It's A Good Thing They Grow UpThe New York Times
heralds a poll that shows that younger people are more liberal than the public at large.
Young Americans are more likely than the general public to favor a government-run universal health care insurance system, an open-door policy on immigration and the legalization of gay marriage, according to a New York Times/CBS News/MTV poll. The poll also found that they are more likely to say the war in Iraq is heading to a successful conclusion.
This, of course, is not news. Young people tend to be more liberal, but they become more conservative as they age. Essentially, liberalism appeals to the young because it offers something for nothing; it is not until kids get a little older that they realize that there ain't no such thing as a free lunch.
Forty-four percent said they believed that same-sex couples should be permitted to get married, compared with 28 percent of the public at large. They are more likely than their elders to support the legalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana.
The findings on gay marriage were reminiscent of an exit poll on Election Day 2004: 41 percent of 18-to-29-year-old voters said gay couples should be permitted to legally marry, according to the exit poll.
That's still 56 percent who oppose gay marriage.
The poll also reveals some flawed thinking:
The survey also found that 42 percent of young Americans thought it was likely or very likely that the nation would reinstate a military draft over the next few years — and two-thirds said they thought the Republican Party was more likely to do so. And 87 percent of respondents said they opposed a draft.
Given that the Democrats are the only ones proposing this....
Labels: NY Times Poll
