More Fake Millennial Studies

Campus Report ^ | May 15, 2009 | Bethany Stotts

[bs9021]

More Fake Millennial Studies

by: Bethany Stotts, May 15, 2009

Having a progressive institution such as the Center for American Progress (CAP) produce a study that doesn’t show Millennials, ages 18 to 29, to be largely progressive would defeat the researchers’ goals. Thus, it is not surprising that two new studies released by CAP argue that Millennials are the most progressive generation yet.

But if the first study, The Political Ideology of the Millennial Generation, is any indication, going progressive in America means, well...center-left leanings at most. “Based on responses to 40 ideological statements grouped in four areas...we calculated an aggregate measure of ideological positioning based on a scale of ‘0’ to ‘400,’ with ‘0’ being the most conservative position on the continuum and ‘400’ being the most progressive,” states the study. “Younger Americans as a whole record a mean ideological score of 221.6, with the youngest group, ages 18 to 24, coming in more progressive in aggregate (224.6) than those in their mid- to late twenties (217.6).”.

In other words, the more progressive youth cohort surveyed demonstrated a 6.15 percent difference from a neutral or centrist political ideology. Overall, the respondents showed only a 5.4 percent differential from a strictly centrist score, assuming that the CAP ideology metric is unbiased, which is debatable.

The study questioned 914 youth between the ages of 18 and 29, the vast majority of which (790) were surveyed via the internet.

According to the CAP study’s authors, John Halpin and Karl Agne of Gerstein/Agne Strategic Communications, liberal Democrats—the left’s farthest outliers—scored around 245.9, a 12.3 percent difference left of center. “Conservative Republicans” scored 179.1.

The CAP researchers deliberately made conservative arguments unattractive in their survey and kept several “progressive” statements vague....

[rabscuttle385]

I’m a millennial, and I’m a “conservatarian.”

And I’m not the only one in my generation.

The leftists can stuff that in their proverbial crack pipes and inhale deeply.

[rabscuttle385]

.

[americanophile]

...let’s see how they feel in 4 years. How will they answer the ‘are you better off now’ question?

[marron]

Polling serves three purposes.

Polling is the feedback part of a propaganda loop. Its how a propagandist knows if his work is having the desired effect, and it helps him to focus and adjust his efforts.

And it serves a propaganda function in its own right, convincing people that they are on the winning or losing side of an argument.

And it serves as news filler, displacing real news and real analysis.

[ga medic]

This article would be a lot more reassuring if the 18-24 demographic hadn’t just voted for BO at a rate of 68-32. The youth are liberal, they always have been. With experience comes the realization that conservative principles are far better for individuals and society as a whole.

[pnh102]

I’m a millennial, and I’m a “conservatarian.”

Thank you!

[wbill]

Most of the "Millenials" that I work with are more conservative than my generation.

I think that 1) there's hope for the future. and 2) The authors to this study need to step away from the bong at least long enough to see what the real world looks like.

[Julia H.]

Speaking as a millennial (a very conservative one, mind you), I’m pretty sure most millennials are neither liberal nor conservative. My generation is too dumbed down to care what happens to this country one way or another.

90% of young people who voted for Obama were clueless about his positions, and won’t bother themselves to form their own opinion on anything. Obama did a much better job of appealing to youth—at my school, for one, we had Acorn people accosting us every time we stepped out of a building.