PSL: Why do young people in the US favor socialism?

[marmar]

from the Party for Socialism and Liberation:



Why do young people in the US favor socialism?
Statement by PSL presidential candidate Peta Lindsay

By Peta Lindsay
January 4, 2012


Recently the Pew Center for research published a poll in which they found that 49 percent of young people in the U.S. favor socialism, while only 43 percent reported viewing it unfavorably. The report also revealed that African Americans favor socialism at a rate of 55 percent to 36 percent.

This news seems to have taken some in the capitalist media by surprise—but should it? Our experiences and our conditions shape our consciousness. And in our relatively short lifetimes, the experiences of my generation have certainly run contrary to the myth that the capitalist free market is a force for “peace,” “freedom” and “prosperity.”

In the last 10 years, we have seen endless wars that were premised on lies and driven by profit. Weapons contractors, financiers, oil executives and the politicians and generals who sit on the boards of these major corporations have literally made a killing through record profits from the death and destruction that they have been allowed to wreak abroad.

Millions of people across the country, the majority of them young, have marched against these wars and if we lived in a true democracy, if the decision to pursue these wars had ever been brought before the people, there is no doubt that our brothers and sisters in uniform would already be home. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/why-do-young-people-in-the-us.html

[white_wolf]

1. I know you didn't post this a question, but as a young person I'm going to give my own answer.

I think it's because we weren't bombarded with Red Scare propaganda. Also, a lot of us are coming to age during a time of a great crisis in capitalism which makes us look for alternatives. Speaking for me personally, I find capitalism illogical and inhumane. I'll be honest my family does pretty good right now, so just looking at income numbers my family is still "middle-class" so you'd think I would be in favor of capitalism. However, when I see the results of capitalism and see all the people who are suffering, I can't stand it.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. I both hope and suspect that you're right.

Certainly the propaganda of the Red Scare era scarred the minds of a couple of generations.

[socialist_n_TN]

3. That's probably the most logical explanation wolf.....

I think that you're also empathetic, which would mean that you actually see why another system than capitalism would be beneficial for more people.

[Starry Messenger]

4. I think that's true too.

I'm an aging GenXer, but by the end of the Reagan era most people my age, if they were progressive, probably hated everything that b@stard stood for. His extreme saber rattling and the threats of nuclear winter (which seemed very real at the time) really colored that whole time period. Acceptance of Socialism is a little less in my demographic, but I think we are less likely to support hating people for their economic system as a result of that time. I hope.

[Kath1]

5. You're Right

Thanks, Starry Messenger.

You're absolutely right. I was in college when Reagan was elected and my friends and I were aghast at his statements and policies. Acceptance of Socialism is less in my demogrphic as well, I'm 53, but my 23 year-old daughter has an open mind about it. SIngle payer healthcare and other social programs have huge support among her age group, from my personal experience.

[TBF]

8. I agree - I am smack in the middle of middle age at 45 -

Reagan's 2nd term started when I started college. I think it really affected everyone. I came from a union family, yet listened to the flowery speeches about ownership like everyone else, and was gung ho to hit the working world. Of course it didn't take more than a few years (hitting my first management job) to figure out everything my parents said about "working" was true. Granted I had the benefit of the union background and having read the Manifesto in high school so I was less taken in by Capitalism than some and have no problem rejecting it.

I would argue though that the mess didn't start with Reagan though. It's true that many of our immediate problems can be traced back to his policies, but when you go back further you realize that it was really only by the grace of FDR and Eisenhower that we had a middle class at all in this country. 1950-1980 weren't bad years for many families - jobs, piece work, kids when to college - folks at least had a chance. But go back before WWII and you're not going to see that. These 30 years were more socialist in nature and perhaps today's kids are reading their history and realizing this.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

10. Ditto ...

But you still have our education system that doesn't give a very positive spin on socialism, and doesn't really say anything negative about capitalism.

We need to overcome this.

[jeandubuffet69]

6. I too was really struck by this poll but not overly surprised

Millenials seem really open to change. My son and his friends (college age) are all really interested in alt social/ec models. Why not Socialism; free health care, education, living wage. Forget about semantics, ideology, it all makes so much sense. I grew up as a late (possibly betweener) baby boomer and throughout my adult life voted democratic but always felt an affinity for Socialism. In the eighties it seemed distant, now, not so much so.

[Starry Messenger]

7. Welcome to DU jeandubuffet69.

Nice first post.

[Kath1]

9. Great post, jeandubuffet69

"Why not Socialism; free health care, education, living wage. Forget about semantics, ideology, it all makes so much sense." I agree with that. My daughter and her friends (early twenties) are very open to the idea of socialism. I think living through an era of unjust wars for profit and corporate greed has influenced them in that direction. From my own observations, young women today are very anti-war and Progressive in thought.