And Now, Idiots

I interrupt my self-imposed Easter blog embargo to ask: How on earth have we got to this point?

Only 53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 20% disagree and say socialism is better. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are not sure which is better.

Adults under 30 are essentially evenly divided: 37% prefer capitalism, 33% socialism, and 30% are undecided. Thirty-somethings are a bit more supportive of the free-enterprise approach with 49% for capitalism and 26% for socialism. Adults over 40 strongly favor capitalism, and just 13% of those older Americans believe socialism is better.

Here is the key graf, tho':

The question posed by Rasmussen Reports did not define either capitalism or socialism.

On the one hand, I suppose that's reassuring in the sense that people don't really know what the hell they're talking about, so this is hardly what one would call a deep philosophical shift. On the other hand, being shallow and ignorant they're all that more manipulable. And they still vote.

And speaking of that, I notice that most of the pro-Nanny Staters tend to be, if I may so describe them and if it isn't redundant, moron kids. I used to be in favor of raising the minimum voting age. I still am, but I am now also in favor of imposing a maximum voting age, given that a lot of our current economic woes are the direct result of aging Baby Boomers in Guv'mint and Big Bizness Exec Lounges hoovering everything they can out of the trough. ("Just Imagine", indeed.)

Therefore, I hereby propose not a minimum voting age, but a limited voting window: Only people between the ages of 40 and 50 ought to be entrusted with the franchise.