by Steven Hall
A majority of respondents believe that the federal government should push policies that reduce income inequality in the United States, according to a poll released Friday by Axios.
The Axios poll shows 66% of respondents say the government should work to lower the level of income distributed unevenly, up 4% compared to 2019.
Republicans surveyed who agreed the government should tackle income inequality increased by 5%, and Independents who responded similarly increased by 2%, according to the poll. Democrats saw an increase of 7% in favor of such policies compared to 2019.
Just half of younger Americans now hold a positive view of capitalism — and socialism's appeal in the U.S. continues to grow, driven by Black Americans and women, according to a new Axios/Momentive poll. https://t.co/vOQSBsCehy
— Axios (@axios) June 25, 2021
The views among young Republicans aged 18-34 have shifted dramatically with only 40% in 2019 saying the government should pursue such policies, compared to an increase to 56% in 2021, the Friday survey found.
81% of Republicans aged 18-34 had a positive view of capitalism when polled in 2019.
In 2021, only 66% had a positive opinion of capitalism. Among Gen Z adults aged 18-24, only 42% have a positive view of capitalism and 54% have a negative view.
58% of Americans aged 18-34 had favorable views of capitalism in 2019, which has declined to 49% in 2021, according to the poll.
Perceptions of socialism are still negative nationally, with 41% of Americans in the Axios poll saying they have a favorable view and 52% saying they have a negative view.
The online poll was conducted June 11 – 15 using a sample of 2,309 adults with a margin of error of +/- 3 points.
Another Axios poll in June 2019 found that 55% of women aged 18-54 said they would prefer to live in a socialist country over a capitalist country.
Only 29% of respondents in a 2019 Monmouth University poll believed socialism is “compatible” with American values.
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Steven Hall is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
So what is new about this. The human condition is such that whenever there is someone who has more than you do, you tend to envy them. If you are a hard working person you can question how it was that they have what they have and you work hard and only have what you have. It is then quite logical that you might desire to have some of what they have without earning it. Sort of like because you are both human and you can’t help it that your stack isn’t as big as theirs, so how about sharing. Well, i’m sorry, folks, but that ain’t how it works. You lot in life is determined by choices you make and the timing of those choices. Some get lucky, and others are just good at doing the right thing at the right time. I guess, in a free society, we have to live with that reality or give up our freedom.