My Analysis on Disturbing Poll on Young Americans Worried About China and National Debt as U.S. Presidential Election Nears

President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney to Debate Foreign Policy and Security Concerns on October 22 (American time)

My Analysis

My personal comments and analysis:

It is sad to see young people of the world's still No. 1 biggest economy---the United States of America (USA)---to be so pessimistic about their country's future and also so afraid of the success of foreign emerging economies like China which they view as "a threat".

This fear of an economically rising China now is similar to past USA fears of then economically resurgent Japan in the 1970s and 1980s, remember? I believe we need not live in fear, that we should embrace the changes of our world and find opportunities in a more progressive world.

If Asian nations like China and its over 1.3 billion people are poor or suffering socio-political instability, wouldn't that explosive situation be a real threat to USA and world stability? I believe the welcome economic emancipation of the masses of China, Brazil, India, Southeast Asia and other countries augur well for world progress and help guarantee quest for global peace. 

It is my belief that a better economic future for America doesn't depend on the weakness of other countries, but on the internal domestic national reforms the leaders of America can muster the guts and vision to implement in a far-reaching manner. Do not blame others, but ourselves always.

I believe USA economic recovery and future viability depend mainly on the quality of USA education for the youth, the level of new investments in crucial research and development (R & D), the breadth and depth of innovations across the board in USA society and industries, the leaders' ability to help restore old-fashioned values like hard work and thrift for higher national savings in the U.S. (instead of too much personal and government debts at shocking levels), etc. All these real and decisive factors for a better USA economy have nothing to do with China, Brazil, Russia, India, South Korea or Southeast Asia.

I urge the youth of America and the leaders there to think differently: The world is not a zero-sum game where one can only flourish while others must suffer. Gone are the days of colonialization centuries ago when Europe, the U.S. and Japan had to have colonial subject nations for cheap or free labor and for unlimited access to natural resources and markets to sustain rapid growth of their industrializing economies while the so-called Third World nations suffer in poverty.

Despite Britain losing its position as No. 1 empire in the world, London remains a very important world financial center, Britain is still a good respected nation as evidenced by the successly hosting of the 2012 London Olympics and its record third place finish in medals.

Despite the decline of the once glorious Ottomon Empire as a world power and the loss of its colonies, modern-day Turkey is today still a good and respected nation at the forefront of economic progress in that geographical realm between Europe and the Middle East.  

The world has changed with the emancipation of nations and it is still continuously changing. Economic competition is not war. The progress of other nations shouldn't automatically mean the decline or obsolescence of others.

Let us view and build our world with courage and optimism as a win-win place, where all peoples can and should flourish together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.

Here is the disturbing news below on surveyed perceptions of the worried American youth:

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - October 22, 2012) - Generation Opportunity, the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in the United States engaging and mobilizing young Americans (ages 18-29) on the important economic issues facing the nation, released new polling data today as the 2012 American presidential election nears. Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will participate in the third and final Presidential Debate October 22^nd, focusing on foreign policy and national security issues.

"Young American adults are very concerned about the United States' ability to maintain its role as a global leader in the future if it continues on the same path as the last several years. They believe certain policies advocated in Washington, D.C. have weakened America's national security, especially policies that increase the national debt, decrease American energy production, expand American reliance on foreign energy sources, and escalate America's indebtedness to foreign powers.

They view China as both an economic and military threat to the United States, and they closely watch China's economic policies, military buildup, space exploration, and restrictions on Internet and speech freedoms," said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Labor under Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

"Young Americans refuse to settle for an American future defined by chronic joblessness, increased national debt, and a diminished role on the world stage. They believe President Obama should lower taxes and regulations on American businesses so that they compete effectively and to avoid American jobs from going overseas to countries like China. They overwhelmingly agree that current policies are taking us backward, not forward, and plan to make their voices heard in the upcoming presidential election."

Since its launch in June of 2011, Generation Opportunity has amassed a following of over four million people on Facebook and is actively organizing young adults across America through grassroots tactics, voter registration, and voter turnout efforts.

Conway also served as an agency Chief of Staff at the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and as the Chief of Staff of the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the agency responsible for the American civil service. While at OPM, Conway was involved in the legislative efforts to establish the Department of Homeland Security. He is a past participant in the Senior Executives in National and International Security program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

For Generation Opportunity, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend conducted a nationwide online survey of 1,003 American 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.

YOUNG AMERICANS ON AMERICAN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AND CURRENT DIRECTION

         55% of young Americans are not confident that America will still be a global leader in five years if the USA continues along the same path as the last few years.

         Only 36% of young Americans agree with the statement "generally speaking, things in the United States are heading in the right direction."

YOUNG AMERICANS ON TOP AMERICAN NATIONAL SECURITY AND ENERGY ISSUES

         When asked to rank the greatest threats to the national security of the United States, young Americans listed the following reasons: (Randomized List) (Accepted Multiple Responses)

   59% - The national debt;

   46% - Energy dependence;

   43% - Indebtedness to foreign nations;

   40% - Terrorism;

   33% - Nuclear capable nations like Iran;

   3% - Other;

   7% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

         62% of young Americans would increase production of domestic American energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities.

YOUNG AMERICANS ON CHINA AS A COMPETITOR AND THREAT

         71% of young Americans are concerned that so many American jobs are going to foreign competitors like China.

         72% of young Americans agree that with more and more companies leaving the USA in favor of locating their business in places like China and even Canada, President Obama should lower the taxes on American businesses to restore and expand jobs in America.

         When asked why they thought American jobs are going to foreign competitors like China, young Americans indicated the following reasons: (Randomized List) (Accepted Multiple Responses)

   69% - Cheaper wages overseas;

   41% - High taxes on businesses in the U.S.;

   30% - Too much regulation on businesses in the U.S.;

   28% - Lack of opportunities to start and grow businesses in the U.S.;

   2% - I do not think U.S. jobs are going overseas;

   6% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

         76% of Millennials view China as a danger: 48% as an economic threat and 28% as both an economic and military threat (the polling company, inc./WomanTrend, April 16 - 22, 2011, +/- 4 percent margin of error).

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

Generation Opportunity is an American non-profit, non-partisan 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.