Poll: Voters Open To Revolution To Steal Other People's Money

Matt Vespa | February 12, 2016 3:30 PM

Katie delivered a punch to the gut when she wrote yesterday that a majority of Millennials prefers socialism to capitalism. Yes, in one sense, it makes me want to round up left-leaning members of my generation, lock them in a barn, and set it on fire* (but let’s not go there). To make matters worse, we have a Vox/Morning Consult poll showing that most are open to a political revolution to steal other people’s money (via Vox):

Fifty-four percent of respondents to our online poll — which reached a sample of 1,884 registered voters nationally from Friday, January 29, through Sunday, January 31, 2016 — agreed that a "political revolution might be necessary to redistribute money from the wealthiest Americans to the middle class." Just 30 percent said they disagreed.

Liberals and liberal-leaning demographics were most likely to agree with the statement. But majorities of independents, white voters, evangelicals, and even Tea Party supporters in our sample agreed too — showing that redistribution may no longer be a dirty word in American politics.

Of course, keep in mind that responses to a poll statement in a vacuum may differ quite a bit from how people will feel after hearing political debate and messaging from both sides.

And the poll contained one troubling result for Sanders. When people were asked whether big government or big business was a bigger threat to the country's future, 55 percent named big government, compared with only 29 percent who named big business — suggesting the country hasn't moved so far to the left after all, and that an agenda that will expand government remains a tough sell.

If you watched PBS’ Democratic debate last night, a Facebook user asked if there were any areas of government that Clinton or Sanders would cut. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) gave the typical pro-efficient government talking point, which is code for I support HUGE government. Not to mention, the man is a democratic socialist; there are virtually zero areas where government should be cut for people of this persuasion. Lastly, this is the Democratic Party; folks who believe that more centralization of federal power is good, especially in the hands of a progressive few who will bring social justice to all peoples. So, we shouldn’t be shocked that they’re not going to minimize government’s scope in any way, shape, or form. Yet, I am a bit unnerved that some members of the Tea Party are voicing support for this left wing charade of revolution to redistribute wealth.