POLL: U.S. Support For 'Free Market' Capitalism Drops Below China, Brazil Free Market Capitalism

[Me.]

“Nearly three years after the financial system first came perilously close to collapse, American support for an unregulated free market appears to have cratered.

A new report by GlobeScan, an international opinion research consultancy, suggests that the number of Americans who believe in the strength of the free market economy dropped markedly last year. In fact, according to the survey results, both Brazil and China, on a percentage basis, ranked higher than the U.S. in overall support for free market capitalism.

The report, released this week and based on 12,884 interviews in 25 countries, asked participants to agree or disagree with the statement that the "free market economy is the best system on which to base the future of the world."

GlobeScan found Americans strongly agreeing or somewhat agreeing dropped to 59 percent from 74 percent, a 15 percent dip from the year prior and the second largest year-over-year drop of any country besides Turkey. An even more dramatic drop (32 percent drop) occurred among those in the U.S. with annual incomes below $20,000, of which only 44 percent agreed that the free market was the ideal system.”…cont…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/07/us-china-brazil-free-market-support_n_846169.html

[RKP5637]

1. It's been rigged to be of a disadvantage for the majority of Americans. I'm pleased

to see Americans are waking up to the unmitigated BS and reading between the lines of propaganda slung out.

[Me.]

3. That Was My Thinking Too

[CrownPrinceBandar]

2. But what are we going to do about it?............

I really can't see our economic policy changing anytime soon.

[Me.]

4. The People In Wisc. Have Given Us A Big Clue

[CrownPrinceBandar]

5. Its a good start...........

I was heartened by the events in WI (and OH, MI, IN and PA), but before anything can really change media will need reformed, the evils of unregulated capitalism will need to be laid bare in a way that none can dispute and the average American will have to come out of their shells and see what capitalism-without-bounds has done to their lives.

Thanks for the OP.

[Me.]

7. There Will Be No Reform

Until we replace those in Congress who are in the pockets of big money because they will always block regulation

[CrownPrinceBandar]

8. Yup.

I hope we can do it soon.

[RKP5637]

12. One first step would be to get rid of the corruption SCOTUS blessed with

Citizens United. This country needs to be cleaned up from the top down. The problem is we vote in people and often don't get the representation we thought we voted in - politicians listen to money for the most part, not "we the people." Also, the outrageous sums politicians spend to get elected are outrageous.

The ones with the most money to spend are often not the best for the country, their interests today are clearly with corporate America and whoever gives them the most money. It's become a ridiculous system in my lifetime.

[WatsonT]

6. 12,884 interviews in 25 countries averages

about 515 per country.

Not really very representative.

You would be subject to sampling bias with a population that small.

[Siouxmealso]

9. I'd like to see the poll that measures

how many people can define free market capitalism before I placed any credence in this one.

[howaboutme]

10. We've been brainwashed for decades to believe

"free market capitalism" is next to Godliness. That has been the goal and result of the collusion of the mass media, bankers, politicians and International Chamber of Commerce. The problem is that it inevitably turns into corruption by the few for the few (i.e. crony capitalism). That's why we needed two political Parties to serve as checks and balances with distinct opposing views, instead of what we currently have which are shades of gray. One serves the financiers and the other industry.

But "free market capitalism" is not the only propaganda belief perpetrated by the media that has led Americans down the rosy path to self destruction.

[whattheidonot]

13. no free market.

there is no free market. The big guys rule. They have all the advantages. look at how less companies there are in just about all industries. The small companies or businesses either get bought out or go out. In a free market labor adds value .What we have is doing the opposite.

[BanzaiBonnie]

11. Perhaps I'm mistaken...

but WTF are they talking about "American support for an unregulated free market appears to have cratered."

HAve we ever had unregulated free market? I don't think so. Of course Reagan did his best and the Republicaans and some Democrats since have tried to devolve/deregulate our market system.

And I'm talkin' about also putting in regulations so they are skewed toward one particular group or another.