Across Races, A Progressive Youth Agenda

Young people support Barack Obama across racial boundaries, but they also seem to agree on a lot more than a candidate.

The Center for American Progress released a study this week indicating that whites, blacks and Hispanics ages 18-29 are a remarkably united front when it comes to their political and economic views. The study compared its findings to average data from the past 20 years. Historically, young blacks and Hispanics have tended to be more progressive on economic issues than average, but in recent years, young whites are moving farther left and closing the gap on key economic issues like support for unions and universal health care.

To take a few examples: in the past 20 years, only 45 percent of young whites supported universal health care, while an average 55 percent of young blacks and 54 percent of young Hispanics did so. Now, 56 percent of young whites support universal health care, bringing them equal with their non-white peers. Similarly, 91 percent of young blacks and 86 percent of young whites support increasing funding for public education-- this 5 point difference has decreased from 10 points historically. On support for unions and federal spending for childcare the story was the same: young whites are becoming more progressive and more in line with young Hispanics and blacks.

Interestingly, the study also found that while young Hispanics and blacks tend to have political views in line with their parents, young whites are increasingly at odds with the more conservative generations before them. Could young whites becomes more conservative as they age to bring them more in line with their parents? It's possible, but the study's authors also point out that whites in the Millenial generation are far more progressive now than Gen-Xers were in the 1990s, indicating that their shift left may have more staying power.

As the country becomes more diverse, there's always the worry that political lines will be drawn along racial ones. So far that doesn't seem to be the case. The Millenial generation is already the most diverse and largest the country has ever seen, and there's no doubt they'll reshape the political landscape in the near future. This election they have Obama to rally behind-- beyond November, we'll see how they maintain this progressive unity.

Comments (3)

1. And again, Ms Currier....

   Victory has a thousand fathers....Obama wins? You just jump right in there and claim it for "the kids".

   He loses? And we'll see you again in 4 years to tell us about "the growing power of the youth vote!"

   As it's looking NOW...you may get to claim your prize.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 10/10/2008 @ 12:56pm

2. Now, 56 percent of young whites support universal health care, bringing them equal with their non-white peers.

   posted by CORA CURRIER on 10/10/2008 @ 12:06pm

   Like it was back in the day... except it was a lot higher than 56 percent.

   Posted by jackwells at 10/10/2008 @ 2:45pm

3. Posted by madlib at 10/10/2008 @ 1:26pm

   Actually not sure we want the "idiots out of the frat houses" to vote, mad.

   Maybe the guys in the library....physics lab....creative writing class....Economy Club....etc.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 10/10/2008 @ 2:59pm