Much is being made of a recent poll which apparently shows that younger people are suspicious of capitalism, and receptive to socialism. This has (reasonably) been attributed to their experience with the Great Recession.
Is calling your ideas “socialism” consequently a winning political strategy? No, because older people, who are more reliable voters, are generally terrified of anything called “socialist.” That’s my personal experience, and it is supported by another recent poll which indicated that 75 percent of voters would never vote for a “socialist.”
Notwithstanding the drivel one hears on Fox News, expanding the welfare state is not “socialism.” In virtually every case, therefore, it is a mistake for Democrats to tie their ideas to the “socialist” label.