism is coming” fads.
For starters, issue polling — even when done well — is not very reliable. Change one word and you’ll get very different
results
. For decades, if you call a program “welfare,” Americans won’t like it. Call it “assistance to the poor” and Americans like it whole a lot more.
It’s also difficult to keep other issues from influencing issue polling. Capitalism’s popularity dropped — particularly among Democrats — during President Trump’s first term. It has dropped again during his second term. Is it really so hard to imagine people associating capitalism with the avowed party of capitalism? When that party is in power and is unpopular, it shouldn’t be surprising that the thing it claims to stand for is (slightly) less popular too?
And then there’s the messy fact that Trump’s brand of capitalism isn’t exactly the uncut free market stuff (that I like). It’s not socialism, but it’s definitely close to “
state capitalism
” — a system involving massive government interventions in the economy, usually on behalf of favored industries. Most serious libertarians would rather eat glass than call Trump’s program of massive tariffs, cronyism, industrial planning and partial government ownership of industries “capitalism.”
There’s a famous —
and widely attributed
— line that the problem with socialism is socialism, but the problem with capitalism is capitalists. When the administration is run from the top by private-jet-flying billionaires seemingly getting richer with insider deals and literally
cosplaying “The Great Gatsby”
at a time when SNAP benefits are running out for 40 million Americans, you’d think capitalism would be in even worse odor.
But take Trump out of it. When the status quo is unpopular, if you call the status quo “capitalism” they’ll have problems with it. Call the economic status quo “capitalism” and a lot of people will choose option number two, whether you call it “socialism” or not.
It’s not like the new “socialists” have cracked the books in their free time and suddenly have a newfound respect for Karl Marx, Sidney Webb, Michael Harrington or some other socialist thinker.
Socialist intellectuals have a hard enough time agreeing on what socialism is. The best definition the very well-read editors of the socialist journal Dissent could come up with in 1954 was
“socialism is the name of our desire.”
The idea that millions of Americans have a fully formed and coherent understanding of the concept, never mind know how to implement socialism, is preposterous. Asking people if they like socialism or capitalism is a “vibes” question and little more.
Of course, socialists are entitled to be happy about improving vibes. But the best way to make Americans sour on socialism is to put socialists in charge — which is why I’m not too worried about America becoming a socialist country.
Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. His Twitter handle is
@JonahDispatch
.
