In my opinion, small family-owned funeral homes have been one of the bastions for the perception of capitalism and free enterprise in America as long as they have been founded and operated.

 

However, as we move into today’s Election Day in America a recent Gallup Poll now states that 39% of our fellow Americans view Socialism positively.  The good news is that Capitalism is still seen “positively” by 54% of Americans.  However, back less than 10 years ago the same poll found Capitalism seen positively by 60% of Americans and Socialism seen positively by only 35% of Americans.

 

You can access the September 2025 Gallup Poll here.

 

Speaking of Election Day, today’s election result for Mayor of New York City may give some indications as to the validity of this Gallup Poll as the leading canditate in current polls, Zohran Mamdami, openly identifies as a “Democrat Socialist”.  Here’s a recent article on that from Notus.

 

The Poll and the Funeral Business:  Rather than get into politics I would rather this column deal with how this shift in American opinion might affect the Death Care business.

 

Going back generations for many family funeral homes I’m guessing it was the idea of “capitalism” and of being in business on your own, where one’s own decisions and effort could affect the living, economic, and wealth creation of your own family, that was a major emphasis in “hanging out the shingle as an undertaker” or some other Death Care related business such as livery services.

 

In our family, it was 1872 Minnesota, only ten years after the Dakota Uprising and four years before Custer’s Last Stand, that my great-grandfather arrived in the frontier and set out on a business as a cabinet maker.  That business evolved into a furniture business and a funeral home business that continued in our family for four generations and 141 years.  Capitalism and free enterprise was front and center of the family and not a day goes by that I don’t thank my great-grandfather for his dreams, spirit, and work ethic.

 

And that foundation of capitalism and free enterprise broke out with a funeral home in virtually every big city and small hamlet in America during the latter half of the 19th Century.

 

This is where I’ll let you in on a little good news from the Gallup Poll.  While Americans positive feel for “Big Business” is continuing to decline with only a 37% “positive” rating as compared to a 58% “positive” rating in 2012, Americans’ perception of “Small Business” is much different.

 

The poll notes that Americans’ rate “Small Businesses” with a 95% “Positive” rating and rate the idea of “Free Enterprise” with an 81% “Positive” rating.

 

So, this poll is very much mixed in my opinion. . . .How does one explain a 39% “Positive” rating of Socialism and the same respondents show a 95% “Positive” rating for Small Business?  Might it be that people have different understandings of what those words mean?

 

One take I think a funeral home owner can take from this poll, however, is with “Small Businesses” and that 95% “Positive” rating. . . . I would expect that the advertising line of “Family-Owned” may still continue to mean something to the mass of potential clientele for some time moving forward.

 

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Warren to begin work on green burial cemetery.  Penobscot Bay Pilot (ME)
• Antwerp hosts Belgium’s first water cremation trial.  Belga News Agency (Belgium)
• Huge refund update for 46,000 devastated customers left out of pocket from bust funeral firm – check if you are affected.  The Sun (Great Britain)

 

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”