"I have opinions of my own -- strong opinions -- but I don't always agree with them." -George W. Bush
Why Conservatives Won't Capture the Youth Vote
No matter what Young America’s Foundation Spokesman Jason Mattera says, young people and conservatism don’t mix.
By Erica Williams
February 5, 2008
Campus Progress’ Erica Williams explains why young people and conservatism don’t mix—and why Young America’s Foundation Spokesman Jason Mattera doesn’t understand his peers.
I disagree with the idea that “young people” are a sort of monolithic group that flock to some ideology. Both Mattera and Campus Progress are wrong – claiming that young people either embrace or “don’t mix” with conservatism is silly. Young people have diverse and often fluid views on the issues, and many of them are conservative, just as many of them are liberal.
Also, Williams repeats Mattera’s error by also using the troops to make a political point (re Cheney). Finally, I would question the analysis on conservatism among our soldiers; a large plurality are conservative, which I think was Mattera’s point, although I wish he wasn’t using them as a political tool.
I agree to Joe more than I do the author of this video.
Conservatism is the idea that, through liberty, the individual is responsible for his/her mistakes and successes. This is very different from the liberal (progressive) view that government is the solution to the problems.
I believe that more and more young people today are more bent towards liberalsim because they have grown up looking to others for what they need. This combined with the liberal slant of American education makes most young people look to the government for the solutions to their problems rather than themselves.
Therefore, because most young people these days unfortunately don’t know hardship until much later in life and it is through this hardship (life experiences) that people begin to understand the power of conservatism over the progressive view.
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Brilliant Erika!! I’m very impressed with Campus Progress as a whole. Keep up the good work.
— David Lieder - Feb 7, 03:41 PM - #This video is awesome guys! Erica, you did a fabulous job.
— Dana - Feb 7, 05:46 PM - #I disagree with the idea that “young people” are a sort of monolithic group that flock to some ideology. Both Mattera and Campus Progress are wrong – claiming that young people either embrace or “don’t mix” with conservatism is silly. Young people have diverse and often fluid views on the issues, and many of them are conservative, just as many of them are liberal.
Also, Williams repeats Mattera’s error by also using the troops to make a political point (re Cheney). Finally, I would question the analysis on conservatism among our soldiers; a large plurality are conservative, which I think was Mattera’s point, although I wish he wasn’t using them as a political tool.
— Joe - Feb 10, 02:12 AM - #I agree with Joe wholeheartedly
— Michael - Feb 11, 06:25 PM - #I agree to Joe more than I do the author of this video.
Conservatism is the idea that, through liberty, the individual is responsible for his/her mistakes and successes. This is very different from the liberal (progressive) view that government is the solution to the problems.
I believe that more and more young people today are more bent towards liberalsim because they have grown up looking to others for what they need. This combined with the liberal slant of American education makes most young people look to the government for the solutions to their problems rather than themselves.
Therefore, because most young people these days unfortunately don’t know hardship until much later in life and it is through this hardship (life experiences) that people begin to understand the power of conservatism over the progressive view.
just my opinion though.
— Paul - Feb 15, 12:21 AM - #