The Boys and Girls Clubs
organized a survey of 46,000 teens (ages 13-18). Among the
findings:
What is your greatest fear?
Going to war 12325 26.72%
Not graduating from high school 11848 25.69%
Losing a good friend 8978 19.46%
Not getting a job 7332 15.90%
Other (dying, losing loved one, God) 5641 12.23%
They didn't say terrorism. Going to war.
More wisdom below:
It is OK to use violence when:
You are defending yourself 23001 49.87%
You are defending others 7811 16.93%
Your are defending property 5728 12.42%
Other (you should never use violence, only when necessary) 5069 10.99%
Settling disagreements 4515 9.79%
They didn't say it was OK to use violence to "spread democracy." Self defense.
What is the biggest problem in your community?
Crime 13783 29.88%
Peer pressure 11874 25.74%
Teen pregnancy 8631 18.71%
Lack of jobs 7413 16.07%
Other (drugs, gangs, all of the above) 4423 9.59%
What is the #1 problem facing teens in America?
Drugs/Alcohol 18308 39.69%
Lack of security/violence 9711 21.05%
Race relations 7363 15.96%
Poverty 6879 14.91%
Other (peer pressure, sex/teen pregnancy, all of the above) 3863 8.38%
If you were an American leader, how would you address these concerns? Cut the Estate Tax? Make it more difficult to declare bankruptcy? Force a pregnant teen to have a baby? How about increasing the deficit?
Now for some bad news for Republicans:
American citizens have a responsibility to vote.
Strongly agree 19925 43.20%
Agree 12059 26.14%
No Opinion 7201 15.61%
Disagree 3743 8.12%
Strongly disagree 3196 6.93%
Which quality is most important for a successful leader?
Honesty 18759 40.67%
Knowledge 9641 20.90%
Moral values 9334 20.24%
Likeability 5182 11.23%
Other (all of the above, good listening skills, character) 3208 6.96%