New Poll: Republicans Hemorrhaging Youth Support--California Democrats Reach Out

This poll means absolutely nothing. Youth have always favored the Democrat party. As they age, pay taxes, and realize how much of a burden big government really is, many of them will change their minds.

Andy: Dream on. This is certainly not always so and if you take a look at the numbers they reflect a real shift--say in comparison with the 2004 National Youth Survey-- http://www.civicyouth.org/research/products/National_Youth_Survey2004/UpforGrabs.pdf and other surveys. The numbers are just too large here and reflect where the Republican Party's values do not resonate with young voters.

Wait till they buy a home and want son-of-Prop-13.

Wait til they realize, as they age, they are paying increasing taxes to fund rich defined-benefit pension plans and lifetime medical for state/local drone employees, while they have defined-contribution (401K) plans. Wait till they retire on their fixed-amount-fund and still have to pay taxes for COLAs on state retirees. That disconnect will take 15+ years to come to fruition, but it will resonate even more than Prop 13 did as state gov't grows uncontrollably: people will start asking the question, "If I worked so hard, how come I have to pay for these lame arses at the DMV (substitute any other CA agency) to have a *growing* income while I fight to maintain my assets"?

Bill Wiese
San Jose CA

Bill,

We've already seen the impacts of that attitude. Your desire to hoard all wealth for yourselves has left our generation saddled with massive student loan debts, facing sky-high housing costs, and your unwillingness to help grow the economy through government-supported means.

We don't see things the same way you do - as a zero-sum game. Instead our generation believes that for any of us to have a decent standard of living and economic security, we're going to need to come after the wealth that is currently untaxed. We want EVERYONE to have good health benefits, EVERYONE to have good retirement. I do not understand why it has to be a choice, why I have to suffer without health benefits so that Bill Wiese can pay a little less in taxes.

Attitudes like yours have caused an entire generation to see a massive decline in standard of living. We'll never afford homes, none of what you take for granted. And so we won't pursue a son-of-Prop 13. No, we're going to eventually repeal it outright. That's what this poll is saying. It's saying that the California you created is going to blow up in your face.

Robert in Monterey...

Hoard all the wealth? Paying 30+% in taxes for services I don't want? Whereever didja get that crap?

BTW, economies don't grow thru "gov't supported means". Ask the USSR, ask most of stagnating Europe with customarily high unemployment even amongst educated.

I may be a tad older than you (early 40s) so I'm not sure if we're of different generations. I'm wealthy? I'm an engineer that lives in a townhouse. I'm hoping I don't get further 'help' from the government. When the gov't doesn't screw up the economy thru high taxes, business(es) flourish and I have a job: I like that. I don't mind working for what I have and I enjoy the work I do.

I had just entered high school when Prop 13 hit, and I remember the exictement of family friends (retirees) being able to not be taxed from their homes. Because that's what was happening.

Also, Robert, why do I want to subsidize your health care? Frankly, from your expressed sentiments I'd rather shoot you than provide you with health care from my pocket. You're de facto mugging me. I owe you nothing, and you owe me nothing.

Your complaints about education, too, are moot. It's entirely possible to get a good education thru a state school and not have to pay that much. Frankly, I think we need to charge liberal arts majors more because they're such a drain on the economy as they can't make any useful goods or services and end up in gov't jobs. (Old joke: whaddya say to a sociology/ English/Phys ed major: "Do you want fries with that?"

There is no constitutional right to a home or health care.

The reason you won't be able to afford a home is that likely you're a loafing slacker without marketable skills.

I would expect a civil war in CA if Prop 13 were repealed. People of achievement have a lot to protect.

Bill Wiese
San Jose CA

Why is Bill's comments filled with practical life experiences whereas Robert & Russo speak in hyperbole?

Also, why don't the latter two gents just says they are either communists or socialists? Or is that just spelled P-R-O-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E today? Wanting to redistribute wealth is the cornerstone of communist/socialist ideology which of course does not apply to the "elite" party members or Politburo who run such a system. Who decides who the "elite" are Robert & Russo?

Hey Russo,

I looked at the survey you referenced and was surprised it wasn't from a San Francisco based organization!

Although it does have in the title that more of our youth were tilting towards the democratic party as of late (and probably also for the reasons Bill Wiese states) it does NOT say anything along the lines of said voters enbracing any democratic/liberal ideology in regards to taxes, redistribution of wealth as you/Robert seem to expound upon or government benefits for the great unwashed masses. They mostly are unhappy with Iraq.

Methinks your blanket, "Republican values don't resonate with young voters", statement based on this survey is a stretch.

I'm sure this will be met with the usual "shoot the messenger" strategy from some of you, but Jay, you may be interested to know that a recent NY Times/CBS/MTV survey not only confirmed that we young voters are favoring Dems, but on the issues we support liberal solutions - the poll shows we favor universal single-payer health care (62% for it to 38% against it), gay marriage, and an "open-door" immigration policy. The poll did not ask a question about taxes, but if we support universal care, it stands to reason that we support higher taxes too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/washington/27poll.html?ex=1188446400&en=eaa1143f80274caa&ei=5070

And that's why we're not going down the road Bill suggests. We've seen the outcomes of a no new taxes system - and it leaves us with staggering student loan debts and sky-high health care costs. Someone who came of age 20 or 30 years ago generally has equity in a home and a good career position to afford these rising costs. We, starting out in our lives, don't have that ability.

I wrote an article published here on Monday that goes into much more detail about the problems young Californians face. It builds upon a groundbreaking study by the California Budget Project that shows middle-income jobs have all but vanished from California, and that since 2000, young Californians with college degrees have in fact fared *worse* on the job market than those without such degrees, although the jobs the high school grads found were low-wage.

But, I'm sure some of you folks will find a way to shoot the messenger on that one as well. Which is fine. Young voters aren't swayed by that, and our politics are going to continue to be much more liberal than those of the last 30 years or so.

Robert, I have no idea what your "shoot the messenger" deal is all about in context. Taking issue with your point(s) is not necessarily an anger response, just different and perhaps superior! I think Bill's point was we were all "young" once too but experience with life will change your opinions somewhat when you get "older". If you earn something, you want to keep it, especially when 1/2 of what you earn goes to the government (all stripes) already and is spent somewhat frivilosly to boot. (You play the "young" thing up a lot. No respect for the "old"? What age is the cut-off? Perhaps I am still "young"-Yippee!).

Any reference to the NY Times/CBS/MTV poll; sorry. They seem very biased to me after years of observing their actions & politics. Polls are tools to influence more than measure anything accurately; today polling is an art form in this arena.

You don't really describe at what age "coming of age" is. Could it be 30 or 40? The reason I ask is you do have some responsibility of planning your own economic future based on what you are capable of doing/producing for a wage. To have a family (coming of age perhaps?) regardless of size, that you cannot afford yet secure tax dollars for their sustenance isn't fair to those that do take a responsible approach to their families size and quality of life.

But to the meat of the issue, you say "we", in reference to progressives want to raise taxes. And yet, none of your democrat/progressive politicians has proposed any tax increases as of late at the state or federal level. Hum... Could the reality of a new tax proposal(s) be angrily reflected on a democrats reelection possibilities hence reflect the real majority opinion and not that of some biased poll? Please ponder.

Points for further consideration: California has driven many businesses out of the state over the years to other states due to it's harsh demands on businesses. Less jobs, smaller tax base. Look at the aircraft industry alone, nearly gone from CA...

Illegal immigration should be ended for the chaos it creates. Economically alone, we need a door that WE open and close and not one that is just open. Emergency rooms are closing down due to too many illegals getting free health care, a major contributor to expensive health care to all already here.

The facts speak for themselves.

Jay: I must say, your comments are over the top.

I've been a registered Democrat all my life. I've even voted for a few Republicans. You should be ashamed of your red baiting--that went out of style in the 1950's, and the fact that you have to resort to such name calling speaks volumes of how you can't take the message in this poll and that of others, but it won't change the numbers.

Now San Francisco bashing. Tsk. Tsk.

"Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains."
-Winston Churchill

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