The Institute (協会)

That's not really surprising. They don't have kids, yet. Usually tends to change your perspective when you have a house, have some investments, have some kids. Also, they tend to get their current events and political news from soundbites, which doesn't tend to spur analytical thought.

What amazes me most about this report is that 28% of any age demographic still approves of Bush. Who are those people?

Dermaturge, what makes you think this group gets its news from soundbites moreso than the rest of Americans? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious why you think that.

Because I'm in that age group and interact with that age group every day. Most of them do not watch any news broadcasts or read any news items. At most, they scan the headlines on the homepage. Or read some form of news ticker. That isn't true across the board, but the majority of this demographic is more worried about their classwork and their job than national political matters. Therefore, they don't take the time to analyse matters from more than one side. Couple that with high number of left-leaning university professors (most of that age group is in school or just out) and you just exacerbate the left-leaning tendency.

From what I see, most Americans over the age of 30 still read a paper/news story on occassion and are more prone to take the time to think through the issue and it's implications on their family and area than the younger group. Also, I'm not convinced that most of the recent grads of the public education system know how to think through the issues. But that's just my experience. :)

If it's not Ron Paul I may well vote Democratic, too. Not that they'd do much differently, but just try to shake up the GOP.

Cause obviously no one in their right mind would be a well-informed liberal? That makes sense.

Most people in this age group are just starting to enter the political landscape. Most have done so during an absolutely horrible Administration. How can you not look at the White House and say, "I'm with the other guy" if you had no prior stake?

These trends aren't new ones. Ten years ago, the trends were about the same. In ten years, the trends will still be the same. The greatest factor is that this age group, by and large, do not own property or houses and do not have children. Why should they care what the government does with what other people own or how the school systems are run or how much taxes are taken out of the family provisions? And, frankly, most liberal-owned policies (ie: high taxes on the wealthy, more welfare programs) are not conducive to a strong economy or a strong citizenry. So, no, I would have to say that someone who jumps on those bandwagons is not well-informed.

"How can you not look at the White House and say, "I'm with the other guy" if you had no prior stake?"
Because that is a ridiculous and uninformed reason to be with the other guy. And it kind of contradicts your rather sarcastic first sentence.

Social and economic equality (key tenets of the liberal platform) are not mere bandwagons. These are ideals that many individuals happen to value a great deal - even if it sometimes means government intervention.

You paint a caricature that gives no respect to a world-view other than your own because you imply that only irresponsible citizens (i.e. those who don't own property, don't have children, and don't possess a *real* stake in society) would side with liberal policies.

The majority of my immediate family (parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc) are Christians, property owners, entrepreneurs, have children in school, and read the news daily. All are lifelong Democrats. There are many families like mine. They are not the exception to the rule - they are the other HALF of America.

On your last point, Conservatives invented the either/or game. How is it "uninformed" when it works against you and perfectly logical when it works in your favor? For example, "if you're against terror, vote GOP"; "if your against high taxes, vote GOP" and so on. You may not advance those arguments, but they've worked pretty well for your party the last few years.

I have no problem with a lot of Conservative principles. Most of us uninformed liberals understand your arguments more than you give us credit for, but it is simply NOT LOGICAL to imply that your way is the only one that really works and the only way for respectable citizens to adopt.

*whistles*

So THIS is why they say not to talk about politics or religion at cocktail parties... hehe.

Aaaaaand there's my incredibly useful two cents...

Democrat does not equal liberal.

Government intervention does not heal social and and economic equality. History has proven this time and time again. Therefore, I would say again that believing that this time it will is irresponsible.

The "other HALF" of America does not reflect the same demographic as the conservative half. It has similar numbers, but a different dispersion. So the fact that roughly half of Americans are Democrats (which again doesn't always mean much--many in the South are still registered Democrats because of the traditions since Reconstruction), doesn't logically imply that the demographic is the same.

Brad, you are so right. It's why I usually don't discuss politics ever.