....for whom the bell tolls:


According to new polling by right-wing political consultant Frank Luntz,
Americans 18 to 26 are extremely liberal — so liberal that “the
hostility of young Americans to the underpinnings of the American
economy and the American government� should “frighten every business and
political leader� and “excite activists for Sanders and, to a lesser
degree, Clinton activists.�

Luntz’s poll found that young Americans are optimistic about both the
country’s future and their own: 61 percent say the best days of the
United States are still ahead of us rather than behind us, and 88
percent are somewhat, very, or extremely optimistic about their economic
prospects. But they have concerns, too. Their biggest, in order, are
“corruption,� “greed,� and “inequality.�

They aren’t nationalistic: 58 percent of respondents said they agreed
more with the statement “America isn’t better or worse than most other
countries� than with “America is exceptional. It’s better than every
other country in the world.� In fact, 35 percent of 18- to 26-year-olds,
including 42 percent of 18- to 21-year-olds, said they considered
themselves more a citizen of the world than of the U.S.

In response to the question, “Which type of political system do you
think is the most compassionate?�, 58 percent said socialism and 9
percent said communism. Just 33 percent chose capitalism. Sixty-six
percent of the poll’s respondents said corporate America “embodies
everything that is wrong about America.�

Finally, more young Americans declared that the “most pressing issue
facing America today� is income inequality than anything else. Income
inequality was followed by education — specifically its cost.
Respondents said they most respect nurses and doctors, followed by
teachers and soldiers. The least-respected professions are bankers (2
percent), real estate agents (2 percent), elected officials (4 percent),
and business leaders (6 percent). Wisely, just 7 percent of young
Americans respect journalists.

The poll, conducted February 11 to 14, surveyed 1,000 18- to 26-year-olds.

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Tick-tock.