The Republican Party has a problem attracting millennials.
Is it because we’ve lost our way of
being the party of fiscal responsibility? Is it because we’re too concerned
with social issues? Is it because of dissatisfaction with the status quo? Is it
because the Republican Party acts more like the little brother of the Democratic
Party, voting lock step with them along the way to ensure the socialist takeover
of America?
Yes,
to all of these.
Millennials
are a huge chunk of the voting bloc, representing around 80 million people and are some of the most idealistic voters out there. Young people love to see the world as their oyster, as they set
out to fulfill their version of the American Dream; seeking a life where they
control their own destiny, much like their forefathers did when they first came
to the United States. They seek a life where they are financially stable, free
and ultimately, rich. Millennial republicans are skeptical of government and it’s
inefficiency in the market place. According to a Pew Research survey, sixty
eight percent of millennials say that government cannot afford to help the
needy and about six in ten millennial republicans said that government is almost
always wasteful. Millennials also support slashing spending and cutting taxes.
According to a Reason-Rupe survey, 65% of millennials support cutting
government spending and 58% supported cutting taxes. Young people are tired of
big government. The Republican Party, although the establishment begs to differ, is
supposed to stand for less government and more economic freedom.
Yet
at the same time, young people are much more open to different lifestyles than
the older Republican Party. According to a Pew Research survey, eighty four
percent of millennial support gay marriage and two thirds of millennial support
the legalization of weed. According to a YouGov poll, one in five millennials consider
themselves to be libertarian.
Lastly,
young people are tired of being lied to. Millennials are much like the Tea Party
and grass-root movements; focused on holding their leaders accountable. People
all across the age spectrum are tired of "do-nothing" politicians and this is certainly
the case for young people. According to a Generation Opportunity poll, 69% of young adults believe that the current
leadership in Washington failed
to represent the interests of young people. Young people are more
inclined to support principled candidates, on both sides of the spectrum, as
more young people on the left are flocking to help get Democratic Socialist
Bernie Sanders elected over establishment candidates like Hillary Clinton. And on the right more young people on the right are aiding in the campaigns of Rand Paul and Ted
Cruz. Young people are idealistic and
they want someone to represent their views in a way that the current establishment
politicians have not been able to do.
People, especially young people, are tired of being told what
to do with their money, how to live their lives and are tired of being lied to. If the GOP
wants to grow their base, pandering to the left and playing Democrat-lite is
not going to help. There is a market for young, idealistic, millennial republicans with libertarian
streaks running through their veins. The plan is not just for young people, it’s
for Americans tired with the status quo in Washington, for the Tea Party, for conservatives,
for victory.