Key Takeaways:
- A recent Gallup poll reveals that an increasing percentage of Democrats favor Socialism over Capitalism.
- Radical Left politicians, media elites and social media influencers are persuading more and more people to dislike Capitalism by claiming it’s a philosophy of selfishness and greed.
- Socialism is based on government regulations and control over production, distribution, prices, and the lives of individuals.
- Capitalism is based on individual freedom and personal responsibility over one’s life.
- The principles of Capitalism align with biblical Christian faith.
- The principles of Socialism violate biblical principles.
Selfishness and Greed.
Oppression and Discrimination.
Unfairness and inequality.
All of these words and phrases are associated with Capitalism by radical Left politicians and by their media and social media supporters and cheerleaders.
No wonder Democrats hate Capitalism and love Socialism.
They are believing the lies.
Don’t you believe them too.
Here are 4 truths everyone should know about Socialism and Capitalism:
1. Word associations can change the way people think.
A Gallup poll last month of 1,094 U.S. adults revealed some startling statistics:
- 66% of Democrats expressed a positive view of Socialism
- 42% of Democrats expressed a positive view of Capitalism
Note: Since the total exceeds 100%, some Democrats expressed a positive view of both economic systems.
A majority of Democrats have favored Socialism over Capitalism since 2016, according to Gallup.
In contrast:
- 74% of Republicans reported a favorable view of Capitalism
- 14% of Republicans reported a favorable view of Socialism
Overall, the percentage of Americans who have a positive view of Capitalism has dropped from 60% in 2021 to 54% today – the lowest percentage since Gallup began asking the question in 2010.[1]
Capitalism has negative connotations in an increasing percentage of people’s minds because it is constantly being associated with:
- Greed and selfish ambition
- Racial division and oppression of minorities
- Discrimination and exploitation
- … and more
These are wrong attitudes and actions which individuals exhibit against others – and that governments exhibit against their citizens.
But they are not characteristics of Capitalism.
2. Economic and political realities about Socialism.
Socialism is a political and economic theory that calls for governmental ownership and control of the means of the production and distribution of goods and services.
This means that the government – not entrepreneurs and business owners in a free market – decides what goods and services will be produced, and how much they will cost.
The celebrities, politicians, college professors and media influencers who promote Socialism say that only the government can cause fairness and equity in society.
But fairness is a moral and judicial characteristic, not one that can be produced or controlled by an economic theory.
And equity – which means equal outcomes – is only possible if everyone has equal motivation, equal self-discipline, and an equal sense of responsibility.
Equal opportunity is a realistic goal. Equity is a pipe dream.
And guess what?
Capitalism creates equal opportunity, while Socialism destroys it.
Today’s Democratic Socialist politicians want to use the power of government to regulate and control all business and consumer choice.
It’s equal coercion, not equal opportunity.
Here are some of the economic and political consequences of Socialism:
- Socialism kills innovation and economic growth.
When the government controls business activity and sets prices, there is no profit motive for entrepreneurs to take the risks required to start a new business.
The government – not the free market – decides which businesses succeed and which ones fail.
Price controls prevent businesses from expanding – creating new jobs – and from raising wages of employees.
Without the job creation of new and expanding businesses, the economy stagnates.
- Socialism creates an expanding, inefficient, ineffective and self-serving bureaucracy.
Bureaucracies and bureaucrats are autonomous and accountable to no one.
The number one priority of a bureaucracy is to grow and expand its power.
Lord Acton, an English historian and politician of the 19h century, is famous for saying, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”[2]
Bureaucrats in a socialist government work closely with the elite socialist political leaders to engage in central planning.
Ludwig von Mises, in his book, Human Action: A Treatise on Economics, outlined the intrinsic evils and failures of Socialism and central planning.
- Socialism means everyone is equally poor – except for an elite few.
When the government takes over an industry and sets prices for a product or commodity, shortages result.
Shortages create economic upheaval and misery for all but the elite central planners.
The ruling elite – and the politically connected, who receive benefits and resources from the government – become wealthy while the rest of the people suffer.
An example of this is the severe shortages of basic utility services in Venezuela.
The people who are suffering and protesting in the streets know that the only real equality Socialism offers is equal misery for all – except for the government elites – who have plenty of electricity, water and energy to live comfortably in their luxury homes.
- Socialism works against human nature.
Human nature is to do whatever is necessary to survive and to take care of family.
People will always work harder to support themselves and their own families than they will to make money for the government.
They will also always take better care of their own property and resources than they will take care of someone else’s.
This is why Socialism has always failed wherever it has been implemented:
- Cuba
- North Korea
- Soviet Union
- Nazi Germany
- Fascist Italy
- Venezuela
- Massachusetts Bay Colony
Yes, the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The early Pilgrims in Massachusetts adopted a socialist economic system of shared property and imposed communal service.
Every person was given an equal share of property, compensation, and food, regardless of how hard they worked – and even if they did no work at all.
The results were predictable:
- An anemic economy
- Poverty
- Famine
- Discontent
- Envy
- Resentment
Able-bodied men and women had no incentive to work hard.
The colony grew weak, sick, and hungry.
After three years of economic and psychological failure and hardship, they abandoned socialism and adopted a free-market system.
Every family planted and grew their own crops – and got to keep for themselves the products of their labor.
And they thrived.
3. The economic and political realities about Capitalism.
Capitalism is an economic system in which private individuals and businesses own the means of the production and distribution of products and services.
It is based on individual liberty, not coercion.
Decisions about what to produce, how much to charge, and where to sell goods and services are determined by free markets, which are driven by supply and demand – not by the government.
Free markets encourage innovation and competition among businesses that produce similar products.
This results in greater production efficiency and higher product quality than in a socialistic, government-controlled market.
Entrepreneurs are motivated to develop new products to meet consumers’ needs and wants, and to make a profit.
Free markets, not government central planning, determine which companies succeed and which ones fail.
Capitalism encourages companies and business owners to live by the Golden Rule: If they are dishonest and do not “Do to their employees and customers as they would have them do to them,” they will be punished by the free market.
Those companies will lose profits, and perhaps even be forced out of business.
Let’s summarize the economic and personal benefits of free-market Capitalism:
- It respects individual liberty and freedom of choice.
- It encourages innovation and business expansion.
- It creates new jobs, higher wages, and spurs economic growth.
- It provides the greatest opportunity for upward mobility.
- All economic activity is voluntary, not coerced.
- Entrepreneurs are free to start new businesses.
- Market competition causes more production efficiency and higher quality products.
- The free market determines which companies and products succeed and which ones fail.
- Taxpayers don’t have to pay to prop up failed businesses.
- Investors and entrepreneurs who make wise choices reap rewards.
Free-market Capitalism caused the industrial revolution in 19th century America… and the AI technology revolution of today.
That’s why America became the greatest economic powerhouse in human history.
And that’s why more people have been lifted out of poverty and into wealth in America than in any other country in the world.
It’s also why more people want to come to America than to any other country in the world.
4. The connections between Capitalism, Socialism, and Christian faith.
The core principles of Capitalism are individual freedom and personal responsibility.
These are biblical principles.
Galatians 5:13 says, “For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Socialism, on the other hand, takes freedom away from the individual and advocates government control over our earnings and over our behavior.
The more government regulations we have to obey and the more taxes we have to pay, the less personal freedom we have.
The concept of wealth distribution – a core tenet of Socialism – is actually a form of legalized theft.
But two of the Ten Commandments tell us not to steal and not to envy or covet what someone else has.
Under Capitalism, the individual is rewarded according to the amount of work he or she does, and the individual gets to keep what is earned – and gets to freely choose what to do with the earnings.
In James 1:27 we are told to voluntarily take care of widows and orphans.
But if one is able-bodied and is able to work, 2 Thessalonians 3:10 and 12 warns, “…if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat either… Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.”
Proverbs 12:11tells us that if we work hard we will be prosperous, and if we refuse to work, we are fools.
And in Hebrews 13:5, we are instructed, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself [Jesus] has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forget you…’”
Finally, in Micah 6:8, the prophet asks God what He desires. The answer is rhetorical: “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
The belief that God is with us throughout life – and that we should live humbly in His presence – is foreign to those who promote Socialism, with its government control and central planning.
To the Socialists, the government is their god, and politics is their religion.
Action Steps:
1) Get my book, The Great Deception: 10 Shocking Dangers and the Blueprint for Rescuing the American Dream.
The Great Deception exposes lies, myths, and distortions from the media and politicians [See Chapter 2: Danger #1: The Road to Socialism: America’s Epic Battle Between Collectivism vs. the Individual].
The American Dream teeters on the edge as Chapter 2 of The Great Deception explores the profound impact of this war on the core values that built a nation. Are we on the precipice of surrendering our individual freedoms to the siren call of tyranny and socialism?
The Great Deception: 10 Shocking Dangers and the Blueprint for Rescuing the American Dream allows you to share these dangers and a solution to cutting through the deception with friends and family.
It exposes under-the-radar and little-known behind-the-scenes reasons America is falling backward and how to make it move again.
Buy the book online HERE, the paperback on Amazon HERE the audiobook on Amazon HERE and on Kindle HERE.
You can also get an autographed edition online HERE or by phone at 615-814-6633 (M-F 10 am to 3 pm).”
You can also send a check for $26.13 (including shipping) payable to Media Specialists and send it to this address:
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Nashville, TN 37208
FAQs:
Q: What is this article about?
A: It’s about the philosophical differences between Socialism and Capitalism.
Q: What event prompted this article?
A: A recent Gallup poll revealed that a large percentage of Democrats favor Socialism over Capitalism – and the percentage is increasing.
Q: What are the main differences between Socialism and Capitalism?
A: Socialism is based on wealth distribution, government regulation, high taxation, central planning of the economy including price and wage controls.
Capitalism is based on individual liberty, personal self-discipline and responsibility, and property rights.
Q: Which system aligns better with Christian faith?
A: Capitalism aligns with biblical principles and with the belief in the sovereignty of God; Socialism violates biblical principles and substitutes the government for God.
About Craig Huey:
Craig Huey is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and publisher of The Huey Alert and Direct Marketing Update. He is also the author of The Great Deception: 10 Shocking Dangers and the Blueprint for Rescuing the American Dream, exposing the lies of socialism and defending America’s founding principles. Craig appears on national media such as FOX, FOX Business, Newsmax and more. He also co-hosts The Huey Alert Podcast with his wife Shelly and helps business leaders, Christians, conservatives, libertarians, young people and more understand the intersection of faith, politics, and freedom.
[1] Melissa O’Rourke, https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/08/democrats-now-like-socialism-much-more-than-capitalism-new-poll-shows/
[2] https://www.acton.org