Americans today are more closely divided than they were earlier in the last century when asked whether some form of socialism would be a good or bad thing for the country. While 51% of U.S. adults say socialism would be a bad thing for the country, 43% believe it would be a good thing. Those results contrast with a 1942 Roper/Fortune survey that found 40% describing socialism as a bad thing, 25% a good thing and 34% not having an opinion.

More Americans Now See Socialism as a Good Thing for the Country

Would some form of socialism be a good thing or a bad thing for the country as a whole?

1942 2019 Change % % pct. pts. Good thing 25 43 +18 Bad thing 40 51 +11 No opinion 34 6 -28 Net “good thing” -15 -8 +7 Note: 1942 data gathered by Roper Center for Public Opinion Research Gallup