General Discussion

pampango

(24,692 posts) Mon Jun 4, 2012, 05:02 PM Jun 2012

New Pew poll: Key divides between beliefs of young and old

Not surprisingly, the largest gaps between younger (18-to-29) and older (65+) Americans in core values concern issues related to social change such as homosexual rights, single parenting, and racial integration.

Notably, people younger than 30 are substantially less likely than older people to say prayer is an important part of their lives (24-point gap). Research on generational patterns shows that this is not merely a lifecycle effect; the Millennial generation is far less religious than were other preceding generations when they were the same age years ago. (See graphic entitled “Rise of Religiously Unaffiliated among Younger Generations”, Nov. 3, 2011.)

Younger people also are less critical of government performance. While 69% of those 65 and older agree that “when something is run by the government, it is usually inefficient and wasteful,” this compares with only about half (47%) of those younger than 30. Related to this, younger people are more supportive of the government’s role in regulating the economy and providing a social safety net.

And younger people express far less negative attitudes about immigrants and the effects of immigration on the country. To be sure, the younger generations are far more ethnically diverse – the latest data suggest that one-in-five U.S. adults younger than 30 are of Hispanic background. But age differences in views of immigrants and immigration are not attributable to demographics alone. The gap in the views of younger and older whites is just as large.

http://www.people-press.org/2012/06/04/section-2-demographics-and-american-values/

If most of these young people retain their core values as they get older, republicans are going to be in a world of hurt since their policies are almost diametrically opposed to those endorsed by young people.

13 replies

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New Pew poll: Key divides between beliefs of young and old (Original Post) pampango Jun 2012 OP

Now the really interesting question is... Speck Tater Jun 2012 #1

True. Some retain their core values over the years. Others' values shift from one camp to the other. pampango Jun 2012 #2

That may be a bit broad in the conclusion... Lns.Lns Jun 2012 #3

Almost no one 65+ was a hippie unc70 Jun 2012 #5

Wanna bet? 1-Old-Man Jun 2012 #6

Almost, not absolutely no one unc70 Jun 2012 #7

I'm 67 and I was a hippie. Speck Tater Jun 2012 #8

My point, there were a very few old hippies unc70 Jun 2012 #9

Yes. I agree with you. Speck Tater Jun 2012 #10

Furthur pinboy3niner Jun 2012 #12

The most distressing trend is Civic Responsibility and voting.. Bandit Jun 2012 #4

That is distressing and odd considering that the young have a more positive view of government and pampango Jun 2012 #11

1 out of 2 people think newcomers threaten American values??? Zalatix Jun 2012 #13

Speck Tater

(10,618 posts)

1. Now the really interesting question is...

Reply to pampango (Original post)

Mon Jun 4, 2012, 05:16 PM

Jun 2012

What will these numbers look like in 30 years when the 35+ are all 65+.

Will people retain their present opinions, or will they become more crotchety as they age. Remember, a lot of the 65+ people were hippies in the 60's and 70's and didn't trust anyone over 30.

So don't jump to the conclusion that the younger generation is more enlightened. It might just be that the younger generation hasn't been around long enough to get thoroughly jaded.

pampango

(24,692 posts)

2. True. Some retain their core values over the years. Others' values shift from one camp to the other.

Reply to Speck Tater (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 4, 2012, 05:35 PM

Jun 2012

It's good to see young people starting out with such liberal views but there is no telling where they will be in 30 or 40 years.

Lns.Lns

(99 posts)

3. That may be a bit broad in the conclusion...

Reply to Speck Tater (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 4, 2012, 05:47 PM

Jun 2012

Not all young people in the 60's and 70's were hippies. It was a group like the say the Occupy Movement. The interesting statistic would be how many people that were "hippies" are now conservative in their beliefs.

unc70

(6,115 posts)

5. Almost no one 65+ was a hippie

Reply to Speck Tater (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 4, 2012, 06:13 PM

Jun 2012

Unless you were on the bus with Ken Kesey, then maybe. I am a few years behind, not quite 65. I can't think of a single hippie or a single 60's liberal who became a conservative 40 years later. Cynical, but we were always cynical.

1-Old-Man

(2,667 posts)

6. Wanna bet?

Reply to unc70 (Reply #5)

Mon Jun 4, 2012, 06:15 PM

Jun 2012

unc70

(6,115 posts)

7. Almost, not absolutely no one

Reply to 1-Old-Man (Reply #6)

Mon Jun 4, 2012, 06:35 PM

Jun 2012

Much higher percentage here at DU.

But no, in the general population, almost no one over 65 was a hippie. Now the dividing age is now at roughly 65.

Speck Tater

(10,618 posts)

8. I'm 67 and I was a hippie.

Reply to unc70 (Reply #7)

Mon Jun 4, 2012, 09:43 PM

Jun 2012

But your point is valid. If the 65-67 range is the early hippies then the people 68-110 are definitely all non-hippies. So the 65-67 represents only a small slice of the 65+ group.

I went from conservative in high school to liberal in college to conservative in my 30's to liberal in my 40's and I've stayed liberal in the decades since then. (By "conservative" I should probably say conservative-leaning, because I was never as bat-shit crazy as today conservatives.)