Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?

[Nonfiction]

I know this isn't particularly new, and that Universities have been a hotbed of socialism and communism for years, but it seems to me like its worse than ever. Seriously, is it the "cool" thing to pretend that you are extremely well informed and knowledgable about the world due to extensive watching of the Daily Show? Ooo, capitalism=bad, government=good. No one even has common sense. I try to explain that if you are paying 30% taxes to the government that you are basically a slave for 1/3 of the year and they look at me like I am crazy.

This rant was sparked by seeing this girl I used to [censored] who I no longer talk to but am still facebook friends with just joined this group: http://umd.facebook.com/group.php?gi...981&ref=nf I mean what the hell, obviously all Libertarians are evil heartless bastards who want all the homeless to starve etc. How is it not obvious that more government = bad? If these retards have more of their money thanks to less taxes they can give the homeless and poor all of that extra money if they want, do more "good" than the government would with taxes and still wind up with the same or more money. I can't even destroy their ignorant liberal attitudes beacuse they don't have a wall or forum arrrgh.

[75s]

What characteristics are associated with college students? 1st is wealth. They are far removed from experiencing real social issues/problems. What else can they do but ponder philosophy soloutions. They aren't pragmatist. Also, most are white and feel some guilt (whether aware of it or not).
You won't see many black americans people volunteering for Darfur and [censored] like that.

[TomCollins]

White Guilt

Feeling of Superiority

Overly Emotional

[owsley]

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White Guilt

Feeling of Superiority

Overly Emotional

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totally agree, this is all that needs to be said.

I might have to hang myself during election season this year. I do not know if I will be able to take it. This is just my personal opinion, but I think every young person should read this book, Nation of Rebels. Its not a perfect book by any means and part of the reason I like it so much is the function of where my mind was at the time I read it (16 yrs old), but it definitely set me off on a different course of thinking and I recommend it to every person my age.

[elwoodblues]

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What else can they do but ponder philosophy soloutions.

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This probably has a lot to do with it (also why a lot are anarchist.)

[Vagos]

Wow, I have so much to say about this topic. First off...

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What else can they do but ponder philosophy soloutions.

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This probably has a lot to do with it (also why a lot are anarchist.)

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A lot of college students are anarchists? Hahahah, is this a joke? It's less than 10% AT BEST. I know you're just trying to rib the younger ACists on this forum (like me, Shake, BCPVP), but at least pick a spot where it actually makes sense to do so.

Furthermore, it's that they don't think ENOUGH about philosophical questions that so many of them drift into the liberal/socialist camp. They don't care to think much about the morality or consequences of their views/political actions on other people, they just see "equality for all" as some kind of utopian pipe dream.

In my experience (and I went to one of the most liberal universities in the country), there is a huge impact coming from the faculty! I'm actually surprised no one has mentioned this but I guess it was just so palpable at my school. So many of my professors openly expressed and praised world views of "socialism=good, capitalism=bad" as if they were written fact. It was truly sickening and since a lot of college students don't give politics a second thought in high school, this was new and exciting and made sense...and most importantly, it was the only view they were being subjected to. Makes for a pretty smooth transition.

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I'm a libertarian and a poor university student.

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Being a "poor university student" is decently incongruent, especially when you consider the the planet as a whole.

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This argument doesn't work though, because I believe the original point was about a facebook group where college kids (mainly liberals) post in a college group about libertarians being greedy and rich. If most US college kids are rich compared to the rest of this world, then libertarians can just as easy play the "I only know rich college liberals" card. Let me tell you how many radical socialists at my school would bash capitalism to no ends, but could consistently be seen in the halls eating a Big Mac while listening to their iPod. Why aren't you in the peace corps spreading equality? GREEDY BASTARD!

[Vagos]

Oh, and a story from my last year at college. This is mainly for the college libertarians/ACists on this board...

I was in this film course, it was only 1 credit but was really easy, we just went to watch a film in this local film festival 6 times during the semester. You fill out a survey and that's it. The theme for this particular one was Spanish/Latin American films. Usually a speaker would come who was in someway involved with the filmmaking process.

Well, one week, we had to watch a series of short videos about spreading equality around the world. How capitalism was destroying third world countries and how the answer was more government and more socialism. They were essentially documentaries that take to the streets, etc. So the films end and after an hour and a half of squirming in my chair, the speakers begin to talk about how they helped to create these films and, best of all, how they distribute them!

"We often travel all over the place, and meet up with other groups. We will sell our videos to them or if they are low on cash, we will exchange them for other videos."

I turned to my friend and whispered, "Otherwise known as capitalism." We had a good laugh.


This kind of thing just truly angered me all through college because so many people would just assert that capitalism was a bad thing that destroyed lives when nearly 100% of them benefitted from it and saw an improvement in their daily lives because of it.

[jogger08152]

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This kind of thing just truly angered me all through college because so many people would just assert that capitalism was a bad thing that destroyed lives when nearly 100% of them benefitted from it and saw an improvement in their daily lives because of it.

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I understand (and share) your annoyance, of course, but how can you be angry at those folks but not at the ACists who decry mixed markets on this very board while simultaneously attending (or teaching at) publically funded universities?

[SNOWBALL]

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"We often travel all over the place, and meet up with other groups. We will sell our videos to them or if they are low on cash, we will exchange them for other videos."

I turned to my friend and whispered, "Otherwise known as capitalism." We had a good laugh.


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WRONG

Capitalism consists in deriving income from OWNERSHIP instead of LABOR (i.e. sitting on your ass and reaping profits from someone else's sweat and blood). Market exchange is not unique to capitalism nor is it mutually exclusive with socialism.

[Barcalounger]

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A lot of college students are anarchists? Hahahah, is this a joke? It's less than 10% AT BEST. I know you're just trying to rib the younger ACists on this forum (like me, Shake, BCPVP), but at least pick a spot where it actually makes sense to do so.

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-1 (Illogical)
What proportion of the general population are anarchists? Less than 1% AT BEST. If you're going to rail against liberalism being overrepresented on college campuses you can't pull a victim complex when someone raises the fact that your extreme views might also be overrepresented there.