A shocking survey just released by the Cato Institute and YouGov paints a very disturbing but, sadly, not surprising picture: 62% of Americans aged 18–29 say they hold a “favorable view” of socialism, and 34% say the same of communism.
Communism is responsible for 100 million deaths worldwide and is a direct result of socialism, the same type of collectivism, nationalizations and groupthink that created both Mussolini’s fascism and Hitler’s National Socialism. To approve of socialism is, truly, to want tyranny—just ask any Cuban American in Miami who escaped Castro’s “worker’s paradise.”
In the March 2025 survey, Cato/YouGov asked a national sample of 2,000 young people in the above age group several questions about U.S. fiscal policy, including the following: “Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of Socialism?” and “Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of Communism?”
Now, to be clear: the poll never explicitly defined “socialism.” (Full disclosure: I have not seen it yet). But, the term is pretty broadly known today in a number of ways to even the casual observer: state-owned production, government mandates and excessive regulation, price control, “fairness” and “equity” in hiring, etc.
A total of 43% in the poll said they have a “favorable” view of socialism, and for those aged 18–29, 62% said favorable. For communism, a total of 14% said they have a favorable view; however, in that group, a whopping 34% said favorable. That’s about 18 million people, according to the poll’s results. Unbelievable.
I’ve always appreciated the bumper sticker that reads, “What The Socialist Distributes, The Capitalist Creates.” And that is so true. Business made, and still makes, this country the most productive in the world and that’s due to the freedom in place to create and work without hindrance by a giant State.
Apparently, these young people want government ownership of industries and central planning, while others want heavy regulation, wealth redistribution, and a vast welfare state—free “things” in general (except they’re being paid for by someone—three guesses who). Whatever they want, you can be sure what they DON’T want is capitalism. Even the word now has become an epithet.
Is that any surprise? Most of the villains on TV and in movies are the greedy businessmen or industrialists (never the evil schoolteacher or Peace Corps worker). Government agencies are always the heroes and all the capitalists want is to make more and more money at the expense of the common people, running over anything in their way. That’s the message from Hollywood. I’ve counted about three anti-Koch Industries documentaries on Netflix alone. Search for pro-business or pro-capitalist films or shows and you’ll get nothing.
That same anti-market message is spread in the classroom. Even in our most hallowed halls of education, socialism is held and taught as the great “ideal” by a vast majority of professors who, other polls have shown, are liberal in their beliefs and have never met a payroll in their lives.
And don’t forget: our future leaders are being groomed in these classrooms. I’ve heard enough apologetic CEOs on the news to see that even many successful businessmen feel guilty about their wealth and earnings. Well, that’s what they’ve been taught to believe and what the culture encourages.
There’s been a good bit of pushback recently against this kind of anti-capitalist thinking and I hope it continues. It should. However, it may be a case of too little, too late. Especially when so many young people believe it is better to be led (socialism) then to try and lead (capitalism). MBJ
Scott Coopwood