Millennials More Conservative Than Ever Thanks To Obama

A new survey finds that millennials, otherwise known as Generation Y, are more conservative/libertarian than ever, with 57 percent favoring smaller government and lower taxes, thanks to the presidency of uber-liberal Barack Obama.

Though Obama was once the generations favorite over all other presidential candidates in 2012 and 2008, a survey by Reason.com, the libertarian version of Breitbart.com, found that 66 percent of millennials say government is wasteful and inefficient. That is a drastic increase from 2009, where just 42 percent of millenials said so.

Also, Reagan-like solutions to a bloated economy are heavily favored by millennials with 64 percent saying that cutting government spending by 5 percent would help the economy. 59 percent said cutting taxes would also help the economy.

When it comes to Social Security, 73 percent of millennials favor allowing private accounts while 51 percent favor private accounts even it means cutting Social Security benefits for current and future retirees because 53 percent of millennials say Social Security is unlikely to exist when they retire.

Millennials largely agree that the government should not be re-distributing wealth, with 57 percent wanting a society where wealth is distributed according to achievement. 55 percent of millennials say reducing regulations would help the economy and 53 percent say reducing the size of government would help the economy.

Millennials, though, have not lost their liberal-touch. 69 percent  say it is government’s responsibility to guarantee everyone access to health care and 51 percent have a favorable view of the Affordable Care Act. 71 percent favor raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and 68 percent say government should ensure everyone makes a living wage. Here’s a simpler breakdown:

  • 66 percent say raising taxes on the wealthy would help the economy
  • 63 percent say spending more on job training would help the economy
  • 58 percent say the government should spend more on assistance to the poor even it means higher taxes
  • 57 percent favor spending more money on infrastructure
  • 54 percent favor a larger government that provides more services, when taxes are not mentioned
  • 54 percent want government to guarantee everyone a college education

And when it comes to social issues, millennials still tend to be more liberal than conservative, though they do not believe in a nanny state-style run government.

  • 72 percent of millennials say large sugary sodas and drinks should be allowed to be sold
  • 67 percent of millennials favor legalizing same-sex marriage
  • 61 percent say abortion should be legal in all or most cases
  • 61 percent say people should be able to buy foods containing trans fats
  • 60 percent want to allow e-cigarette use in public places
  • 59 percent say the government should allow online gambling
  • 57 percent say marijuana should be legal, although just 22 percent say cocaine should be legal
  • 52 percent say either the government should not set a legal drinking age or that the legal drinking age should be lower than 21

When first asked, 52 percent of millennials identify as Independent, 32 percent as Democrat and 16 percent as Republican. Millennials largely do not identify or trust either political party, with many selecting “neither” when asked which political party they trust on 12-15 different issues.

The Reason.com poll surveyed 2,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 29 online from February 28 to March 11, 2014 and it had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent.

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