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Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

wsj.com

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Re: Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

#12
post #2

It is interesting that support for nationalism is still popular with the older generations alongside their support for diversity, even after nationalism has been co-opted by groups hostile to diversity. The younger generations see "I support the USA" as "I support the policies of the current administration", simply because that's how said supporters often identify themselves. I think if you asked the younger generati…

Personally, I have zero faith in my governments ability to run the country. There isn't a single person in Washington who I would trust with my car keys let alone my welfare. I do however realize how lucky I was to be born in the USA and love my country despite all the people in it XD

age: 32 affiliation: republican gender: male

Re: Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

#13

Interesting to see how they mention Old Democrats are closer in value to Young Republicans. I highly suspected this, but its nice to have data.

It’s largely why candidates like Biden are so popular; he’s pulling a large number of votes from republican defectors that weren’t on the evangelical train. The centrist wing of the Democratic Party has become much, much more conservative since W. took office.

Re: Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

#14
33 here - Never cared much for religion..they look, act, feel like cults but there's an approved list of these cults apparently. Having a kid changed my life for the better but I was probably in the "not so important" boat before that happened.

The big one for me is patriotism. When I was younger I was quite conservative, very pro-USA, refused to believe that any country could possibly do anything better than the way we were doing it. Then I started traveling and actually experiencing the rest of the world, and all of those things just faded away. I'm still an American - I love the 4th of July and believe in our country's future. I just don't subscribe to the notion that the USA is best and that I should be proud of it no matter what, or that American's are somehow special relative to anyone else.

Re: Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

#15
post #2

It is interesting that support for nationalism is still popular with the older generations alongside their support for diversity, even after nationalism has been co-opted by groups hostile to diversity. The younger generations see "I support the USA" as "I support the policies of the current administration", simply because that's how said supporters often identify themselves. I think if you asked the younger generati…

I’m on the younger side of the millennial group. Freedom and democracy are wonderful in theory but the US has been run by plutocrats since it’s inception. It was literally built on slavery and black people have, today, 10% of the wealth of white people. And you can do anything you want in this wonderful society, so long as you can afford it. And that’s only one group getting screwed over - for 50 years the median purchasing power has held flat or declined. For markets that are easily captured by the bourgeoisie such as healthcare, education, and housing prices have risen to beyond what anyone can reasonably pay. Technocrats are worried that my generation is having fewer children because we’re perpetually in debt and have a hard enough time taking care of ourselves. So you see? The teams have changed, but its the same old game of who’s getting kicked and who’s doing the kicking.

That’s what I think of the uniquely American delusion of freedom and democracy, thanks for asking.

Re: Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

#16

I can tell you why "patriotism, religion and having children" have never been values for me (32 yr old)... Specifically, two are very closely related: Religion - I don't buy it. I never have, even from a young age. The idea of a mystical all powerful being floating in the sky watching us has always seemed absurd. And frankly, science has really done a number on my ability to believe in traditional religions. Do I bel…

kids ARE your only hope of an afterlife

Re: Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

#18

I can tell you why "patriotism, religion and having children" have never been values for me (32 yr old)... Specifically, two are very closely related: Religion - I don't buy it. I never have, even from a young age. The idea of a mystical all powerful being floating in the sky watching us has always seemed absurd. And frankly, science has really done a number on my ability to believe in traditional religions. Do I bel…

This is a deeply nihilist position.

FYI religion is not 'some guy in a cloud' and I'll suggest there's the possibility that a narrow interpretation of Scientific Materialism has led you to your state of depression.

Why so many smart people are unable to see past this material construct is beyond me, like a generation stuck in a mental Chinese finger puppet.

Consider for a moment that life is not something material, but that which is expressed through it, and it's a wonderful opportunity, worth continuing.

That said, there are plenty of others around to pick up the slack of building the future.

Re: Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

#19

I can tell you why "patriotism, religion and having children" have never been values for me (32 yr old)... Specifically, two are very closely related: Religion - I don't buy it. I never have, even from a young age. The idea of a mystical all powerful being floating in the sky watching us has always seemed absurd. And frankly, science has really done a number on my ability to believe in traditional religions. Do I bel…

kids ARE your only hope of an afterlife

How are kids - in any way, shape, or form - an afterlife?

They are an independent person, with independent thoughts + suffering.

When my Dad dies (for example)... he's not going to somehow magically continue to enjoy the work, and relationships, that he's enjoyed while alive.

Re: Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

#20
post #8
post #2

It is interesting that support for nationalism is still popular with the older generations alongside their support for diversity, even after nationalism has been co-opted by groups hostile to diversity. The younger generations see "I support the USA" as "I support the policies of the current administration", simply because that's how said supporters often identify themselves. I think if you asked the younger generati…

Members of the younger generation (myself included) have little experience with administrations who demonstrate their fealty to the abstract ideals of the USA. We have, with few exceptions, not been led by people who have the US populace -- in contrast to its economy and hegemony -- at the forefront of their minds. NAFTA, and globalization more broadly, and its effects has progressed to the point where the promises o…

> Not so if we were born 70 years ago.

Really? That means growing up during late 60's, 70's, 80's.

Vietnam, Watergate, trickle-down economics, ...

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