Posted on 05/13/2008 10:38:41 AM PDT by bs9021
Our Progressive Generation?
by: Bethany Stotts, May 13, 2008
Are young American voters becoming increasingly progressive? That’s what Campus Progress, a liberal activist group, is arguing in their newest study, “The Progressive Generation.” The reports’ authors, David Madland and Amanda Logan, base their analyses on the General Social Survey (GSS), the National Election Study (NES) and Pew Research Center data.
Defining the “Millennial Generation” as Americans age 18-29, they conclude that this group:
- believes the government should ensure them good jobs and fair wages (45%);
- believes that the government should provide more services (61%);
- is less likely to perceive the government as wasteful (51%).
In addition, they connect this generation to a higher appreciation for government services such as
- unions;
- public schools;
- and social security.
“On many economic issues, Millennials are more progressive than any previous generation,” they write, claiming that this new demographic will likely keep its progressive values as it ages and shift the future political climate toward more socialist practices. They dismiss the idea that voters become more conservative as they age as “an overly simplified and often incorrect assumption,” and little more than a “stereotype.”
The problem is, Logan and Madland’s analysis is based on shoddy methodology and their NES data has a very small sample size of around 225 voters. When Accuracy in Academia asked Scott Rasmussen whether a sample size between 150 and 350 was scientifically sound, he responded “Practically speaking, I would never do that.” Rasmussen is the President of RasmussenReports, a respected public opinion polling firm and the top polling site for both the 2004 and 2006 election cycles.
AIA has identified the following errors within the CP report:
- consolidating categories to exaggerate results,
- omitting pertinent information...
(Excerpt) Read more at campusreportonline.net ...
While I do think the young are too liberal, I think these stats are a bit cooked. #1, about jobs and wages, could mean that some of these people feel the government should stay the hell out of the way to ensure that. And there’s nothing inherently liberal about #3, believing government is wasteful.
No, they are becoming increasingly liberal and socialist. They are not progressive in any sense of the word.
Indoctrination of those who prefer the safe, comfy confines of a short work week, 2 months vacation, less stress on the job, an easy commute and a cushy retirement at the end of the line, all financed by the “system”.
Yes, it’s Europe, but the reality is that the Democrats really truly believe in Marxism under the guise of Global Warming and re-distribution of wealth.
College kids understand when they take home $600 AFTER paying all those taxes they “wanted” while drinking a cup of coffee, listening to that burnt-out hippie professor only a few months before...
They figure it out when they have to pay, too. College loans carry interest, even government-sponsored loans.
“They are not progressive in any sense of the word.”
More like regressive.
OK, so some guys cooked statistics using fradulent methods to make the point that young people are increasingly socialist. That kind of methodology is certainly socialist.
I sure hope and pray that these attitudes aren’t as prevalent as they say here. High percentages want the government to guarantee them good jobs? And more government services? Do they understand how capitalism and the economy work?
We already have a $9+trillion dollar debt due to past over spending on government programs. It’s scary if too many people think that the government ought to provide so-called services as a civil right to these people, without any thought to how it ever gets paid for.
I smell "rude awakening coming".
The Progressives are the folks who want to turn back the clock to the 1930’s. The Great Depression was a great time to be a Leftist, and with any luck those glory days will return!
Successful government-school education.
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