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Americans choose sides on words, not just politics
President Barack Obama delivers remarks about extending tax cuts for middle class people during an event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building November 28, 2012 in Washington, DC.
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Treasury Secretary Geithner heads to Capitol Hill today to meet with Congressional leaders in hopes of reaching a deal on the fiscal cliff. President Obama is hoping for a resolution by Christmas. Whatever the timing might be, the words both parties are using in this debate are important in getting the public on their side.
The polling firm Gallup has gathered new data on how Americans feel about certain key economic phrases such as free enterprise, capitalism, and federal government.
Editor-in-chief Frank Newport joins us to share which phrases are political gold, and which are coal.
Check out the data discussed in the chart below. See the full results at Gallup's website.
The term "capitalism" having a lower favorable rating than "free enterprise" is not surprising. Capitalism brings the ideas of corporate welfare, bailouts, and crony deals with the government to mind for most people. Free enterprise does not. This debate over the terms has raged even among libertarians: http://archive.mises.org/12496/capitalism-socialism-and-libertarianism/
