Did Communists attack free enterprise or capitalism? My opinion may not be fact but it is not without foundation

freeman2 wrote:Did Communists attack free enterprise or capitalism? My opinion may not be fact but it is not without foundation

Sure it is. If it has a foundation, then kindly provide it by connecting your comment to specifics from the poll's internals. I'll look forward to that. Thanks.

Sorry, a foundation for an opinion is not limited to whatever u deem it to be My opinion is based on my reading of history over the past 150 years. I am not representing it as fact, but your attempt to belittle it as a guess is unpersuasive. Do you really believe that the differences between preferences for free enterprise vs capitalism inn this poll has nothing to do with negative connotations with the word capitalism. What else would explain it?
I mean think about it-RJ's point is why people would favor free enterprise over capitalism when they are essentially the same thing. My point is that even though the difference is not rational, people have to come to associate negative things with capitalism but not free enterprise because of historical attacks on capitalism. I really don't understand your point on this.

freeman2 wrote:Sorry, a foundation for an opinion is not limited to whatever u deem it to be My opinion is based on my reading of history over the past 150 years. I am not representing it as fact, but your attempt to belittle it as a guess is unpersuasive. Do you really believe that the differences between preferences for free enterprise vs capitalism inn this poll has nothing to do with negative connotations with the word capitalism. What else would explain it?
I mean think about it-RJ's point is why people would favor free enterprise over capitalism when they are essentially the same thing. My point is that even though the difference is not rational, people have to come to associate negative things with capitalism but not free enterprise because of historical attacks on capitalism. I really don't understand your point on this.

Stop digging!

I said you were guessing when you said:

I suspect that the word capitalism (calling up images of greedy bankers, robber barrons, Mr Potter in Its A wonderful Life, scrooge, etc) has more negatives associated with it than the more innocuous sounding free enterprise.

Now, you suggest that the results of this survey regarding the word capitalism are rooted in the history of the last 150 years.For that you adduce some support that seems, well, a bit anachronistic. Mr. Potter? Scrooge? Robber barons?

So, suddenly, these images have turned 28% of Republicans against capitalism?

That is "guessing" defined.

What else would explain it?

Let's see: a ridiculously small sample (how many of the 700 were Republicans?). Look at the pdf:

PPP surveyed 700 voters from November 30th- December 2nd. The margin of
error for the survey is +/- 3.7 percentage points. This poll was not paid for or
authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted
through automated telephone interviews.

That's 700 TOTAL! How many were Republicans? We don't know.

What else might explain it? Not understanding capitalism? We have no idea who the "Republicans" are. For all we know, they might all have public school educations.

Doctor Fate wrote:For all we know, they might all have public school educations.

Did you seriously write that?

geojanes wrote:

Doctor Fate wrote:For all we know, they might all have public school educations.

Did you seriously write that?

With tongue somewhat in cheek, yes, yes I did.

How much time is spent in public schools extolling capitalism? I suspect the answer is "not much."

However, my main point is I don't think that survey, which likely contained about 300 Republicans, is a very good one.

DF: you are confused. The poll you're now criticizing as having a sample of only 700 is in fact the one YOU first cited.

Doctor Fate wrote:

Purple wrote:You're right, Ricky. I followed the wrong link. Thanks for catching that.

700 voters. If they are consistent, that means, what, about 300 (or less) Republicans?

How about this poll? 53% of Democrats have a positive view of socialism?

It's not the Onion either.

It's the poll you cited, from Gallup, that talks about free enterprise, capitalism, etc. It has a sample of over 1,000 - its typical daily tracking sample. Please adjust your efforts to poo-poo these poll results.

Getting back to Freeman's poll, question #7 is my favorite. If you look at the detail, you'll see that Democrats are mixed whereas Republicans are strongly against.

Question 7 indicates that 25% of people managed to have an opinion about something that doesn't exist.

yes; i'm glad that both Democrats and Republicans have an equal proclivity in this regard.

Purple wrote:It's the poll you cited, from Gallup, that talks about free enterprise, capitalism, etc. It has a sample of over 1,000 - its typical daily tracking sample. Please adjust your efforts to poo-poo these poll results.

Excellent point. And, the Gallup poll is "adults," not "voters," so it's very likely to contain odd results. "Adults" is the group least likely to follow current events.

You read the poll Fate?
92% of the respondents said they voted for either Obama or Romney.
(51% O, 42% R)
8 % said, someone else or couldn't remember.
That makes 92% of them voters and 8% really questionable.
(Well, those who couldn't remember amongst the 8%...)

rickyp wrote:You read the poll Fate?
92% of the respondents said they voted for either Obama or Romney.
(51% O, 42% R)
8 % said, someone else or couldn't remember.
That makes 92% of them voters and 8% really questionable.
(Well, those who couldn't remember amongst the 8%...)

First of all, anyone who could not remember isn't worth polling.

Second, 42% means we're talking about 420 or so Republicans. If you think those responses are typical of Republicans, then fine. I think half of Democrats are socialists, so feel free to think Republicans are anti-capitalistic or whatever it is you think.

Do you know what the margin of error is on 420 compared to on 1000 (the standard for most polls)?

danivon wrote:Do you know what the margin of error is on 420 compared to on 1000 (the standard for most polls)?

The 420 is a guess, not established

I refuse to get all worked up about a quirky result from a question or two. If you believe Republicans have gone anti-capitalist, good for you!