Pew Research found that since Reagan the percentage of young adults calling themselves Republicans has declined from 55 to 35%. That loses out to young Democrats, who now account for 48% of young adults.
On specific issues:
While 47% of the public would support a "universal, government-sponsored national health care insurance program" -- not bad -- fully 62% of young voters would. A super-majority.
On wedge issues like race and gay rights:
While only 36% of whites in the general public say they "completely agree" that "It's all right for blacks and whites to date each other," fully 64% of white youth feel that way.
And Pew found that while those age 26 and older reject allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children by 50-44%, 18-25 year-olds support gays and lesbians having that right, by 61% to 25%, a major league turnaround.
Overall, as summarized by The New York Times, America's youth "have continued a long-term drift away from the Republican Party."
If you're a progressive, feel free to smile now as broadly as you wish, let out a great sigh of relief (or a big cheer), and picture a bright future with a totally marginalized right-wing. How sweet it is!
(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)
Comments: This
section is for listeners. To receive a reply from Jack Clark,
you should call the comment line.
Hey Jack :) Love your podcast, even though I am an ex-progressive.
I am now a happily converted Libertarian.
This episode I was a bit disappointed with your catagorising Free Talk Live as a right wing podcast when it is by definition neither left nor right.
I found it after listening to a LOT of left wing podcasts and realizing that if there is two sides to every story, I might be neglecting the other side. I couldn't handle the right wingers for long and soon googled NOT LEFT NOT RIGHT PODCAST and what I got was Free Talk Live.
It changed my life.
Gay right? Yes. Gun rights? Yes. Taxation? No. War in Iraq? No.
Intriguing hey?
Its called 'freedom' and just as you believe many right wingers are closeted progressives I believe a lot of progressives are in fact libertarians. I was.
You ought to listen to a little Free Talk Live before responding (if you intend to) to this post - but give them, a chance - they are a little confronting at first. Beyond that they are consistent and compelling.
To quote yourself:
Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first.
i turn the challenge back to you.
You called Free Talk Live right wing - give it a listen.
Then, I'd love to hear you address the libertarian cause on Blast the Right.
Anyone else reading this comment? The challenge stands for you to :)
THIS GUY IS JUST LOOKING FOR A WAY TO HIDE IN SHEEP CLOTHING: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS NO TAXES: THERE IS; SUCH A THING AS PASSING A LAW FOR POLITICIANS NOT TO RAPE THE TREASURY { LIKE G.W. HAS ; CHECK THE DEBT CLOCK??} OR TO TAKE P.A.C. MONEY FOR TERRIBLE HATE MONGERING FAVORS...These guys that are in office now are dirty piggs: You give them an inch and they will take a mile: Libertarians are right wingers { wolves } in sheep suits:
With leftward ideologies in control of the school system and media, a firmly leftist trend should be expected in America's youth.
I don't recognize anything about interracial couples being a conservative issue (traditionally more of a Southern Democrat issue). Certainly in a "progressive" environment we can expect youth to look more and more to The State as it's saviour, rather than focus on self governance. In this environment we can also expect them to reject conserviative morality for more "progressive" and "flexible" world views, abandoning abstinence and marraige for promiscuity and polysexuality, and being able to idealize blood thirsty murderers such as Che Guevarra as "people's heroes".
I see nothing to stop this nation from descending to the same level as the welfare liberalist european states and perhaps eventually the marxist states. What does that mean? It means the death of the purpose of America's founding, liberty from arbitrary domination by other humans.
Jack
Clark documents the right's wars on the poor,
civil liberties, the right of workers to organize
at work and obtain a decent working wage and work
conditions, and against other countries who refuse
to accept American domination. Jack provides all
the sources so that you can see for yourself how
the right is out to enrich itself at the expense
of everyone else. Great job, Jack!
Submitted By: magyarbill
awesome
show
Clark
always backs up his statements against
the right wing with fact and data, which
gives him all the more credibility.
As conglomerate media controlled by
politics clouds the mainstream news
media, Jack Clark, along with NPR and
Democracy Now! have become my primary
news source. Awesome podcast!
Submitted By: jgates118
In-Depth,
Meaty, Hardcore Knowledge
This
podcast is not just entertainment, humor,
chimp-bashing, or gee-whiz recap of
the weeks events. Instead, it hits hard
and in-depth on the world economic situation
and how right-wing policies impact the
poor and less advantaged all over the
world. He examines Americas support
of the World Bank, IMF,multinational
corporations, etc., and connects the
dots. This is a podcast for grown-ups.
He gives good reasons why the right
wing is NOT living up to its precious
Bible, without putting down the Bible.
As a Jesus-loving Christian and moderate
Democrat, I respect this podcast for
its subject matter. The grown-up manner
of the speaker is just icing on the
cake. He IS funny, but hes not trying
to be, he just has a deadpan delivery
but doesnt have to make jokes to make
it interesting. The facts make it interesting
and devastating.
Submitted By: ebrenn1
A
Breath of Fresh Air
Jack
Clarks Blast the Right podcast is truly
a breath of fresh air when it comes
to political commentary. Jack is not
like some commentators who simply climb
on their soap box and state their own
opinions as fact. Instead, Jack welcomes
competent challenges to his way of thinking,
and with logical analysis and sound
research, debunks the lies, distortions,
and self-deceptions of the right wing.
I strongly recommend Blast the Right
for people who seek the truth and care
more about the long term health and
well-being of the whole citizenry than
the short term personal gain advocated
by modern conservatives. Listen as Jack
carefully shows how the high-sounding
"God and country" rhetoric
of the right wing is really just a smokescreen
for policies that ultimately lead only
to the increased misery, suffering,
and death of the less fortunate for
the particular benefit of the wealthy
and the well-connected. And, if you
find yourself in agreement, return to
Podcast Alley to place your vote! Thanks!
