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Do you notice a generation gap between left and right politics?

It's certainly true here in the UK, especially if you go off the voting patterns of the last election.


Yes, its traditionally been the case that younger people lean left anyway but this is much much more pronounced than the historic average. In the 1983 UK election, Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives were the most popular party among the young 18-24 age bracket vote has been over 30% for that party in almost every election. These days, Corbyn's Labour Party dominates the youth vote and 'Centrist Dad' is used as a semi-serious insult by leftists on Twitter.

I know that Bernie Sanders has most of his popularity with the young in America and I would not be surprised to find a similar situation internationally.

Is this a temporary thing or a growing trend? Is it down to the changing material conditions amongst the young or social attitudes?
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Northwest · M
I think this deserves a second look. The Reagan revolution was fueled bu the youth jumping ship to the "born again" movement.

My own experience showed me that within my circle, people tended to move left as they got older.

My issue with the studies, is that the context is not fully taken into consideration.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Northwest You mean polling, rather than studies perhaps? I think I agree if that is what you are saying and it's my problem with the 538 kind of data journalism. It has its place but it also has its limits. Quantitative data tells you a lot but it doesn't tell you why things are happening.
Northwest · M
@Burnley123 Yes, it only gives you one of the parameters. The system is dynamic, and has a lot of moving parts.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Northwest LOL. I love the way a tech guy talks about sociology but of course, you are completely right.
Northwest · M
@Burnley123 Hey, you can apply System Dynamics, to just about anything :-)

You know the story of the blind men and the elephant, it's just as true today, as when it was first told.