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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
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To: Kaslin

So 40% of youth ain’t that bright - that sounds about normal.


21 posted on 08/19/2019 6:08:30 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Vermont Lt

“...Social Studies”.

There you have it. History was changed to social studies and is nothing more than democrat propaganda. This is true in every middle and high school across the caountry.

Until we wake up and change the curricula, President Trump’s presidency will just be a blip on the path to the complete new world order.

Sorry to be pessimistic, but so many people realize that there is socialist brainwashing happening in college and they fail to realize that it starts in kindergarten and has been in place since the 60’s.

(not you the poster- this is a general statement).


22 posted on 08/19/2019 6:22:41 AM PDT by stonehouse01
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To: Kaslin

Generation Zombie.

They were handed a digital parent as soon as they could hold it in their hands.


23 posted on 08/19/2019 6:28:32 AM PDT by TADSLOS (You know why you can enjoy a day at the Zoo? Because walls work.)
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To: chris37

I am at the younger end of the Baby Boom so unfortunately I will likely live the end stage of my life in this dystopian nightmare.


24 posted on 08/19/2019 6:48:56 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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To: Vermont Lt
Why is there even discussion of anything “political” in any class except Social Studies?

They've politicized EVERYTHING. Including mathematics.

If a train leaves Kansas City headed for Los Angeles at 8:53AM at a speed of 70 MPH, and another train leaves Los Angeles headed for Kansas City at 10:14 AM at a speed of 58 MPH, how racist are the white people who elected Donald Trump?


25 posted on 08/19/2019 6:50:53 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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To: stonehouse01
Until we wake up and change the curricula, President Trump’s presidency will just be a blip on the path to the complete new world order.

And so I ask, for the umpteen-thousandth time, just what in the hell is Betsy DeVos doing to earn her paycheck??


26 posted on 08/19/2019 6:52:27 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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To: Kaslin

Gen Z has been robbed of an education and condemned to an indoctrination of leftist notions.


27 posted on 08/19/2019 7:04:31 AM PDT by G Larry (There is no great virtue in bargaining with the Devil)
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To: Kaslin

They get leftist propaganda 24/7 from Hollywood, schools, and social media. And they get very little exposure to those on the right because right-wing voices have been silenced in Hollywood and are actively being suppressed in schools and on social media.


28 posted on 08/19/2019 7:07:01 AM PDT by Stravinsky
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To: untenured

50 years ago this open debate consisted of my American History teacher, me and a now liberal journalist girl having a conversation while the rest of the class listened or dozed off.


29 posted on 08/19/2019 7:07:30 AM PDT by Sequoyah101 (We are governed by the consent of the governed and we are fools for allowing it.)
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To: Kaslin

The only ones that are “confused” are the stupid.

And there’s no hope for them anyway.


30 posted on 08/19/2019 7:32:19 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: faucetman

Gen-Z is defined as anyone who does not personally remember 9-11.


31 posted on 08/19/2019 7:34:49 AM PDT by VinnieCCT
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To: Pollster1

These days “fact checking” means going to Snopes to see what they’ve determined, not actually looking into it for yourself. That’s too much work for most students, hey, and even most adults.


32 posted on 08/19/2019 7:39:50 AM PDT by FamiliarFace
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To: Kaslin

but they also want to be rich!


33 posted on 08/19/2019 7:43:44 AM PDT by Reily
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To: Kaslin

From what I read the avg gen Z couldn’t his/zer/its/whatever ass with both hands a flashlight and a roadmap.


34 posted on 08/19/2019 7:56:17 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
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To: faucetman
General Z works with General Tsao. Makes great spicy chicken dish...


35 posted on 08/19/2019 8:06:03 AM PDT by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them.)
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To: chris37
They. Don’t. Know. Anything. NOTHING!

On the contrary, they know so many things which are not true.

36 posted on 08/19/2019 8:25:18 AM PDT by nonsporting (MAGA -- Make America Godly Again)
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To: Kaslin

When I was between 13 and 22 I NEVER discussed even one of the things mentioned in this article with my friends.

Our discussions were limited to

Who won the game last night
Did you check out the rack, butt, legs on ____________(fill in name)

who is getting more (if any at all)

I’m talking about the 50’s


37 posted on 08/19/2019 8:25:58 AM PDT by billyboy15
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To: FamiliarFace

Yup.

My experience with young people is that they tend to believe ANY piece of propaganda that is fed to them through their phones. Because it was delivered to them through technology.

Try and point out the illogic and the fallacies and you become “the grumpy old man telling me to get off my lawn” (their new meme for anyone who tries to be the adult in the room).


38 posted on 08/19/2019 8:28:16 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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To: billyboy15
Did you check out the rack, butt, legs on ____________(fill in name) who is getting more (if any at all)

Absolutely true. Women don't understand how for a guy at those ages it is absolutely impossible to turn-off the hormones. It actually comes as a relief in your mid-20's when you find some ability to focus on other things.


39 posted on 08/19/2019 8:29:46 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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To: Candor7

I think the Black Panthers in front of polling locations was a test run and they thought they wouldn’t need them since the smartest, most honest woman to ever run for President was on the ballot in 2016. (I think I just puked in my mouth, a little)

Anyway, they won’t be so scared, especially in cities like Portland and LA and various other locations. The Anti-First Amendment (AntiFA) people will be out in force, unless they are dealt with harshly and quickly! The Liberal Leftists are way PAST talking, they are in the INTIMIDATION business now!

Think of the mafia shakedown scenes in most movies: first time, a nice guy shows up and asks for protection money. Second time, a rougher looking guy shows up and demands money and breaks some stuff in your store. Third time, the really bad guys show up, break YOU and take ALL YOUR MONEY! The forth time, it’s the nice guy from the first time before...because he knows you are going to pay this time (and every time hereafter)!


40 posted on 08/19/2019 8:42:29 AM PDT by ExTxMarine (Diversity is tolerance; diverse points of views will not be tolerated.)
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