New York Times Liberal - "The Downside of Liberty"

Discussion of that NYT article in a Washington Post blog

Another article on a very similar topic- why aren't young voters fiscal hawks?

My guess is that many would vote for fiscal hawks but are repulsed by theocrats, social conservatives and big government Republicans so they align with the Democrats who at least have other values they agree with.

The reason the young are not fiscal hawks is because no one has told them they will be paying for all this free stuff in the future. When my daughter got her first real paycheck and saw how much the govt took for the free stuff it was a real wake up call. It was a bigger wake up call when she had to fork over some serious cash for Romneycare, for working just 4 months in Mass. Once they find out that they have to pay for it, their attitude changes.

Dr. Wordsmith nails it on the head. Young people align more with the Dems because the Dems are perceived to be pro-peace and socially liberal. The GOP needs to change their messaging in order to get the 18-35 vote.

David Boyer -

1. Welcome to AMG. 2. Interesting point on GOP messaging. Can you offer 1 or 2 examples?

Thank you. / skf

18 - 35 year olds vote in much lower numbers than other age groups.

It's not so much GOP messaging, it's GOP response to DNC messaging. Examples ...

1. The Republican War on Women: It was 0% true and 100% orchestrated, but it resonated among the young, some of whom are women, and all of whom (it seems) want sex without consequences. GOP response: No, we're not waging a war on women. Not very inspirational.

2. Taxing the "rich" to extract their "fair share": The young are always eager, perhaps subconsciously, to postpone the day when they have to take responsibility for anything, so they gladly accept a target to shift it to. GOP response: The rich already pay most of the taxes collected. See my remark above about inspiration.

Kurt Anderson's commentary declares that business in America faces fewer regulations today than before the selfish 60s.
This is false.

He invokes Thomas Jefferson's indictment of self-love but fails to understand that it is self-love without self-responsibility that leads to the erosion of civil society.
Freedom and the welfare state are not compatible, to the extent that people are supported in escaping the harmful consequences of their self-gratifying behavior.