Most Americans Say They Support the Free Market. Their Policy Preferences Tell a Different Story.

Most Americans Say They Support the Free Market. Their Policy Preferences Tell a Different Story.Americans may dislike the word “socialism,” but when asked whether government should solve their problems, many still place their faith, incorrectly, in the hands of government. A new CBS News/YouGov poll found that 46 percent of Americans view capitalism positively, compared with 35 percent who view socialism positively. When “capitalism” is replaced with “the free market,” support becomes much stronger: 66 percent say the free market is good for the U.S. economy. But those numbers become more complicated when voters are asked about specific policies. Many...