MTV/CBS Poll on Young People
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| Also listed in: Campus Progress Blog |
Campus Progress received an advance copy of an MTV/CBS poll this morning (which will be published on chooseorloose.com later today), which shows some significant things about a national sample of 18-29 year olds:
- About two-thirds of young people believe they have as much or more influence on the presidential election as other generations. Of those, 31 percent believed they had more influence.
- The economy now takes place as the number one issue young people are concerned about. The breakdown of issues is as follows: 22 percent said the economy was the number one issue, 13 percent said the Iraq War, 6 percent said education, 5 percent said the environment, and 5 percent said health care. About two-thirds of young people also think they have a fair or poor chance with job prospects.
- Young people overwhelmingly (34 percent) listed economic problems as the number one problem that needs to be addressed in the next 20 years. The next biggest group (18 percent) listed the environment as the biggest problem to be addressed in the next 20 years. Interestingly enough, they can both be tackled by investing in green jobs.
- Sixty-five percent of respondents said the coverage of the presidential race as focused too much on race and gender. Young people want to talk about issues.
Although obviously appalled at her remark, it helped me to realize how naive I was in thinking that there were not people like this anymore. In any case, though this comment was the most blatantly racist I had heard as of yet, it serves as a representation of the entire primary campaign process. I think that this woman and others like her will be in for a rude awakening should McCain win the presidency and they find that, “oops, he doesn’t want what I want.” For at the end of the day, better healthcare will be worth more than any persona ever will be. I am not by any means denying that personalities matter in a presidency, but race and gender are far cries from charisma, and even further cries from the real issues of politics.
Unfortunately, this election has been filled with many comments about the candidates' race and gender. Not that I didn't think this would happen because this is truly a historic moment, but sometimes, it can be too much. Personally, I want to hear about the economy, college affordability, death penalty, health care, Iraq War, etc. I want to hear about issues that matter. This is an election year like no other.