Why Is Youth So Left-Wing?

[MrPresident]

I think it's fair to say that young people are far more likely to be left-wing (i.e. socialist/communist) than older people. The evidence is for all to see on these boards. Now, I was wondering why this might be the case. Is it because young people are more idealistic than older people? Are they more naive? Do they not fully know the cost of their beliefs? Or, as you get older do you become more jaded, cynical, and self-interested?

If it is that young people are more naive should older people dismiss their views are not being fully thought out or grounded in real-life experience? Or, should young people ignore the more conservative views of the older members of society as not being progressive or modern enough?

What do you think?

Note: I know that this thread contains generalisations but they are necessary and useful for the discussion.

 

[zulu9812]

I think young people are full of idealism, which gradually gets drummed out of them as they get older.

 

[WS78]

This is the fact of life. It repeats like a washing machine.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Well, part of it is just that it's the "trendy" thing to do. Also these days the school books and teachers are really liberal, so that contributes. That and it's part of the whole "rebel" scene of being a teen, so kids want to go around preaching communism or some other cause to stand out without fully considering what they're talking about.

That and i think it just does have to do with being naive and idealistic, things that you outgrow fairly quickly as you get older.

One thing though, i've noticed that kids seem to be getting more conservative lately. (More are still liberal of course, but there are quite a few right-winger types i know, even here in California) Probably as a result of all their parents and teachers being left wing, so the kids all turn conservative.

 

[amadeus]

They don't have to work for what they have.

 

[Uncle Sam]

They don't have to work for what they have.

Good call rmsharpe.

 

[Mise]

Because hippy girls are sexy.
Personally, I don't htink young people get more right wing as they mature. Rather, they merely get more moderate. I think it's also fair to say that left wingers are more open minded (a youth's mind is always open) than conservatives, who tend to stay conservative all their lives.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

The trend is not universal. In highly religious communities, such as the American South, most children grow up frevently conservative.

 

[JohnRM]

They don't have to work for what they have.

I subscribe to that, Sir.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I think it's also fair to say that left wingers are more open minded (a youth's mind is always open) than conservatives, who tend to stay conservative all their lives.

I do not find the far-left to be any more open-minded than the far-right. Both subscribe to fundamental beliefs and assumptions that hinder their thought.

The true open-minded ones are the moderates of the world.

 

[WickedSmurf]

They don't have to work for what they have.

I also concur with this statement.

 

[marioh]

I think it's fair to say that young people are far more likely to be left-wing (i.e. socialist/communist) than older people. The evidence is for all to see on these boards. Now, I was wondering why this might be the case. Is it because young people are more idealistic than older people? Are they more naive? Do they not fully know the cost of their beliefs? Or, as you get older do you become more jaded, cynical, and self-interested?

If it is that young people are more naive should older people dismiss their views are not being fully thought out or grounded in real-life experience? Or, should young people ignore the more conservative views of the older members of society as not being progressive or modern enough?

What do you think?

Note: I know that this thread contains generalisations but they are necessary and useful for the discussion.

I believe it's from lack of real life experience. When reality punches you in the face, you tend to lose some of the idealism that youth brings. I also don't consider people to be adults until they've lived on their own, and can support themselves. It's one thing to have views on the world in an insulated world where the only thing you have to worry about is school, quite another when you've got to worry about paying all your bills, feeding yourself, meeting your rent/mortgage, career, etc..

 

[WS78]

Does this topic only apply in US or what?

Youth always rebel against the established order. (generalisation but you already knew that)

 

[10Seven]

Indoctrination.

They will either repeat what their parent's teach them, or what school teaches them, or the complete opposite

That's what my 'education' suggests to me.

What my personal experience suggests to me, is that, being young, and LESS JADED is the big thing - lacking the amount of 'life bruises' they're more likely to think toward seemingly less selfish idealogies.

And as we get older we tend toward grumpy, 'stuff 'em, I'm looking out for number one' dogma.

 

[Verbose]

"He, who is not a socialist in his youth, has no heart. If he persists in this as he grows up, he has no brain."
Modern Swedish saying.
(Crap translation by me.)

 

[downtown]

Its about idealism, and trying to find easy answers to social injustice. When I was 13, and first starting to get into politics, I was all about "wealth redistribution!", and now that I look back at it, I was kind of commie. As I studied American Politics more, went to camps, met and talked with state senators, I became more moderate. Now, I guess Im more of a Clinton Democract, who wanted to have social programs and have fiscal responibilty, and rehabilitate, rather then freely give.
Seculus is right. there are places where kids are uber-conserivitive. Southern Ohio is one. If you vote Democratic, or lean that way, people think you hate america, and are a godless commie. Its partly that way here.

 

[luiz]

Many reasons, and I don't have the pretention to understand them all. But I can point out at least some that, IMO, play a role.

-Idealism. Young people usually believe that if they put enough effort thet can change the world. This goes hand in hand with the left-wing belief that society needs planning.

-Influence from teachers: Young people are more easily impressed, and tend to admire their teachers. Most teachers tend to be left-wing, and they usually like to talk about it. So the kids end up thinking that the opinions of the teacher are the correct ones. I think one of the main reasons why I was never a left-winger is that I hated most of my teachers of Social Sciences, and had big discussions with them.

-Lack of experience with "the real world": After people start having to work to survive, they tend to get more cynicall and thus get over the left-wing idealism.

 

[Mise]

"He, who is not a socialist in his youth, has no heart. If he persists in this as he grows up, he has no brain."
Modern Swedish saying.
(Crap translation by me.)

I thought that was a famous saying. I was trying to remember it properly for ages now but I couldn't! Thanks for bringing it up

 

[Cilpot]

I find that most youth are radical either left or right.

I personally was very right wing in my teens, but have grown more moderate since then.

 

[Shadylookin]

I think it varies by cultural I do not know 1 liberal youth