A majority of millennials now reject capitalism, poll shows

Washington Post ^ | April 26, 2016 | Max Ehrenfreund

[BradtotheBone]

In an apparent rejection of the basic principles of the U.S. economy, a new poll shows that most young people do not support capitalism.

The Harvard University survey, which polled young adults between ages 18 and 29, found that 51 percent of respondents do not support capitalism. Just 42 percent said they support it.

It isn't clear that the young people in the poll would prefer some alternative system, though. Just 33 percent said they supported socialism. The survey had a margin of error of 2.4 percentage points.

The results of the survey are difficult to interpret, pollsters noted. Capitalism can mean different things to different people, and the newest generation of voters is frustrated with the status quo, broadly speaking.

All the same, that a majority of respondents in Harvard University's survey of young adults said they do not support capitalism suggests that today's youngest voters are more focused on the flaws of free markets.

"The word 'capitalism' doesn't mean what it used to," said Zach Lustbader, a senior at Harvard involved in conducting the poll, which was published Monday. For those who grew up during the Cold War, capitalism meant freedom from the Soviet Union and other totalitarian regimes. For those who grew up more recently, capitalism has meant a financial crisis from which the global economy still hasn't completely recovered.

[Lisbon1940]

Adam Smith’s countrymen just voted Bremain.

[IYAS9YAS]

Capitalism was originally coined as a pejorative term.

Yes, by Marxists.

[ptsal]

The Washington Compost has a pay wall.

The study published by Harvard University was released on April 25, 2016. Nothing like timely follow-up by the Compost.

Harvard's Institute of Politics

[ProtectOurFreedom]

They’ll just switch to the brilliant inventions that come out of North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Venezuela, et al.

[ptsal]

http://iop.harvard.edu/iop-now/harvard-iop-spring-2016-poll

Please read the commentary in the original story. Just think about events in play on April 25, 2016 and the subsequent events.

Lot'sa slicing and dicing by the Compost's editors to revive this story.

[Rusty0604]

Exactly. And what they see is not free market capitalism, but crony capitalism, and businesses that are over regulated, over taxed, and labor unions demanding wages and benefits that are not earned by work ethic
Kids aren’t taught to strive to be better or to compete. They’re giving enough trophies for showing up.

[DungeonMaster]

[Rusty0604]

What is that a copy of?

[gdani]

At this point, I’m not sure I would refer to the U.S. as a capitalist country.

[Harpotoo]

Makes sense and their support of Bernie carries that out! Let’s hope Trump after 8 years can provide incentives for J O B S to be created here in the US again so we can change their minds and put dollars into their pockets again!

One caveat though is our higher education Industry! If they don’t start teaching American history and our founding again or basic economics all will stay the same in their heads. Also if they don’t start teaching skills that are marketable instead of white privilege and safe spaces then all will remain the same too.

[Buckeye McFrog]

My HS economics and government teachers were at best socialists and I didn’t fall for their line.

I was lucky to have some Conservatives in those subjects (still a few knocking around a public school in the 70's!). One of the Social Studies teachers engaged our local RAT Congressman in a debate during his visit and absolutely shredded the guy.

[HangUpNow]

Just 42 percent said they support it.

Mommy's Basement is becoming Ground Zero for the Millennial Commie Revolution.

[Crucial]

They reject being able to take care if themselves and owning property. Sad.

[Buckeye McFrog]

At this point, I’m not sure I would refer to the U.S. as a capitalist country.

That's been a problem ever since $100K invested in K Street lobbying started producing a much bigger ROI than $10M invested building plants, hiring or training employees.

[HotHunt]

Send all the little f**kers to Venezuela to try and survive under a collapsing socialist system and see if they change their minds.

The Left in this country has indoctrinated our children into thinking this great country is not great because capitalism sucks.

But what they don't seem to realize is that socialism, communism, fascism, dictators and totalitarian regimes suck even more.

[Georgia Girl 2]

My two nieces and Mr. GG2’s daughter fall into this category. Its the result of 40 years of progressive control of our public school system. They have been brainwashed. I don’t blame them. I blame the baby boomers for not paying attention to what was going on in the schools. We will never get these kids back. I call them the Hive. They are just part of a stream of liberal consciousness with no individual thought. Its depressing.

[Crucial]

Sounds like H1B might be helping to keep the economy afloat given the taxes, banking and other regulations suppressing economic growth and opportunity. Only slave labor is saving the economy.

[Stepan12]

My brother in college used to sit with me and we listened to Ayn Rand records together (actually, it was records on Objectivism by her best student and ex lover, Nathanial Branden). He asked me to preach some of that stuff in School. Later, I read Aristotle's dictum that kids should be studying and reading Euclid -- not politics. Whatever the case, one time a bunch of fellow kids tried to beat me up for my contrarian preaching, but even that didn't stop me because I thought I was doing noble work.

One time in eighth grade class, I had a copy of J. Edgar Hoover's "Master of Deceit." My English teacher, who was ironically Howard Phillip's sister, said I shouldn't be reading that stuff. Even today, I think supporting free markets and opposition to Collectivism are good causes to champion.