Confidence is the bearing of the fool

According to Rasmussen Reports,

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.

In their survey, the clever Rusmussen people defined neither “capitalism” nor “socialism.”

The survey's results—if taken seriously—are surprising. On the other hand, Rusmussen warns

It is interesting to compare the new results to an earlier survey in which 70% of Americans prefer a free-market economy.

Yeah, that's "interesting" all right.

Meanwhile, right-wing bloviators (Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Hannity, et al.) are in a tizzy. They hate socialism, which, for them, appears to be the same as Marxism and Communism (and incest, too, I bet). They tend to use the term “socialism” to refer to the philosophy of their opponents, especially the First Opponent—our busy new President. They seem to think that the country is going to Hell in a socialist handbasket.*

In yesterday’s Weekend Opinionator (A Different Sort of Red America), Tobin Harshaw, quoting from the OED, makes the obvious point about the word "socialism": “The range of application of the term is broad.”**

He quotes the OED definition:

A theory or system of social organization based on state or collective ownership and regulation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange for the common benefit of all members of society; advocacy or practice of such a system, esp. as a political movement. Now also: any of various systems of liberal social democracy which retain a commitment to social justice and social reform, or feature some degree of state intervention in the running of the economy. [My emphases.]

Yup. That’s pretty broad. Apparently, the word "socialist" covers everyone from Fidel Castro to George W. Bush.

Harshaw also asks the obvious question: “do Americans even know what [socialism] means?”

Probably not. Or: their knowings are colorfully divergent.

Harshaw quotes Steven Taylor, who opines as follows:

Given that it is manifestly clear from recent political rhetoric that people in general have no idea what an appropriate definition of either of these terms [“socialism” and “capitalism”] is, it is impossible to ably interpret these results. Further, if we assume that part of the question did include the issue of which is ‘better’ we would have to know what that meant to the respondents as well. ‘Better’ at doing what?"

OK, so I’ll make an obvious point, too: most political discussion and debate is bullshit about bullshit. What I don’t understand is why so many smart people don’t make that point each day, or at least every other day. Once a week even.

Here’s another obvious point: we know less about the economy than we think we do.

Thus: here, confidence is the bearing of the fool.

Listening to today's confident Political Squawkers—mostly on the windy right—reminds me of Baron D’Holbach’s deluded fly,

who, lighting upon the pole of a heavy carriage, applauded himself for directing its course. Man … is a fly, who imagines he has power to move the universe, while he is himself unknowingly carried along by it. (From Good Sense, 1772.)

Listen to the squawkers. And listen especially for the bold noises of confidence.

Hear the sound of fools.

*Logic 101:

The following argument commits a crude fallacy:

1. “Socialism” is the name of the old Soviet philosophy, which was terrible.
2. President Obama believes in a kind of socialism.
3. Thus President Obama believes in the terrible philosophy of the old Soviet Union.

See Fallacy of Equivocation

TigerAnn explores her world, this morning

** Interested in the OED? Listen to Simon Winchester lecturing on the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). Very entertaining. Winchester mentions the following:

William Falconer's Dictionary of the Marine (1769)

Entry for the word “retreat”:

RETREAT, the order or disposition in which a fleet of French men of war decline engagement, or fly from a pursuing enemy.

Winchester is an appreciator of "wit" in dictionaries. Me too. Hence my love of Ambrose Bierce, et al.