Americans can't seem to get on the same page when it comes to what defines socialism even though new polling shows the movement's favorability is at an all-time high.
asserted
favorability → seem → high
Whether far-left factions are able to rally around the label could come down to understand its principles.
Fox News Digital took to the streets of a Maryland liberal hotspot, Takoma Park, for its annual street festival to talk with attendees about their definitions of socialism and how far they would be willing to go to embrace its ideals.
uncertain
they → rally → ideals
"The fact is that there's no…one answer," Nina Gilden Seavey said when asked to define socialism.
asserted
Seavey → be → socialism
"Just the idea of like, you've been paying all these things to set up these programs and then you're actually giving them to the people," Jaw Blake said describing his view of the political movement.
asserted
Blake → pay → movement
"It's not a special group that gets to have them, it's just available."
asserted
it → get → them
Jenny Sniderman had a more direct answer, claiming that "public libraries, the police department, the fire department, all our public services, utilities," are all part of what makes up socialism.
asserted
what → have → socialism
A September Gallup poll found that 43% of Americans have a positive image of socialism — the highest level since the polling organization began tracking the question in 2010.
asserted
organization → find → 2010
But the survey asks respondents their image of socialism without providing a definition of the ideology or asking whether they would actually support adopting it in the U.S.
The same festival-goers were pressed on socialism as an economic system, questioning their favorability of collective ownership.
asserted
goers → ask → ownership
They shared some skepticism when Fox News Digital asked whether they would personally surrender their private property to government or collective control.
asserted
they → share → government
"Do I want to give up my private property?
asserted
I → want → property
Of course I don't want to give up my private property," Sniderman said.
asserted
Sniderman → want → property
"Are they going to reimburse me fairly?
asserted
they → go → me
That would be helpful in making my choice."
asserted
That → make → choice
"I don't know that I would necessarily love it," Blake said.
asserted
Blake → know → it
"But I mean, if it was something that was beneficial, I'd at least consider it."
asserted
I → mean → it
"Nobody wants what they have to be taken away from them," he continued.
asserted
he → want → them
"But there is something to be said about…you can set up things so that they're available for everybody."
asserted
they → be → everybody
"I think the government is not the greatest steward…of assets," Seavey said.
asserted
Seavey → think → assets
"It's not to say that capitalism is somehow without flaw, but the fact is that there is an idealism that can come from thinking, 'Oh, if we had some more centrality, if…there was some kind of uber organization in charge of reallocation.'
asserted
we → say → reallocation
Documentary filmmaker and self-described historian Seavey also questioned the idea of government control over private assets, but argued that the growing democratic socialist movement in the U.S. should not be confused with traditional socialism.
asserted
movement → describe → socialism
Democratic socialism is essentially what we have a growing movement in this country," Seavey said.
asserted
Seavey → have → country
"Socialism is where there is a massive redistribution of wealth.
asserted
Socialism → be → wealth
We are not having redistribution of wealth in this country.
asserted
We → have → country
But the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organization in the U.S., advocates redistributing wealth from wealthy individuals and corporations to workers and lower-income Americans.
asserted
Socialists → advocate → workers
The DSA also calls for public stake in major corporations and essential industries rather than private ownership.
asserted
DSA → call → ownership
The differing interpretations among festival-goers reflect a broader debate over what socialism means in America — one that has taken on new political significance as socialist candidates gain ground within the Democratic Party heading into midterm elections.
asserted
candidates → differ → elections
In a 2018 survey asking Americans to define socialism in their own words, just 17% described it in terms of government ownership or control of businesses or the means of production.
asserted
% → ask → production
Another 23% associated it with equality, while 10% pointed to social benefits and services.
asserted
% → associate → benefits
Nearly a quarter could not provide an answer.
uncertain
quarter → provide → answer
Seavey argued that political labels themselves have distorted the conversation.
asserted
labels → argue → conversation
"Let's think about it differently and let's take away these ridiculous stigmas that have to do with these crazy labels that we have allowed the right wing to foment onto the rest of America," Seavey said.
asserted
Seavey → let → America
But as socialist-aligned candidates compete for office, the growing movement raises a question that favorable polling alone cannot answer: whether voters are embracing its promises on affordability and equality, or also support its broader proposals for economic ownership and control.
asserted
voters → align → ownership
The Aporia
