Younger Americans Cite Liberalism as Defining Aspect, Poll Says

[Teacher Mark 53]

By Jonathan D. Salant

Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Younger adults, who turned out in unprecedented numbers to help elect Barack Obama to the presidency, say liberalism helps define their generation, a poll found.

The survey by the Pew Research Center found that those aged 18 to 29 cited technology use, music/pop culture and liberalism/tolerance as the three top characteristics that most make them unique from other age groups.

The slant toward liberalism showed in their support of government -- 53 percent of them said government should do more to solve problems, compared with 45 percent of those aged 30-45, 43 percent of those aged 46-64, and 39 percent of those 65 and older.

The characteristic also showed in party affiliation. Among the younger age group, 41 percent identified as Democrats, while 32 percent classified themselves as independents and 22 percent as Republicans. That was the largest percentage of Democratic Party supporters among any of the age groups.

The largest percentage of Republicans, 31 percent, was among those 65 and older. Within this age group, 38 percent identified as Democrats and 25 percent said they were independents.

The Pew poll of 2,020 adults, which included a disproportionate number of those aged 18-29, was conducted Jan. 14-27 on landline and cell phones. The margin of error for the entire sample was plus-or-minus 3 percentage points; for the 830 respondents in that targeted age group it was 4 percentage points.

‘Millennials’ Study

The poll was the centerpiece of a 149-page report on the estimated 50 million young adults referred to as “millennials” -- defined as those “who have come of age in the new millennium.”

Three-quarters of them are on social-networking sites, and 41 percent of them rely solely on cell phones, the poll found.

One in five is married, half as much as the figure for those now aged 46-64 at the comparable stage in life. About six in 10 of the younger adults were raised by both parents, a smaller share than for other generations, the report said.

Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, said in a statement summarizing the poll’s findings that millennials “are confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change.”

“They’re less religious, less likely to have served in the military, and are on track to become the most educated generation in American history,” Kohut said in the statement.

‘08 Election

Their impact was felt in the 2008 election, when voters aged between 18 and 29 supported Obama over Arizona Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, 66 percent to 32 percent, according to exit polling on election day. In the overall popular vote, Obama defeated McCain, 53 percent to 46 percent.

In addition, the gap in voter turnout between those under 30 and those 30 and above was the smallest since the voting age was lowered to 18 from 21 in the 1972 presidential election.

The report cited several other Pew surveys, including one that found younger voters cooling on Obama after his first year in office.

That poll, conducted this month, found adults in the 18-29 age group giving Obama a 57 percent approval rating, down from 73 percent a year earlier. It was the only group where a majority continued to approve of Obama’s performance in office.

A Feb. 5-10 CBS News-New York Times poll put Obama’s job approval rating among all voters at 46 percent, down from 50 percent in December.

--Editors: Don Frederick, Paul Tighe

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at +1-202-624-1832 or jsalant@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jim Kirk at +1-202-654-4315 or jkirk12@bloomberg.net.

-0- Feb/24/2010 05:00 GMT

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-2...-poll-says.html

[Ban Hammer 13,651]

they'll probably become republicans when they grow up.

[Teacher Mark 53]

they'll probably become republicans when they grow up.

[peejay 327]

they'll probably become republicans when they grow up.

I'm 53 years old and a lot of my old peer group that were liberal hippie types in the early 1970's came to their senses when they finally got out into the real world. I see a lot of my old high school classmates of that ilk that now proclaim their conservatism on their Facebook profile.

I will admit I was the same and have grown considerably more conservative in my views as I got older. Although I'm skeptical of government in general and refuse to align with any party because I don't trust any of them.

Edited February 24, 2010 by peejay

[luckytxn 2,265]

they'll probably become republicans when they grow up.

Should be changing their minds when they start to work for a living.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm 53 years old and a lot of my old peer group that were liberal hippie types in the early 1970's came to their senses when they finally got out into the real world. I see a lot of my old high school classmates of that ilk that now proclaim their conservatism on their Facebook profile.

I will admit I was the same and have grown considerably more conservative in my views as I got older. Although I'm skeptical of government in general and refuse to align with any party because I don't trust any of them.

Most young people are more liberally minded (at least socially), but that doesn't necessarily equate to embracing a political ideology, and then as they get older and become more politically minded, their true ideals come forward. It's just like how a rebellious teenager can later be a very strict parent. The rebelliousness didn't really define who they really are inside and it isn't until they take on adult responsibilities when their true nature comes out.

Edited February 24, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Should be changing their minds when they start to work for a living.

Work for a living? Please, I'm a librul. I don't work. I don't have to. ACORN pays my bills.

[Jenn! 918]

Anyone know what the median incomes for liberals vs. conservatives are?

Where does this idea come from that liberals must not earn any money? I'm so sick of people telling me that I will turn conservative once I "grow up". I pay more taxes than you, you dimwit!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I pay more taxes than you, you dimwit!

Most "conservatives" I know are total losers in real life.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Most "conservatives" I know are total losers in real life.

The Willy Loman's.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Most "conservatives" I know are total losers in real life.

anybody we'd know?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

anybody we'd know?

real life people. i don't presume to "know" anyone here.

[SMOKE 1,426]

real life people. i don't presume to "know" anyone here.

why do you think they're losers?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

why do you think they're losers?

i know them. they're not doing well. lazy and stupid.

again, real life people.

i also work with conservatives but they're not hardcore. they're reasonable. ideological intransigence is the hallmark of idiots.

[Peikko 1,575]

i know them. they're not doing well. lazy and stupid.

again, real life people.

i also work with conservatives but they're not hardcore. they're reasonable. ideological intransigence is the hallmark of idiots.

I believe that liberal is not a useful term in American politics. It seems to cause widespread confusion and some uneducated people seem to interchange liberal and Liberal as if these are identical concepts.