The 'Free Market' is More Popular than 'Capitalism'
A recent Echelon Insights poll shows that 53% of respondents view the 'free market economy' favorably, compared to 49% for 'capitalism,' with unfavorable views of capitalism (29%) more than double those for free market (12%). Similar trends appear in Gallup, Napolitan News Service, and Reason-Rupe polls, with 'capitalism' polling especially poorly among younger people. The author, a libertarian commentator, attributes this to widespread political ignorance and the negative connotations of 'capital' and 'capitalists,' noting that 'capitalism' was first popularized by 19th-century socialists. The article advises free-market advocates to use terms like 'free market' or 'free enterprise' instead of 'capitalism' to avoid negative associations, citing the confusion among voters who simultaneously hold favorable views of both socialism and capitalism.
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The 'Free Market' is More Popular than 'Capitalism'
A recent Echelon Insights poll shows that 53% of respondents view the 'free market economy' favorably, compared to 49% for 'capitalism,' with unfavorable views of capitalism (29%) more than double those for free market (12%). Similar trends appear in Gallup, Napolitan News Service, and Reason-Rupe polls, with 'capitalism' polling especially poorly among younger people. The author, a libertarian commentator, attributes this to widespread political ignorance and the negative connotations of 'capital' and 'capitalists,' noting that 'capitalism' was first popularized by 19th-century socialists. The article advises free-market advocates to use terms like 'free market' or 'free enterprise' instead of 'capitalism' to avoid negative associations, citing the confusion among voters who simultaneously hold favorable views of both socialism and capitalism.