Despite a sustained campaign by the Washington media and political establishment to marginalize him, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, is still a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination. That has a lot to do with the support he’s receiving from young voters. In almost every survey and activist straw poll, Paul draws big numbers from voters between the ages of 18 and 29.
The laziest way to explain the counterintuitive phenomenon of youth rallying around the GOP’s oldest candidate is to insist that it’s about kids’ silly college fling with unrealistic libertarianism or that it’s about kids’ affinity for drug use — and more specifically, Paul’s support for legislation that would let states legalize marijuana. This degrading mythology ignores the possibility that young people support Paul’s libertarianism for its overall critique of our government’s civil liberties transgressions (transgressions, by the way, now being openly waged against young people), nor does the narrative address the possibility that young people support Paul’s drug stance not because they want to smoke weed, but because they see the War on Drugs as a colossal waste of resources. Instead, Paul is presented as merely a fringe protest candidate, and the young people who support him are depicted as just dumb idealists, hedonistic pot smokers or both.
One problem with this fantastical tale, of course, is that it insults the intelligence and motivation of young voters. But another, even more troubling facet of this tale is how it uses speculative apocrypha and stereotyping about ideology and drugs to suppress concrete social survey data about the far-more-likely foreign policy motivations of young Ron Paul supporters.
. . . .
The new study tracks how younger voters are now strongly rejecting traditional American hubris in favor of Paul’s more empirical views on foreign policy. For instance, it finds that while older citizens embrace American exceptionalism in insisting our culture is inherently superior, younger voters do not. But the key finding as it relates to Paul’s candidacy has to do with blowback, which Paul frequently discusses on the campaign trail. As Pew reports (emphasis mine):
Two-thirds of Millennials (66 percent) say that relying too much on military force to defeat terrorism creates hatred that leads to more terrorism. A slim majority of Gen Xers (55 percent) agree with this sentiment, but less than half (46 percent) of Boomers agree and the number of Silents who share this view is 41 percent. A plurality of Silents (45 percent) believe that using overwhelming force is the best way to defeat terrorism and 43 percent of Boomers share that view.
These findings have been largely ignored by the media and political establishment. Despite a sustained campaign by the Washington media and political establishment to marginalize him, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, is still a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination. 
(Read more)
The comment has a bit of slight of thought to force its opinion.
It speaks of “are now strongly rejecting traditional American hubris”. Followed by “American exceptionalism in insisting our culture is inherently superior”
Grasp the meaning of what America as represented by USA has meant. Grasp how many are trying to leave the USA for China and Cuba.
Then count how many children of immigrants became wealthy or famous in USA.
Now do the same for Europe and Asia. Show me the crowds trying to live in China? Ukraine? Romania? Get the picture, it is better here because of the Constitution and what was contained therein.
An example of Hubris is the media attacks and marginalization of all the Republican candidates, not just Ron Paul.
The majority of the media believe themselves to be elite that is better than the janitor, hamburger flipper, or you. What that means is their ideas are correct and others should be dismissed.
Understand a few things about China versus USA. Read this speech:
www.scribd.com/doc/73185074/Murong-Xuecun-Oslo-Speech
Understand the simple truth, conservative Americans have been dismissed by the elite and what calls itself media. Understand that Marxism gave us Hitler, Lenin, Mussolini, Mao, et al. Now at home we have Obama and the Washington elite here.
Ed K
addendum:
“By the way, I think the media should stop calling the states “Red” or “Blue” as a substitute for Republican and Democrat. Why not call states dominated by Democrats “Pro (Government) Slavery” states, and those dominated by Republicans “Anti (Government) Slavery” states. It worked in 1860, why not now…and it’s a lot more honest.” by Jim Yardley
I wish we had a political party which was “Anti (Government) Slavery.”
In case you have not noticed, one party has become Marxist in substance.
While it does not meet your definition the other party has many who do. The only way to get it to have more Anti Government Slavery representatives is for younger people who believe in such, is to run for public office and win.
If Ron Paul could do, some of his acolytes could win office too. Maybe in Iowa or even, upset the establishment and run in NYC! Imagine the turmoil of the establishment if your view came from NYC? Hell would freeze over?
However, in no one runs representing your views, then the status quo will continue.
If you of ability and proven courage wait on the sidelines, then so do not comment about wishing otherwise.
Ed K
addendum:
December 17, 2011
Dear Money Morning Reader,
If you or anyone you know is looking for a job right now, take a look at this opening… and please pass it on to anyone you might know.
Base pay – right off the bat – is $174,100 a year. And you don’t need any experience to qualify.
People with all kinds of backgrounds have held this job.
Carpenters, police officers, accountants, taxi drivers, volunteer firemen, musicians, dentists, engineers, farmers, nurses, bank tellers, ministers, driving instructors… Even a tollbooth operator has held this position.
And little education is required, either. Twenty-seven people currently holding one of these jobs have no more than a high-school diploma. And even that isn’t required. Not even a GED.
Not bad, considering you’ll never have to worry about money again.
In fact, practically every other colleague you’ll meet in this job is a millionaire – or multimillionaire.
And in addition to an instant six-figure salary, you’ll get three retirement plans. I’m not kidding. This is absolutely true.
You’ll be eligible for Social Security benefits, of course, like everyone else. But you’ll also get a 401(k)-like plan that “matches” up to 5%. And you’ll get an increasingly rare chance to participate in a pension plan, too – a good one.
How good?
Even if you only last five years on the job, you’re guaranteed an immediate, full pension when you retire at age 62… or at age 50 if you’ve worked 20 years… or at any time after you’ve worked 25 years.
You’ll collect nearly 44% of your six-figure salary, depending on how long you worked.
Hard to believe, I know… especially these days. So please, if you know someone with good character who’s looking for a job, listen up… Because the position gets even better…
While most Americans are paying out the nose for health insurance (and getting less of it) this job comes with the best healthcare money can buy. You’ll get to choose from 10 different first-rate plans.
And if you have a pre-existing condition, that’s okay. You’ll be fully covered anyway.
You’ll even have the option of visiting a doctor on site, whenever you want.
Or working out in a top-flight gym – for free…
Or taking a spin in your free “company” car, burning all the free gas you can buy…
Or parking it – for free – at the two regional airports near headquarters, which comes in handy…
Once you get this job, you’ll be able to fly almost anywhere in the world for free… and make even more money while you’re doing it. That’s because you’ll receive a per diem travel allowance… and get to keep whatever you don’t spend – up to $3,000 per trip.
These are just a few of the job’s perks. But here’s the best part…
You barely have to work.
In fact, most of the people who hold this job work only three days a week. And they all enjoy more than a month of paid vacation every year on top of it… often much more.
This may be hard to believe, but it’s absolutely true.
Now, if you’d like to apply for one of these openings, there are only two qualifications:
You must be at least 25 years old. And you have to be a U.S. citizen for at least the last nine years. That’s it.
The only drawback is that you must be willing to travel to Washington, D.C. from time to time. But only when you really want to, between jaunts to Martha’s Vineyard.
And things get even better…
That’s because the annual salary is not all the money you can make in this job.
You see, when members of Congress leave office, they can still keep spending the Political Action Committee PAC money on whatever they please… until it’s gone.
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), for example, has spent $50,807 this way at the Boulders Resort in Carefree, Arizona. And Rep. Pete Sessions of (R-TX), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, has spent $49,739 at several Las Vegas sites, including Dos Caminos, a restaurant that brags about its “vibrant bar scene.”
Who’s got time to worry about some “debt ceiling” when there’s so much extra cash to burn?
But it’s not just about the extra money…
Members of Congress can also increase their existing wealth… in ways the rest of us aren’t allowed.
If, for example, Congress is considering a law that would help or harm a particular industry, members are free to use that information to buy or sell stock. So it’s totally legal for them to personally profit from insider information.
The most popular investment among members of Congress? General Electric, in which 82 current members are invested.
GE paid no taxes last year.
Members also get a special tax deduction of $3,000 to write off living expenses when away from their congressional districts or home states. And, of course, the value of most of the other perks is not taxable.
I mean, why tax that income when you can simply add to our country’s debt problems?
Let’s face it… Our “representatives” are officially out of touch. They have no idea how real Americans live on a day-to-day basis.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to stop filling up 535 extra gas tanks each week…
Especially when 58% of Congress members are millionaires. And the “non-millionaires” are doing just fine.
The median wealth of a House member in 2009 was $765,010.
For a senator, it was $2.38 million.
So let’s be honest…
Despite what they tell us, working in Congress is not a “Public Service.”
It’s a job – an incredibly lucrative one.
We believe it’s too lucrative. And it’s time for it to stop.
It’s time to send a message.
Congress should be watching out for us – not profiting off of us. In fact, it’s time for Congress to live like we do.
That’s why today we’re conducting an online survey. We want to know if you believe members of the U.S. Congress should be subjected to the same economic realities the rest of us must face.
If you’re ready to stop filling up 535 extra gas tanks a week… stop paying for your representative’s gym membership…or taking care of his parking tickets (Yes, we pay for those, too.)… Or funding his extra retirement plan…
Then take a second to let your voice be heard. Vote today.
We need as many votes as possible.
We’re going to make the results public in Money Morning and share the poll results with major media outlets across the country. Our goal? To eliminate their excessive, taxpayer-funded perks and make Congress pay its own way… just like the rest of us. No more freebies.
The more votes we have, the better chance of getting our voices heard.
So are you ready?
Are you ready to start making these people live like the rest of us?
We are. And now we’re ready to do something about it.
You can vote right here. And if you know anyone else who would like to stop buying gourmet soups and sandwiches for rich people on Capitol Hill every day, pass this on.
Yours truly,
William (Bill) Patalon III
Executive Editor
Money Morning & Private Briefing