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Ask most college students, and they'll tell you that socialism is a wonderful thing. Just don't ask them to define it, because you'll get the same answer.

Last year, a poll was released showing 53 percent of Americans under age 35 are dissatisfied with our nations current economic system and think socialism would be good for the country.

"I guess just, you know, getting rid of that wealth gap in the United States?"

The same poll found that 45 percent of young Americans would be willing to support an openly socialist Presidential candidate.

The findings of this poll coincide with the rise of Senator Bernie Sanders, an avowed Democratic Socialist from Vermont who received millions of votes in the 2016 Democratic Primary, many of them from millennials.

While its clear that young people increasingly view socialism in a positive light, its also clear that many of them are uneducated about what it entails, or the impact its had throughout history.

The same poll found many millennials are unfamiliar with historical figures often associated with socialism, such as Che Guevara, Joseph Stalin, and Karl Marx.

Wanting to see what millennials in D.C. thought of socialism, Campus Reform headed to Washington, D.C. to ask students two simple questions: Do you like socialism? and What is socialism?

It quickly became clear that while most of the people we spoke with held an idyllic view of socialism, most had little idea of what it actually is.

One student said of socialism, I think people throw that word around to try and scare you, but if helping people is socialism, than Im for it.

When asked how she would define socialism, her answer was simple: I mean honestly Im not not exactly sure.

I guess just, you know, getting rid of that wealth gap in the United States? ventured another.

One student supported it passionately, saying Its more of an open form of government and it feels a lot more accessible to a lot more people, but when asked to explain what socialism actually entails, could only repeat now-common refrain: To be quite honest I dont know.

Watch the full video to see what else students had to say about socialism!

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @cabot_phillips

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VIDEO: Students love socialism!...whatever that is... - Campus Reform - Campus Reform

Conservatives screamed socialism for decades whenever a national health care plan was proposed. Now that we have one, they want to put their names on it, but dont have the courage to make the needed improvements.

It is good to remember that all social programs underwent similar struggles Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamps, the G.I. Bill. Those programs, like the ACA, are now valued parts of our American culture. Here are a few more of those hard-fought-for government socialist programs we Americans now take for granted.

A sampling of current Government social programs:

Head Start

Social Security Disability

Social Security Retirement and Survivors Benefits

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Medicare Welfare (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or T.A.N.F.)

Veterans benefits

Pell Grants

Unemployment Insurance

Government Subsidized Housing

Home Mortgage Interest Deduction

Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credits

Education savings accounts (Education I.R.A.s)

Earned-income tax credits

Employer subsidized health insurance

Employer subsidized retirement benefits

Federal student loans

I believe we will have a good national health care program one day, but only if our representatives remain focused on the primary objective, which is affordable health care for all of us citizens. It will, however, require them to spend less time on disingenuous posturing for the benefit of the wealthy and more time doing the job we pay them for. They need to know, they either get er done, or we will fire them as we would any inept employee.

Harry Barnes

East Meredith

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In Your Opinion: Government programs shouldn't be criticized for 'socialism' - Oneonta Daily Star

NewsBusters (press release) (blog)

MSNBC Runs Segment on Venezuelan Crisis, Refuses to Mention Socialism NewsBusters (press release) (blog) On Monday morning, Hallie Jackson ran a segment on MSNBC Live devoted to investigating the ills of Venezuela amid growing tensions in the South American country. For the entirety of the segment, neither the host nor her guest even mentioned the ...

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MSNBC Runs Segment on Venezuelan Crisis, Refuses to Mention Socialism - NewsBusters (press release) (blog)

If I hear one more person compare Britain under a Labour Government to living in Venezuela I might to fly to Caracas and throw myself off Parque Central Torre Oeste.

Whichever way you voted during the EU referendum OR the General Election, youre probably tired of being labeled, and are sick to death of readingabsurd clichs.

Lazy baseless arguments posted over and over and over again on Facebook dont make thepoint more valid, but they do create division.

Both the right-wing tabloid press and the left-wing Twiterati, are both guilty of churning out labels faster than a Next Sale.

These labels, cliches and baseless arguments only serve to create and fuel divisions, generate some twitter, and sell more newspapers. Making everyone angry in the process.

Champaign socialist, racist, bigot, leftie luvvie, Remoaner, Brexitard, fascist, Tory, etc, etc. The list goes on.

The people like us mentality has truly taken hold in the UK. Such is the vitriol of reporting, Grandparents and Grandchildren can barely look each other in the eye. They should bediscussing their differing perspectives, or even what unites them, over a happy Sunday Roast with a glass of red wine and a smile.

But hey, stay angry. Social media sites serve up content you all ready agree with, so why would you bother engaging in any dialogue with the other side?

Applying labels to people is both dangerous and ignorant.

Take the recent Labour General Election vote for instance. According to YouGov, 44% of voters in their 40s opted for Corbyn, compared to 39 per cent who voted for the May.

45 per cent of people in full time work voted for Labour, compared to 39 per cent who backed the Tories. Similar results were recorded for part time workers too.

Its also worth observing the YouGov chart below that shows the more educated were more likely to vote Labour.

Whilst there is an age bias, this certainly doesnt suggest that Labour voters are work-shy 18-year-old under-grads with no understanding of the world.

Political norms have been turned on theirheads. What we actually witnessed was large proportions of educated and trained working people turning out to vote for more socialist policies, and back demand-side economics (i.e. investing in future workforce and infrastructure to kickstart our economy).

Its no secret that many of our daily newspapers are (and increasingly) right-wing. As expected, the right-wing press has began demonising socialism (even more) without mercy, but without really asking why so much of working Britain backed a move toward a more socialist Government.

Despite what some newspapers would have you believe (or even Hollywood during the past four decades), Democratic Socialism is not the same as Communism. Britain, like many European countries, is a very socialist country already. But the right-wing press have done an amazing job at making the word socialism dirty.

What many people dont appreciate is that many of the Great British foundationsthat we take for granted are democratic socialist principles:

When you blindly attack socialism or Comrade Corbyn and parrot the claim that Britain under him would be akin to living in Venezuela, perhaps remind yourself that Britain has embraced socialism throughout the last century.

You never know, you may realise that a little part of you is a socialist (eeek).

The socialist elements of our life are being slowly eroded away from under our noses. No wonder everybody complains about our population becoming increasingly self-serving or selfish.

I like to think its possible forpersonal political views to straddle a number of political landscapes,depending on the issue, but if you want to call me a socialist for valuing state schools, the NHS, and my Sunday stroll, then go ahead.

However, the truth is, you shouldnt have to choose socialism or capitalism. Socialism and capitalism can work side-by-side. Do you know why? Because thats exactly how the UK operates now, and has always operated. Life orpolitics shouldnt be polarized. The real trick is getting the balance right. Why do we need to be at one extreme or the other?

OK, its true that thelikelihood of voting Conservative increased with age in the last General Election, but is it all to do with wealth, as tradition dictates, or something much deeper?

Perhaps older people are more susceptible to traditional right-wing fear tactics, or maybe they are more controlled by the newspaper they read (considering five of the largest selling newspapers are staunchly right-wing, whilst young people dont buy newspapers anymore)?

In reality, due to technological advances, booming populations and higher social mobility, the older generation has seen the world change more rapidly than any generation on Earth before them. Its no surprise that the message of stability or taking back control is a popular one.

On the other side, the younger or working generation could be the first to have comparatively lower living standards than their parents, working longer, and with small/no pensions. Why would they want to back policies like Brexit or austerity when it will undoubtedly make them poorer in the short term (for another decade at least).

Whichever waythe divide manifests itself, surelyyoung and old are united by more than divides them. I have a hunch that most people care about the same things, but believe in different ways of protecting those things. The NHS is a great example of something many Brexit voters sought to protect, despite signing itspotential death warrant.

Both generations can see the NHS crumbling in front of their eyes.

Both generations witness modern-day monopolies in the form of globalised corporations paying little or no tax towards the infrastructure and services they use and exploit. Whilst strugglinglocal business diligently pay their contribution.

People from both generations are concerned about our crumbling infrastructure and limited resources. They all know that the lack of investment in infrastructure, services and people will come back to bite us.

Even if you hold the view thatCorbyn bribed students with the promiseof eliminating their student debt, ask yourself the following; given the proven benefits of education (better prospects, better health, lower birth rates, higher productivity, etc) is it right that a student should be saddled with 50k debt before they even start work? Should education only be available to the wealthy? Even without the burden of tuition fees, students must still find enough money to pay for rent, bills, food, study equipment, etc.

Perhaps, just perhaps, if more people realised some of the things they hold dear aresocialist ideals, they might back the policies a little more without fear of becoming Venezuela.

Some of the daily newspapers have more than tainted the word socialism. Theyve convinced you that socialism means freeloading students rioting around London, demanding the Worlds wealth is shared out. Theyve tricked you into believing socialism meansspending money from the Magic Money Treeor taking money from your piggy bank that isnt there (ignoring demand side economics, the Paradox of Thrift, or the multiplier effect i.e. investing in your country will pay you back with interest). Theyve conned you into thinking socialism means Venezuela.

Lets take the word back and own it. You dont have to be a full blown socialist to support a little more socialism.

Even if you still think socialism is a dirty word, a few things arecertain: re-nationalising the awful private railway system, ensuring water companies invest in the infrastructure we originally paid for, or making corporations pay their share of tax, will turn Britain into Venezuela no more than the Tory winter-fuel payment cap will turn the UK into Bahrain.

Its a lazy argument.

More worrying is the staggering decline in independent, investigative journalism. It costs a lot to produce, so many publications facing an uncertain future can no longer fund it.

With nobody to hold the rich and powerful to account, or report on the issues that don't fit with the mainstream 'narrative', your help is needed.

You can help support free, independent journalism for as little as 50p. Every penny we collect from donations supports vital investigative journalism.

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You're a Dirty Socialist and you don't even realise it - The London Economic

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Jeremy Corbyn leader of the Labour Party stands in the balcony of the County Hotel as colliery bands pass below during the 133rd Durham Miners Gala

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Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip John May arrive for a concert at the Elbphilharmonie concert hall during the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany

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Spectators react on Henman Hill (Murray Mount) as Britain's Andy Murray wins against Italy's Fabio Fognini on the big screen at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London

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Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Brexit Minister) David Davis (R) meets Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney for talks at no 11, Downing Street

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Revellers brave the heat at Wimbledon

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Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaking after being awarded an honorary degree at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh

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Queen Elizabeth II talks with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during an audience at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

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Security staff with dogs before the start of play at Wimbledon

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Racegoers cheer on their horse on Ladies Day at the Royal Ascot horse racing meet, in Ascot, west of London

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The Borough Market bell is seen in Borough Market in central London following its re-opening after the June 3 terror attack

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Two women embrace in Borough Market, which officially re-opens today following the recent attack, in central London

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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan attends the re-opening of Borough market in central London following the June 3 terror attack

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People walk through Borough Market in central London following its re-opening after the June 3 terror attack

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News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch, with one of his daughters, visit Borough Market, which officially re-opened today following the recent attack

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Millwall fan and London Bridge hero Roy Larner on 'Good Morning Britain'

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Richard Arnold, Roy Larner, Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on 'Good Morning Britain'

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Young people like me who question socialism are being silenced - The Independent