With over 925,000 fans on its Facebook page "Being American," Generation Opportunity has publicly emerged since June of 2011 as one of the largest and fastest growing social media and grassroots organizations in the United States, communicating daily with young American adults across the nation and the world. The organization is focused on long-term education, voter registration, and election turnout efforts through a combined social media and grassroots strategy.
YOUNG AMERICANS BY THE NUMBERS: GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Generation Opportunity recently commissioned a poll with the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (April 16 – 22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and highlights some of the results below:
The Human Cost of the Bad Economy: Delayed Dreams and Decisions
- 77% either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to economic factors:
- 44% delay buying a home;
- 28% delay saving for retirement;
- 27% delay paying off student loans or other debt;
- 27% delay going back to school/getting more education or training;
- 26% delay changing jobs/cities;
- 23% delay starting a family; and
- 18% say delay getting married.
America's Young Adults - Unemployment, Government Spending, and Job Creation:
- Only 31% approve of President Obama's handling of youth unemployment.
- 76% would like to see U.S. federal government spending decreased.
- 69% prefer reducing U.S. federal spending over raising taxes on individuals in order to balance the Federal budget.
- 59% believe the U.S. economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference.
- 53% indicate if U.S. taxes on business profits were reduced, companies would be more likely to hire.
America's Young Adults – A Look Ahead to 2012
- 69% say today's political leaders in the U.S. do not reflect the interests of young Americans.
- 57% also say they will learn more about the policy positions of U.S. Presidential candidates in the 2012 election than they did in 2008.
- 54% believe that things in the U.S. have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track; only 24% believe that things here the U.S. are headed in the right direction.