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

[tomdemaine]

I know it's not too popular around here but I seem to remember a stephan molyeneux podcast about culture being anti capitalist movies, tv, music etc because in the capitalist environment most artists fail for most of their lives, due to purely market reasons (there is a vastly bigger supply of people wanting to be rockstars film stars etc than there is a demand for them)

So if 'creative' people spend their whole lives getting screwed by the market as they see it then they are naturally going to be anti market in the output they produce which then permeates the culture especially amongst the young. I think it's a pretty interesting idea.

[elwoodblues]

[ QUOTE ]
What else can they do but ponder philosophy soloutions.

[/ QUOTE ]

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

[ianlippert]

[ QUOTE ]
I've never met a poor libertarian. Have you?


[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a libertarian and a poor university student. I live off very little money a month. Thank god we have some sort of free market capitalism, because other than no car I lead a pretty good life. Compared to the majority of the world I'm living the life of extreme luxury. I wanted to post in that group but I joined and couldnt post anything. I guess you wont meet any poor libertarians if you dont listen to what they are saying.

As for universities there are probably many factors. I think one of them is that much of the study that goes on in the social sciences is book study. So you get a very superficial understanding of economics if you arent in the econ department (and even then you still learn a lot of nonsense). But I think the majority of people at university are interested in intellectual persuits, so they actually have opinions on these topics. I think the majority of people just dont care. But these budding intellectuals get exposed to socialist ideas for the first time and when you are in the center of government spending its hard to see how socialism isnt a good thing. Its hard to understand that the reason your local factory workers are getting laid off is because your prof is making 150K/yr.

[Nonfiction]

[ QUOTE ]

As for universities there are probably many factors. I think one of them is that much of the study that goes on in the social sciences is book study. So you get a very superficial understanding of economics if you arent in the econ department (and even then you still learn a lot of nonsense). But I think the majority of people at university are interested in intellectual persuits, so they actually have opinions on these topics. I think the majority of people just dont care. But these budding intellectuals get exposed to socialist ideas for the first time and when you are in the center of government spending its hard to see how socialism isnt a good thing. Its hard to understand that the reason your local factory workers are getting laid off is because your prof is making 150K/yr.

[/ QUOTE ]
Good reasoning. I also think that somehow "liberal" is now identified as pro-gay marriage, pro abortion, etc, basically social issues. And since most college students seem to be "progressive" in views towards gay marriage and these other issues, they somehow identify as liberals even though they don't really know what being a liberal/socialist means other than "capitalism bad, gay marriage and everyone being 'equal' good." Nevermind that "equal" would mean "equally [censored]."

[ianlippert]

[ QUOTE ]
So if 'creative' people spend their whole lives getting screwed by the market as they see it then they are naturally going to be anti market in the output they produce which then permeates the culture especially amongst the young. I think it's a pretty interesting idea.


[/ QUOTE ]

I get this impression from artists a lot in my local community. There is often articles in the newspaper about how we have to support our local arts because everyone benefits from the local culture. These people dont understand that if they cant compete on the market its cause nobody is interested in their 'art'. Our local symphony got bailed out because it couldnt make a profit. Am I going to benefit? I'm going to show up at their concerts just as often as before, aka never.

[Richard Tanner]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

As for universities there are probably many factors. I think one of them is that much of the study that goes on in the social sciences is book study. So you get a very superficial understanding of economics if you arent in the econ department (and even then you still learn a lot of nonsense). But I think the majority of people at university are interested in intellectual persuits, so they actually have opinions on these topics. I think the majority of people just dont care. But these budding intellectuals get exposed to socialist ideas for the first time and when you are in the center of government spending its hard to see how socialism isnt a good thing. Its hard to understand that the reason your local factory workers are getting laid off is because your prof is making 150K/yr.

[/ QUOTE ]
Good reasoning. I also think that somehow "liberal" is now identified as pro-gay marriage, pro abortion, etc, basically social issues. And since most college students seem to be "progressive" in views towards gay marriage and these other issues, they somehow identify as liberals even though they don't really know what being a liberal/socialist means other than "capitalism bad, gay marriage and everyone being 'equal' good." Nevermind that "equal" would mean "equally [censored]."

[/ QUOTE ]

I think your response is closest to the answer. We're given two real choices: either be social conservative/market libral (Repub.) or be a social liberal/market conservative (Dem). Those are the only two ideological platforms mentioned on a day to day basis. After that, the drop off in exposure to Libertarians and even further to AC is huge, so most people just grow up picking one of those two camps. There are a ton of College Republicans too.

Cody

[pvn]

[ QUOTE ]
Our local symphony got bailed out because it couldnt make a profit. Am I going to benefit? I'm going to show up at their concerts just as often as before, aka never.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rich people being subsidized by poor people. Kudos, rich people!