Strong Preference for Less Government Interference and Spending

Contact: Matthew Faraci, 202-997-1636; David Pasch, 202-230-7947; both with Generation Opportunity 

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2012 /Standard Newswire/ -- Generation Opportunity, released new national polling data on young adults as the 2012 presidential election nears. Since its launch in June of 2011, Generation Opportunity has amassed a following of over four million fans on Facebook and is actively organizing Millennials across America through long-term education initiatives, grassroots tactics, voter registration, and voter turnout efforts. The organization has become the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in the United States engaging and mobilizing young Americans (ages 18-29 years old) on the important economic issues facing the nation.
 
"Young Americans, through no fault of their own, know how tough it is to find full-time jobs. Their experiences over the last few years have shown them first-hand how devastating the poor economy truly is. They know that high taxes on businesses and runaway federal spending do not create jobs. The Millennial generation has suffered disproportionally from the failed economic policies offered by the White House for the past several years, and they know their careers are being delayed by the lack of jobs and high unemployment," said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Labor. "They also know they are being handed a raw deal by elected leaders who, despite the high levels of youth unemployment, continue to run up a national debt young Americans will undoubtedly be forced to pay. This generation views government as the greatest barrier to economic expansion and is looking for leaders with the courage and creativity to free businesses to create jobs. They are fully engaged in these issues and plan to make their voices heard in November."

For Generation Opportunity, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend conducted a nationwide online survey of 1,003 adults ages 18-29 between July 27 and July 31, 2012. Randomly selected online opt-in panel participants were sent an invitation to the survey via email which included a secure link to the online questionnaire. Quotas were used to ensure the survey was representative of the larger 18-29 year old nationwide population with regard to race, region, and gender. The data were NOT weighted. The overall sampling margin of error for the survey is ±3.1% at a 95% confidence interval, meaning that the data obtained would not differ more than 3.1 percentage points in 95 out of 100 similar samples obtained.

VIEWS ON JOB CREATION, TAXES AND FEDERAL SPENDING:

• 69% of Millennials agree with the statement "if taxes on business profits were reduced, companies would be more likely to hire." Only 23% disagree.
   
• 65% of Millennials agree with the statement "the economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference." Only 25% disagree.
   
• 65% of Millennials prefer reducing federal spending over raising taxes on individuals to balance the budget. Only 26% prefer raising taxes on individuals to reducing federal spending to balance the budget.
   
• 72% of Millennials would decrease federal spending if given the opportunity to set America’s fiscal priorities. Only 21 percent would increase federal spending.
   
• 61% of Millennials would decrease taxes on individuals if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities. Only 30% would increase taxes.

ELECTION 2012, WHAT MATTERS FOR VOTING, VIEWS ON POLICY COMING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.:

• 76% of Millennials plan to vote in the election for President this year.
   
• Only 38% believe that today's political leaders reflect the interests of young Americans.
   
• Only 29% of Millennials believe that the economic policies coming out of Washington are helping them, while 47% of Millennials say that the economic policies coming out of Washington are hurting them.
   
• 59% of Millennials say they will learn more about the policy positions of the presidential candidates in 2012 than they did in 2008.
   
• Which will be the more important to you in casting your vote for President in 2012?
   
• 50% - A candidate's position on issues and a record in public office;
   
• 11% - A candidate's personal characteristics, like charisma and likeability;
   
• 29% - They are of equal importance (accepted only this response);
   
• 4% - Neither is important / something else;
   
• 5% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

THE IMPACT OF THE POOR ECONOMY ON DAILY LIFE, DREAMS AND CAREERS:

• 89% of young people ages 18-29 say the current state of the economy is impacting their day-to-day lives (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
   
• 51% reduced their entertainment budget;
   
• 43% reduced their grocery/food budget;
   
• 43% cut back on gifts for friends and family;
   
• 40% skipped a vacation;
   
• 38% driven less;
   
• 36% taken active steps to reduce home energy costs;
   
• 32% tried to find an additional job;
   
• 27% sold personal items or property (cars, electronic appliances, or other possessions);
   
• 26% changed their living situation (moved in with family, taken extra roommates, downgraded apartment or home);
   
• 17% skipped a wedding, family reunion, or other significant social event;
   
• 1% other;
   
• 8% none of the above (accepted only this response);
   
• 3% do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).
   
• 84% of young people ages 18-29 had planned to but now might delay or not make at all a major life change or move forward on a major purchase due to the current state of the economy (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
   
• 38% - Buy their own place;
   
• 32% - Go back to school/getting more education or training;
   
• 31% - Start a family;
   
• 27% - Change jobs/cities;
   
• 26% - Pay off student loans or other debt;
   
• 25% - Save for retirement;
   
• 23% - Get married;
   
• 12% - None of the above (accepted only this response);
   
• 4% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY 
Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs, and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.
 
Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization’s social media platforms - "Being American by GO," "The Constitution by GO," "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High," "Lower Taxes by GO," "Keep Texas Awesome," "Jersey Proud," and "We Like Small Government" on Facebook - have amassed a total fan base of more than 4 million. The pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here; visit "Being American by GO" on Facebook here, "The Constitution by GO" on Facebook here,  "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" on Facebook here, "Lower Taxes by GO” on Facebook here, "Keep Texas Awesome" on Facebook here, "Jersey Proud" on Facebook here, and "We Like Small Government" on Facebook here.

For our Spanish-language page – Generación Oportunidad – click here.