As we watch public buildings, stores, and places of worship go up in smoke in France, we wonder if it could happen here. The reality is that while youth in France suffer far higher unemployment, approaching 20%, our youth here have never had more education, better technology, greater opportunity, or higher living standards. And yet many are souring on America.
The number of young college graduates skyrocketed 75% between 1993 and 2023. Total nonfarm employees in the U.S. increased 12% over the past decade. And they are living through what promises to be the greatest wave of technological transformation in modern history.
And yet many are deeply dissatisfied. They are strangely pessimistic about the world, disturbingly open to socialism, and, most unsettlingly, view America itself unfavorably. And America’s young women, who now have largely closed the pay gap and are a majority of students at college, law and medical schools, lead the pack in terms of negative attitudes towards the country.
The latest Harvard CAPS/Harris polling finds 74% of Americans have a favorable view of the U.S. Among adults ages 18 to 24, that number falls to a little more than half, at 52%, 13 points lower than the second-lowest group, ages 25 to 34, and 31 points lower than the 65+ population.
Among voters under 30, who make up Gen Z, Democrats stand out: Only 41% have a favorable view of the U.S., compared with 79% of young Republicans. Young women are less favorable than young men by roughly 15 points, with 51% of young women unfavorable toward America.
Gen Z women who are Democrats are 62% unfavorable toward America, and Gen Z white female Democrats are a stunning 69% unfavorable toward America and are the backbone of the leftward shift of the Democratic Party.
Gen Z Democrats may feel alienated from America, yes, but what heightens the concern is their high affinity to China, Russia, and Iran.
The political pattern transcends partisanship when it comes to China and Russia. Forty-one percent of Democrats under 30 are favorable to China – the same amount who are favorable toward the U.S. Young Republicans have some affinity to China as well, at 45% favorability. Young Republicans are more favorable toward China and Russia than young Democrats, liking both America and its opposing cultures.
Over in the Middle East, the youngest voters are more than three times as likely to have a favorable view of Iran as 65+ year-olds, with 35% of adults ages 18-24 holding such a view. Young Americans are also much more permissive toward Iranian power: 42% of 18-to-24-year-olds say Iran should be allowed to control the Strait of Hormuz, compared with 11% of those 65 and older.
So, why the dislike of America and the turn toward foreign systems?
The economy provides one explanation.
In May, just 27% of 18-to-24-year-olds described the economy as strong, compared with 45% of voters ages 25-34 and 46% of voters 65 and older. Fifty-nine percent of the youngest voters feel their personal financial situation is getting worse.
Failure to appreciate the freedoms they have is the second most important cause. Indeed, just 52% of 18-to-24-year-olds say “freedom and rights” make them proud to be American, compared with 86% of those 65 and older. That 34-point gap goes to the heart of the problem.
So while this generation is our most educated in history and most highly paid, they fail to appreciate both the economic opportunities they have and the rights they enjoy. This is the dual failure of our educational system as their attitudes lack any context, history, or experience. And so yes, France can come here.
This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.
