According to a recent Reason-Rupe poll, 58 percent of Americans ages 18-24 view socialism favorably. But according to the same poll, young Americans strongly favor a “free-market” economy versus a government-controlled system by a margin of 32 percentage points.
How is that possible?
A Concerning Trend
Many young Americans view “socialism” in terms of free stuff that the government gives out, but they don’t realize that it also entails government interference in how individuals and companies do business.
This is just one example that illustrates how many young people don’t understand basic concepts about how society works. You might be worried about that, but how do you change the status quo?
Understanding Your Resources
One resource you should know about is Young Americans for Liberty (YAL), a national group of students who aim to advance freedom on campus and beyond.
To change people’s minds, you need to be well-networked, well-informed, and well-spoken, so YAL runs a number of events across the nation to get you started. In particular, its regional “conventions” are worth checking out. They’re day-long training sessions which include:
* Networking opportunities with like-minded students in your region
* Training to help you become better at promoting what you believe
* Inspiration to help you more effectively advance liberty
If you don’t want to miss out on this valuable information, here’s a quick list of some of YAL’s upcoming regional events:
* Georgia State Convention
* Pennsylvania State Convention
* Rhode Island State Convention
* Florida State Convention
* Michigan State Convention
* Kentucky State Convention
* Missouri State Convention
* Nevada State Convention
* Libertarianism vs Socialism Debate at San Francisco State University
* Utah State Convention
* Washington State Convention
You can check out the full list of YAL events to find one close to where you live or go to school. And if you’re really intrigued, you can always join a chapter. Check out YAL’s website to find one near you.