The Generation Gap and the 2012 Election

[gilliam]

Not since 1972 has generation played such a significant role in voter preferences as it has in recent elections. Younger people have voted substantially more Democratic in each election since 2004, while older voters have cast more ballots for Republican candidates in each election since 2006.

pewresearch.org/pubs/2122/generation-gap-barack-obama-mitt-romney-republicans-democrats-silent-generation-millenials-genxers-baby-boomers

http://pewresearch.org/assets/publications/2122-1.png

 

[_Abyssinia]

But ‘why?’ I wish they survey would ask that question.

Millennials are the most pro life generation, I wonder if the pro life view of millenials will be a factor now, or in the future in voting.

Obama won in part because although he lost votes from middle age and older voters, he surged with young voters. 2012 I don’t think your going to see the surging young vote, especially with this economy and no jobs. I doubt your going too see the enthusiasm Obama that you saw in 2008, they are not going to be there to offset the lack of huge support among middle aged and older voters.

18-24 age demographic casts votes less frequently than the average American and turnout among that age group is not high in off-year elections:

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
54.7 42.3 58.3 43.6 58.2 41.8 all voters
32.3 17.2 41.9 19.9 44.3 19.6 18-24

census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/publications/historical/index.html

 

[Saint_Macarius]

Millennials are the most pro life generation, I wonder if the pro life view of millenials will be a factor now, or in the future in voting.

I would argue that most in my generation (those in the 18-29 age group), like most people of that age, care most about social justice, not abortion. In today’s society one could make a strong case for and against it under the banner of social justice.
Democrats tend to be louder in areas concerning social justice than Republicans. I tend to dislike both parties platforms. As one professor of mine once said (a long time ago), “Oh, if only the democrats cared about children and if only the republicans cared about the poor!”

I hate the term millenials, at least people stopped calling us the echo generation.

 

[JimG]

But ‘why?’ I wish they survey would ask that question.

Millennials are the most pro life generation, I wonder if the pro life view of millenials will be a factor now, or in the future in voting.

Obama won in part because although he lost votes from middle age and older voters, he surged with young voters. 2012 I don’t think your going to see the surging young vote, especially with this economy and no jobs. I doubt your going too see the enthusiasm Obama that you saw in 2008, they are not going to be there to offset the lack of huge support among middle aged and older voters.

18-24 age demographic casts votes less frequently than the average American and turnout among that age group is not high in off-year elections:

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
54.7 42.3 58.3 43.6 58.2 41.8 all voters
32.3 17.2 41.9 19.9 44.3 19.6 18-24

census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/publications/historical/index.html

I hadn’t heard that Millennials are the most pro-life generation, I hope that is true. On the other hand young people have been indoctrinated in leftist views in nearly every aspect of their lives. Mary Beth Hicks says they are the “first generation of American Socialists.” So it could be a dilemma for them. Being pro-life should turn them away from the Democratic Party which has become more and more pro-death in respect to abortion and other life issues, but a socialist worldview would be in line with many Democrat policies.

 

[scipio337]

I would argue that most in my generation (those in the 18-29 age group), like most people of that age, care most about social justice, not abortion. In today’s society one could make a strong case for and against it under the banner of social justice.
Democrats tend to be louder in areas concerning social justice than Republicans. I tend to dislike both parties platforms. As one professor of mine once said (a long time ago), “Oh, if only the democrats cared about children and if only the republicans cared about the poor!”

I hate the term millenials, at least people stopped calling us the echo generation.

How can “social justice” exclude the most basic human right, LIFE? In what case can you make an argument FOR abortion “under the banner of social justice”?

 

[_Abyssinia]

Millennials Uncertain Of Loyalty Toward Obama: npr.org/2011/11/04/141989227/millennials-uncertain-of-loyalty-toward-obama?ft=3&f=1001&sc=nl&cc=nh-20111104

 

[_Abyssinia]

I would argue that most in my generation (those in the 18-29 age group), like most people of that age, care most about social justice, not abortion. In today’s society one could make a strong case for and against it under the banner of social justice.
Democrats tend to be louder in areas concerning social justice than Republicans. I tend to dislike both parties platforms. As one professor of mine once said (a long time ago), “Oh, if only the democrats cared about children and if only the republicans cared about the poor!”

I hate the term millenials, at least people stopped calling us the echo generation.

I’m in that generation too, and according to various surveys and polls the 18-35 category is the most pro life generation, middle aged and older tend to be more pro choice. Its seen as a human right issue among a lot of people in that millennial generation.

If Democrats are for the poor why aren’t the poor in inner city areas, which have been controlled by Democrats for the last 60 years, being lifted out of poverty? Republicans do care about the poor, but have different ideas on how to help the poor than Democrats do; which is not the keep the poor as victims, but promote policies that are fiscally sustainable, help the poor to become self sufficient rather than rely on a government net that keeps people trapped, same principal as, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Government programs that Democrats promote are running out of money and will not be there for future generations.

 

[_Abyssinia]

I hadn’t heard that Millennials are the most pro-life generation, I hope that is true. On the other hand young people have been indoctrinated in leftist views in nearly every aspect of their lives. Mary Beth Hicks says they are the “first generation of American Socialists.” So it could be a dilemma for them. Being pro-life should turn them away from the Democratic Party which has become more and more pro-death in respect to abortion and other life issues, but a socialist worldview would be in line with many Democrat policies.

Here is a a study done by Public Religious Institute on millennial generational adults (age 18-29) on views on abortion, homosexuality and religion:

publicreligion.org/objects/uploads/63/Millennials_Abortion_and_Religion_Survey_Topline_Results_and_Methodology.pdf

One analysis of the poll by Dr. Michael New says:

The General Social Survey has been collecting opinion data on abortion using the same battery of questions since the 1970s. In most years, respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 tend to be the least sympathetic toward the pro-life position. However, starting around the year 2000, those between the ages 18 and 29 were on average more pro-life than those from other age cohorts.

What is interesting is that one would not expect the current generation of young people to espouse pro-life views. Today’s young adults tend to be less religious and more secular, and have more liberal attitudes toward sex than previous generations. Furthermore, social scientists have not arrived at a consensus as to why this current generation of young people is more pro-life. Various theories include 1) the development of ultrasound technology, the 1990s debate over partial-birth abortion, and popular culture’s depiction of single motherhood as non-disruptive in television shows like *Friends* and *Murphy Brown* and movies like *Juno*.

lifenews.com/2011/06/14/dont-worry-next-generation-of-americans-is-pro-life/

 

[psr13]

I hadn’t heard that Millennials are the most pro-life generation, I hope that is true. On the other hand young people have been indoctrinated in leftist views in nearly every aspect of their lives. Mary Beth Hicks says they are the “first generation of American Socialists.” So it could be a dilemma for them. Being pro-life should turn them away from the Democratic Party which has become more and more pro-death in respect to abortion and other life issues, but a socialist worldview would be in line with many Democrat policies.

Yep, in many areas there is a lot of indoctrination. It’s in popular TV shows, news, and education. They also tend to believe that democrats care more about others, which just isn’t true. Again, that’s part of the indoctrination. While this indoctrination, especially in education, may not happen everywhere it does happen in a lot of places.