Why millennials are drawn to socialism

[TexasTowelie]

Capitalism has been the most dynamic force for economic progress in history. Over the past century, it has delivered billions of people out of miserable poverty, raised living standards to once-unimaginable heights and enabled an unprecedented flourishing of productive creativity. But among young Americans, it finds itself on trial.

The University of Chicago’s GenForward Survey of Americans age 18 to 34 finds that 62 percent think “we need a strong government to handle today’s complex economic problems,” with just 35 percent saying “the free market can handle these problems without government being involved.”

Overall, 49 percent in this group hold a favorable opinion of capitalism — and 45 percent have a positive view of socialism. Socialism gets higher marks than capitalism, though, from Hispanics, Asian-Americans and African-Americans. Sixty-one percent of Democrats take a positive view of socialism — and so do 25 percent of Republicans.

Contrast the millennials’ opinions with those of their parents. A survey last year found that only 26 percent of baby boomers would prefer to live in a socialist country. Among young people, the figure was 44 percent.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-young-socialism-capitalism-20180520-story.html

[Glamrock]

1. We need to be moving in that direction....

Just my opinion.

[Wabbajack_]

2. There are no socialist countries

Sweden ect is "social democracy", it's still capitalist just not robber baron capitalist like US.

[Nitram]

3. C'mon, progressives have been trying to institute socialism for decades, and conservatives

have been blocking our efforts. This is nothing new. Are you that ignorant of what we were truing to do in the 60s and 70s?

[underpants]

4. A couple of things

First, I checked out very briefly some of Chapman's writing and he doesn't strike me as a ideologue. He does harp about the innovation and lowered costs that capitalism provides. Partially true in that you may get a lot of value but prices increase, lots of tricks are played by providers, and capitalism usually has a much higher priced (salaries) than the public sector.

Second, usually I temper anything I see coming from the Univ. of Chicago due to its very conservative nature especially in economics. This poll makes sense to me though.

Overarching- I think there is an element to "millennials" (actual millennials are in there mid 30's) that a lot of people miss. They've grow up with something I didn't - their own ability to gather information at lightning speed. Frankly they are far more informed than I was growing up. Especially in a hyper active news/political world the words on TV and print can easily be checked and researched in real time. Individuals can develop their own understanding of a topic cutting through the rhetoric. I'm not saying that everything is some wild conspiracy theory but the news routinely skips over important steps in a story in order to keep it alive. Millennials also came of age in the midst of one of the great orchestrated lies in history - The War on Iraq - that was actively facilitated by the media. It could lead to skepticism but I think it showed a lot of people that they have to do their own research which millennials accept as a given.

[JayhawkSD]

6. I don't know how you can reoncile several statements that you made.

"Frankly they are far more informed than I was growing up."
with
"the news routinely skips over important steps in a story in order to keep it alive."
and
"...The War on Iraq - that was actively facilitated by the media."

As it (the media) continues to facilitate the war in Afghanistan and agitate for war in Iran and Syria.

[underpants]

8. I meant that they have research capabilities at their fingertips that we didn't have

The news rarely tells the whole complete story on any issue. We now have the ability to look into a story and receive other perspectives and often greater/more in-depth reporting. They grew up with it so its second nature AND they probably don't follow the norm we were conditioned to of watching the evening news or even watching the news at all.

[rusty quoin]

5. I hope I get this right, but Castro on having seen the movie Jaws

back in the 70s said that it is a great example of what capitalism is about.

There was this debate about what was more important. Was it better to take the chance that more people would be eaten by a shark so that the money would still come in during the tourist season, or lose that money and close down the beaches to ensure public safety.

[pansypoo53219]

7. we have crapitalism now.