Do you support or oppose the recent emergence of the Democratic Socialists of America as a potential challenger to the Democratic Party establishment?

Support (44%) – "There seems to be a lot of fearmongering about the DSA that is entirely disconnected from its actual platform of ideas. When I look at what they are trying to accomplish I actually feel a little optimism, which is rare these days."

• "Capitalism is a camouflage for greed and perpetual condensation of wealth amongst the upper class who has always benefited from the work of others (from the land grab of the American settlers, the free work provided by slavery, and their continuous passing of that stolen ownership to their offsprings - no one can catch up to that wealth). Capitalism thrives off that established and corrupted system which continues to enslave the people into a perpetual cycle out of which they will never come out financially free. Democratic Socialism works for Europe, America should try it."

"The term "socialist" scares too many people. There are other socialist countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark that are doing things right, and their populations are the happiest on earth. It's because they care for their people. In the US, we need universal healthcare, free childcare, free education, a social safety net, and other programs these countries have that help their citizens live their best possible lives. They tax their citizens an appropriate amount to pay for these programs. Meanwhile, we pay for all these things from our own paychecks if we can even afford them, and they cost us much, much more than a small increase in tax would cost. We need the Billionaires to pay their fair share of taxes to afford these things, without providing them loopholes to avoid paying taxes. In the US, we are more focused on making sure the billionaires get everything, and the regular working citizens get next to nothing. Do I wish there were a better term than "socialist?" Yes, I do, because what these candidates are proposing would make life better for everyone, not just the elite class."

• "I believe that the Democratic Socialists offer an important and needed adjunct to the party. Offering ideas like Medicare for all, expanded childcare opportunities and much needed taxation of the wealthy the Democratic Socialists are in effect a third party working within the traditional two party system in the US. And, lest we forget, ideas that stemmed from the turn of the last century Socialist movement, for example Social Security, child labor laws, forty hour work weeks were thought nigh impossible in the United States.... until these became law under a very traditional Democratic President, Franklin Roosevelt. And here we are, again, facing an entrenched monied class so the "traditional" political solutions need input from this outside agency of change in Democratic Socialism."

Oppose (43%) – "I'm a moderate. I'm also the descendant of someone from a communist country and yeah yeah yeah, socialism isn't communism according to its proponents, but it's definitely not a winning formula. In theory, I like some of the DSA's ideals, like getting money out of politics, but I also respect property rights and the existence of capitalism (within limits and with the application of ethics, which have been missing the past decade, but that's a different problem). The DSA is too far left and, I think, pretty divorced from reality. I don't want the pendulum of civic society to swing from this weird and dangerous far right movement to a weird and possibly more dangerous leftist movement."

• "I typically support the democratic platform, but to swing the pendulum too far only gives way for it swinging back too far the other way. The far-right MAGA has perpetuated the DSA, the DSA will perpetuate a far right swing. We need more moderates that can compromise. Otherwise, policy will just keep changing every few years and nothing will ever move forward."

"The new Democrat Party is far too progressive for me. I am not a Republican, but I will vote for them every time against what is becoming a socialist party. Unfortunately for the rank and file American. both parties have become so extreme that they don't accurately represent the rest of us. We need a third party; a common sense, middle of the road party. Talk to anyone who has emigrated from a socialist country. They will tell you that it is not someplace you'd want to live. They're angry about the direction our country is taking."

• "I think people are best helped to be empowered through work, accountability and a level of morality in society. I do support affordable healthcare. Not open ended hand outs and dependence on government. And responsible immigration that our does not Biden our country to the point we cannot help our current marginalized citizens."

Unsure/other (13%) – "I hate to sound ambivalent, but it seems that there have always been extreme viewpoints in the political spectrum. On both the right and left sides of the spectrum. What strikes me to be somewhat strange is the tendency to attach labels to these differing viewpoints, "socialist", "communist", "fascist", etc. After World War 2, Stalin took governmental control of Russian companies and industries, and here in the United States, we called it "SOCIALISM". Today, the U.S. government has taken equity stakes in several American companies, and in some situations, a portion of control in corporate directions. Is there a difference between the two scenarios, other than one being Russia/Stalin and the other being America/Trump? I think the average American has some liberal, conservative, populist, socialist, Federalist, and other ideologies running in their veins. Some may argue that idea, while using the services of the Postal Service. You get the point. But by throwing a label at someone who has a differing viewpoint doesn't clarify YOUR viewpoint, it only muddies it."