| VanishingPoi |
07-24-2014 07:57 PM |
Millennials’ politics are shaped by our dysfunctional system
This is an interesting article. My daughter is a millennial.
A new survey from the Reason Foundation on the political views of young Americans has left commentators perplexed. Derek Thompson at the Atlantic says millennials’ political views “don’t make any sense”; Dylan Matthews at Vox says they’re “totally incoherent.” It’s true that millennials don’t seem to fit on the traditional liberal-conservative spectrum, but before analysts throw up their hands, they should clean their glasses and take another look. What seems like a contradictory jumble of preferences is a rational response to a dysfunctional political, economic and social system.
The first thing to consider about this survey is the source: The study’s funders, Reason and the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation, are committed to advancing libertarian ideas. Even the reader who hadn’t been apprised of their leanings could read it in the survey questions. The authors are quick to associate merit with market outcomes, want to know if young people favor the legality of large sodas, and proudly present Rand Paul as the potential Republican candidate “least underwater” with millennials. Rhetorically, the survey report suggests that young Americans, with their tolerance on social issues and distrust of the government, are ripe for libertarian recruitment. There’s only one problem: Millennials are skeptical of capitalism.
http://alj.am/1rzDHkf
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