By AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX
Updated 11:08 AM EDT, September 8, 2025
Capitalism’s image has slipped with U.S. adults overall since 2021, the survey finds, and the results show a gradual but persistent shift in Democrats’ support for the two ideologies over the past 15 years, with socialism rising as capitalism falls. The shifts underscore deep divisions within the party about whether open support for socialism will hurt Democrats’ ability to reach moderates or galvanize greater support from people who are concerned about issues like the cost of living.
...But Democrats under 50 are much less likely to view capitalism favorably, while the opinions of Democrats ages 50 and older haven’t shifted meaningfully, according to Gallup.
No. Maybe some politicians made empty promises to constituents, but liberalism itself never promised socialism. Quite the opposite- it swore to tear down socialist institutions, and convert public services into for-profit businesses. And it’s been wildly successful in delivering on those promises.
Those empty promises are the essential basis for liberal ideology, a lot of disappointed people actually did believe. Liberalism didn't promise socialism, obviously, but socialism is the only thing that deliver the promises that liberalism lied about.
Nope. Liberalism has nothing to do with those empty campaign promises of socialist policies. It has always been loudly and proudly a capitalist, imperialist ideology focused on increased resource extraction, and transferring public funds to private wealth.
The ideological promise was that, through capitalism and imperialism and resource extraction and privatization, this would create freedom and democracy and prosperity and abundance and all that bullshit.
I'm not fucking stupid. I know that the actual material goals of liberalism have always been to exploit and oppress the working class while enriching a small elite. What I'm saying is that liberal ideology promises to deliver social progress through economic growth. "A rising tide lifts all boats." It doesn't, obviously, but that promise is the siren song that creates false consciousness for millions of working class people who fall into liberalism.
People who do not benefit from liberalism nonetheless have liberal ideology and I don't think you're grappling with this contradiction.