Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

New Poll Shows Gen Z Is Pretty Confused About Socialism, Capitalism, And More
Townhall.com ^ | August 19, 2019 | Timothy Meads

Posted on 08/19/2019 5:15:33 AM PDT by Kaslin

As the 2019-2020 school year begins this fall, millions of high schoolers and college students will be heading into an academic rife with politicization and heated classroom discussions. But, how do students truly feel about issues such as socialism, free speech, health care, and illegal immigration? Do these kids aged 13-22, known as Gen Z, feel comfortable sharing their true opinions? Do they even know the basic concepts of what they are discussing? To find out, Young America's Foundation, "the nation’s premier organization for inspiring students on high school and college campuses with conservative ideas," teamed up with Echelon Insights for a poll given exclusively to Townhall to gain a better understanding of America's youth.

When it comes to free speech in the classroom, students generally believe their teachers are receptive of open debate. According to the poll, which surveyed 2,004 Americans aged 13-22 nationwide, from June 11 - June 14, 2019, 74 percent of Gen Z'ers say they "feel like my teachers generally encourage students of a variety of points of view to participate in class discussions about government and economics."

However, nearly half of these same students, 46 percent, admit they "have stopped myself from sharing my ideas or opinions in class discussions." As for why these students refrained, it appears that peer pressure is the dominating factor as 50 percent said they held back their opinions because they "thought my classmates would judge me."

This poll also indicates that classroom conversation is hampered negatively since some opinions are withheld. For example, it potentially prevents students from gaining a fuller, broader understanding of topics like socialism and capitalism. For example, the polling indicates that 80 percent of Gen Z have a favorable view of small business, 73 percent have a favorable view of entrepreneurs, and 61 percent have a favorable view of free markets. However, despite the majority of these students finding these aspects of the economy "favorable," just 40 percent have a favorable opinion of capitalism."

Furthermore, 40 percent of college-aged students had a positive view of socialism. 35 percent of all respondents said they viewed the economic system positively. Yet, when asked to define socialism, 10 percent of these students answered it simply meant "free stuff" and 27 percent said they were "don't know/unsure."

YAF spokesperson Spencer Brown told Townhall that this poll highlights why his organization is so necessary for high school and college campuses. In short, groups like YAF are needed to fill in the gaps and truly explaining conservative ideas and values.

"The current landscape of high school and college education identified in the poll, shows that Young America’s Foundation’s work is as important as ever as young people return to their classrooms and lecture halls for another school year," Brown said. "Today’s students are hungry for ideas and keyed into the issues of the day but are frequently denied venues for free and open dialogue.”

The poll also shows that very few friends discuss free market concepts with their peers. However, when they do discuss and learn more about issues like economic inequality, the conversation happens on websites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Sixty percent of respondents answered "social media" when asked, "Where have you recently seen, read, or heard about economic inequality in the United States?"

The poll also found that health care and immigration are the top two political issues Gen Z cares about. A key piece of the poll found the more informed somebody was on socialism, the less likely it was they thought it would benefit the country.

The poll asked:

On a scale of 0 to 10, where a 0 means you think this would be extremely bad for the country and a 10 means you think this would be extremely good for the country, do you think some form of socialism would be good or bad for the United States?

At first, the initial average mean response was 4.18. When given more information, that average mean decreased to 3.84. This change shows the critical impact that quality conversation and information about the free market and socialism can have on campus.

As for what the main take away from this poll, Brown said, "America’s educational institutions are failing to provide the next generation with venues where the free and open exchange of ideas can flourish.

"This is where bold Young Americans for Freedom activists who work to organize Young America’s Foundation’s iconic campus activism projects and host leading conservatives through YAF’s campus lecture program are filling a significant gap in education," Brown added.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: capitalism; college; culture; education; freespeech; generationz; genz; highschool; millennials; socialism; yaf; youth
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

1 posted on 08/19/2019 5:15:33 AM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

I see this daily in my own classrooms.


2 posted on 08/19/2019 5:17:08 AM PDT by untenured
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: untenured

“America’s educational institutions are failing to provide the next generation with venues where the free and open exchange of ideas can flourish...

There’s lots of venues to exchange ideas and learn enough to form new idea.

I didn’t come to my decision on “climate change” based on FR folks saying man made climate change is a lie.

I read A LOT on both sides and came to the conclusion that there were too many inconsistencies and outright lies on the believers’ part.

And also conservative parents need to take an active role in helping shape their children’s’ minds.

THAT being said, the educational system has become a left wing cesspool in too many places.


3 posted on 08/19/2019 5:20:59 AM PDT by dp0622 (Bad, bad company Till the day I die.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

They.

Don’t.

Know.

Anything.

NOTHING!


4 posted on 08/19/2019 5:24:33 AM PDT by chris37 (Monday, March 25 2019 is Maga Day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: untenured

The great wall of silence?


5 posted on 08/19/2019 5:26:21 AM PDT by BlackAdderess (Why does Harvard invest in developing world land grabs that harm indigenous people, then yell at us?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: untenured; Kaslin

Of couse that group is confused about the economy.
Look at AOC. She went to college, she was taught there all she knows about the economy and capitalism.


6 posted on 08/19/2019 5:27:43 AM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (The democrats' national goal: One world social-communism under one world religion: Atheistic Islam.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Ah, publik skoolz.

Which is what you get when you think the above spelling is correct.


7 posted on 08/19/2019 5:27:53 AM PDT by Da Coyote (eh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

And that’s why they go to college as sensible thinking young people and come out as rabid socialist. They’re not sure where they stand when they enter college, but after four years of a never ending monologue about the evils of America and capitalism, and the joys of socialism they come out ‘woke’ warriors for the Left.


8 posted on 08/19/2019 5:30:33 AM PDT by redangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
——that very few friends discuss free market concepts with their peers-——

because......they have no basis for discussing free market concepts other than opinions to which they are familiar.

Most Americans can't discuss Free Market concepts beyond cliches

9 posted on 08/19/2019 5:30:37 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.btyC. +12) Progressives are existential American enemies)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: untenured

Why is there even discussion of anything “political” in any class except Social Studies?

I was in school during watergate and Carter. It was never brought up as part of the discussion outside of journalism class.


10 posted on 08/19/2019 5:31:48 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

>>Do these kids aged 13-22, known as Gen Z, feel comfortable sharing their true opinions?

They are Obamajugend, Obamayouth, they went to screwll while Fearless Leader was prezzydent and they were indoctrinated to sing praise songs of worship to him:

“Barack Hussein Obama Mmmm mmmm mmmmm!”


11 posted on 08/19/2019 5:33:15 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Denounce DUAC - The Democrats Un-American Activists Commitee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Best example of a recent socialist failure would be Venezuela. At one time the richest Latin American country. 2nd most valuable currency only to US. Once Richer than China and Japan. Destroyed in 10 years of socialism.


12 posted on 08/19/2019 5:39:32 AM PDT by albie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

I made sure that all of my kids understood socialism from all perspectives, both in theory and in practice. I also encouraged them to fact check what I told them and to fact check whatever they heard elsewhere. If “this time is going to be different”, they know to ask what will make it different. My kids turned out more conservative than I am.


13 posted on 08/19/2019 5:41:51 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

I’m confused, who the hell is General “Z”? /s


14 posted on 08/19/2019 5:42:25 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chris37

Eventually they will vote in socialism.

One enough of us go to that great Tea Party in the Sky this country is SCROOOOOOOOOOD.


15 posted on 08/19/2019 5:46:58 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: albie; All

And Bernie Sanders and the Hollywood libs were praising Venezuela.

What about now?

It should be taught as an example of socialism in every school.

But have you noticed after the mass murders, currency collapse, and suffering from socialist governments, all of a sudden its “not true socialism.”

These people are stuck on stupid and need to be kept from positions of power and influence.


16 posted on 08/19/2019 5:47:30 AM PDT by TigerClaws
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: Buckeye McFrog

That is definitely going to happen.

And at such time I will be very happy to be dead, and I don’t care what they do to themselves, because I don’t care about them at all.

I have never seen a group of more useless, obnoxious people than the young people of this country.


18 posted on 08/19/2019 5:54:25 AM PDT by chris37 (Monday, March 25 2019 is Maga Day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Gen Z have been groomed at colleges and universities to become the cannon fodder for the radical left and the liberal fascists now running the Dem party. ANTIFA is a national liberal fascist organization designed to suppress the conservative vote in all sanctuary cities and sanctuary states. Conservatives and independents will have to do battle to get to those polls in November of 2020.

And the liberal fascism is no accident. Its a continuing plan to bring America away from the Constitution , redefine our history , and create a burgeoning socialist state where only government and its employees can pursue happiness.

You can read it here:

Barack Obama: The Quintessential Liberal Fascist

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html


19 posted on 08/19/2019 5:56:47 AM PDT by Candor7 ((Obama Fascism)http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chris37

Look at the demographics of this generation and you will understand the ignorance.


20 posted on 08/19/2019 5:59:45 AM PDT by Oldexpat (Jobs Not Mobs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson