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Republican strategists see short-term advantages in the tea party movement’s passion. But if conservatives can’t wean themselves off of Cold-War-era rhetoric, they risk alienating an entire generation of young people. The tea party is well on its way to doing just that. A recent New York Times/CBS News survey found that three-quarters of the movement’s supporters were older than 45.

…But younger attendees expressed skepticism about the tea party message.

Naveed Easton, a 19-year-old Emerson student, said he thought the group was out of touch. “You can notice the shift in society over the past 30 years,’’ he said. “It’s just getting more and more open-minded, and some people are just very resistant to a progressive society. Especially when it comes to, like, ‘Oh, that’s a socialist program!’ ’’

And if the health care reform bill actually were socialist? He shrugged off that concern. “Socialism itself isn’t terrible,’’ he said, unless it involves the abrogation of individual rights.

…A year ago a Rasmussen Reports poll found that Americans under 30 are essentially equally divided on whether socialism or capitalism is a superior economic system.

…This may shock those who lived through the Cold War, but there’s nothing irrational about it. Young people grew up in a post-Soviet world. When they hear “socialism,’’ they think Scandinavia, not Russia.

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Tea Party, Socialism and today’s youth.

The graying tea party throng cheered wildly when Sarah Palin took the stage [at Wednesday’s rally]; the younger spectators stood around the edges of the crowd — looking unimpressed. 

Boston.com 

Worldwide poll: Vast majority say capitalism not working Only 11 percent of people surveyed across 27 countries thought free market capitalism is working well, while nearly a quarter — 23 percent — said the system is “fatally flawed.” A bare majority, 51 percent, believed its problems can be solved with more regulation and reform, the poll said. In only the United States (25 percent) and Pakistan (21 percent), did more than one in five people agree that capitalism works well in its current form, the poll conducted for BBC World said. continue reading…Raw Story

Worldwide poll: Vast majority say capitalism not working

Only 11 percent of people surveyed across 27 countries thought free market capitalism is working well, while nearly a quarter — 23 percent — said the system is “fatally flawed.” A bare majority, 51 percent, believed its problems can be solved with more regulation and reform, the poll said.

In only the United States (25 percent) and Pakistan (21 percent), did more than one in five people agree that capitalism works well in its current form, the poll conducted for BBC World said.

continue reading…Raw Story

Reminder Repost: Michael Moore On Leno Tonight

“Tonight (Tuesday), for his second show (Jay Leno), his guest is… me! I know — that’s crazy. My friends are taking bets on the exact hour today the executives at G.E. will call and pull the plug on this insanity. Or not.

Assuming that doesn’t happen, I invite you to tune in at 10pm ET/PT, 9pm CT/MT. I’ll show, for the first time on national TV, a scene from the movie, “Capitalism” — and I might have another surprise for you.” - Michael Moore

Michael Moore On Leno Tonight

“Tonight (Tuesday), for his second show (Jay Leno), his guest is… me! I know — that’s crazy. My friends are taking bets on the exact hour today the executives at G.E. will call and pull the plug on this insanity. Or not.

Assuming that doesn’t happen, I invite you to tune in at 10pm ET/PT, 9pm CT/MT. I’ll show, for the first time on national TV, a scene from the movie, “Capitalism” — and I might have another surprise for you.” - Michael Moore