Being 23: The meteoric rise of Millennials a powerful force (Millenials steer us leftward)

Pittsburgh Post Gazette ^ | Sept. 7, 2014 | Alexis Wilkinson

[Buckeye McFrog]

Right now in the United States, there are more 23-year-olds than people of any other age. This seemingly trivial fact of demographics is an anomaly more than 50 years in the making. According to U.S. Census data, since 1947, the most represented age in the United States has always been a member of the group born in the 20 years after WWII, the baby boomers. In 1950, it was age 3. In 1990, it was 29. In 2010, it was 50. [snip]

[Bubba_Leroy]

For Obama, it was 66%.

Obama got 66% of the under 30 vote in 2008. He only got 60% of the under 30 vote in 2012.

Yeah, I know, 60% is still ridiculously high, but at least it is trending in the right direction. Kerry got 54% of the under 30 vote in 2004, so the young and stupid voting mostly Democrat is not an entirely new phenomena.

[ansel12]

The young (under 30) used to vote reasonably well in America.

In 1968 the Democrats got 47%, in 1972 46%, 1976 51%, 1980 44%, 1984 40%, 1988 47%, and then in 1992 it all went to heck.

[Bubba_Leroy]

One thing is for sure...if the Democrats really do get their nads in a wringer they can absolutely buy themselves an election just by proposing Student Loan Forgiveness.

I feel kind of like a chump making my kids work their way through college so they can graduate debt free. I should probably have told them to load up on the student debt since it is all going to be "forgiven" at some point (which means that the rest of us will be paying it all).

I also keep paying my mortgage, which makes me a real chump.

[Bubba_Leroy]

I think there is probably a correlation between when people start getting jobs, having children and paying mortgages. Nothing like working to support a family while paying taxes to turn a liberal into a conservative.

It used to be that happened to most people in their 20s. Now most 30 year olds are still living with their parents and working part time.

30 is the new 18.

[Starboard]

Can they really afford to set up a separate residence or have the money for a down payment on a home?

**********
There’s another option: share a place with others if you can make your portion of the rent. Our sons did just that until they could afford to rent their own place. Of course they didn’t drive expensive cars or enjoy any luxuries.

But I agree with you that the employment situation in this country is very disturbing and has at times presented a challenge for our sons. Its a very serious national problem, no doubt about it.

[ansel12]

You are correct in the general sense, but the under 30 voters will never again be majority conservative, and as they age, they will probably never become majority conservative.

[snarkybob]

I think the reason more young people vote liberal is that they don’t have any problems with social issues like gay marriage and legal abortion.

They’re just not opposed to liberal social issues.In fact they support those things.

I also think that’s why the GOP is trying to get social issues off the table.

[Bubba_Leroy]

All I know is that my under 30 kids are conservative and I hope they always will be.

I despair at the condition of the nation we are leaving them. I can only hope and pray that a majority of their generation gets their crap together and does a better job of it.