New Poll Shows Socialism Still Gaining Ground In America

Socialism remains a minority view in the United States, but it's steadily gaining ground.

A recent Fox News poll captures the shift: a record 38% of Americans now say it would be a good thing for the country to move away from capitalism and toward socialism -- an increase of six points since 2022. That's more than double the low of 18% recorded nearly two decades ago. Meanwhile, a solid 61% still oppose the idea. When it comes to capitalism itself, however, opinions are evenly divided: 51% believe it's working very or somewhat well, while 49% say it isn't.

The demographic breakdowns are predictable yet revealing. Support for shifting toward socialism peaks among far-left voters and Democrats under 45, both at 66%. "More than half of all Democrats (55%), Black voters (55%), and those under age 30 (53%) also favor moving away from capitalism," Fox noted. Opposition remains strong overall, with 61% viewing a move toward socialism as a bad thing -- led by large majorities of Republicans (78%), conservatives (75%), men over 45 (75%), and voters 65 and older (75%).

On capitalism's performance, the contrasts sharpen further. Its strongest defenders include Republican men (87% say it's working very/somewhat well), MAGA supporters (85%), and Republicans ages 45+ (81%). The harshest critics? Very liberal voters (79% say it's working not very/not at all well), Democratic women (79%), and Democrats under 45 (72%).

Fox's analysis ties these attitudes more to widespread frustration with the current system than to any deep enthusiasm for bigger government. When asked whether they want government to "lend me a hand" or "leave me alone," voters split nearly down the middle: 48% favor a helping hand, 51% prefer to be left alone. "The last three times this question was asked, voters preferred a helping hand." Among Democrats, however, a record 48% now say "leave me alone" -- a shift Fox links partly to improving personal finances for some.

Polls don't always translate directly to politics, but socialism has been making real inroads in American life as of late. For example, New York City's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani (D), won on a socialist campaign. Similar progressive and socialist-leaning candidates have emerged in cities and states nationwide, surfacing at a moment when openness to socialist ideas is evidently climbing. What might this trend indicate for America's future -- and what risks does it carry?

For a Christian perspective, Dr. Calvin Beisner, president of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, shared his insights with The Washington Stand. "The simplest concern any Christian -- indeed, anyone -- should have with socialism is its disastrous track record, especially for the poor (Galatians 2:10)," he said. "No country has risen and stayed out of poverty under socialism. No prosperous country that has embraced socialism has remained prosperous. As philosopher George Santayana said, 'Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it.'"

Beisner distinguished between "deep socialism," which "requires that productive property be owned or controlled by the government," and "soft socialism," which "calls for forced redistribution of wealth from those to whom it belongs to those to whom it doesn't. That is unjust, violating the 8th Commandment, which does not, after all, say, 'You shall not steal unless you are the government.'" He pointed to biblical foundations: from the 8th Commandment in Moses's day ("You shall not steal") to the early church in Jerusalem (Ananias's property belonged to him, Acts 5:4), Scripture upholds private property rights.

As detailed in his book "Prosperity and Poverty" and reiterated here, "the Bible clearly supports private property rights, entrepreneurship, free trade, limited government, and the rule of law" -- "socialism denies all five."

At its core, Beisner argued, socialism erodes human dignity and responsibility. "God made mankind in His image to be productive. By relieving some people -- recipients of forced wealth transfers -- of the need to produce for themselves, socialism treats them not as humans but as pets. The main point of the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) depends on its being true that voluntary exchange of value for value (in this case, pay for labor) is just." While the vineyard owner has "the right to do what he wants with his own money" to pay different amounts, it occurs in "voluntary" relationships.

"The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) teaches that it is right for rewards to be proportional to achievement," Beisner added. "Socialism's pursuit of equal distribution of wealth contradicts that." He further warned that socialism distorts biblical values, stating that "Micah 6:8 instructs God's people to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. 'Social justice,' a key element of socialism, confuses justice with mercy and caters to pride. 

Biblically defined, justice means rendering impartially and proportionally to everyone his due according to the righteous standard of God's moral law. By forcefully taking from some what they earn and giving it to others who do not earn it, socialism systematizes injustice. By substituting government handouts for charity, it undermines mercy and engenders pride in those with power to plan the economy."

The Cornwall Alliance's mission, Beisner concluded, "is to promote biblical earth stewardship, economic development for the poor, and the gospel of Christ. Socialism undermines all three." First, it "undermines environmental stewardship by vesting land ownership in the state, not private persons, reducing incentive to care for it, as the dismal environmental track records of socialist countries show." Second, "it undermines economic development by robbing producers of some or all of their profit, undermining incentive for investment and work." And lastly, "it undermines the gospel by confusing justice and grace."

Originally published at The Washington Stand