23 percent of MIT students identify themselves as libertarians

[MRoCkEd]

http://tech.mit.edu/V130/N61/libertarian.html

Last October, The Tech surveyed the undergraduate and graduate population about their political views, and 2,145, or 20 percent of the total student population, responded. We promised to provide follow-up analysis after our original overview in the November 2, 2010 issue of The Tech. Some readers wrote in and requested a breakdown of specific survey questions. Here, we take a look at how students responded when asked if they consider themselves libertarians.

Interestingly, we found that MIT has a surprisingly strong libertarian streak — 498 people, or about 23 percent of respondents, said that they did consider themselves to be a libertarian. Of those, 35 percent said the Libertarian Party best reflects their views, and 23 percent said the Democratic Party best reflects their views. Only 30 self-identified libertarians, a mere six percent, felt the Tea Party best represented their views. That was only slightly less than the Republican Party, which captured 9 percent of self-identified Libertarians.

A plurality of those who said that they considered themselves to be libertarians called their overall political views “moderate” — about 38 percent. But more libertarians said their overall political view were liberal than those who said conservative. When asked about fiscal views, the results were reversed. Only 85 libertarians said they were fiscally “liberal” or “very liberal,” while 296 said they were “conservative” or “very conservative.” Asked about social views, a whopping 335 of the 498 total libertarian respondents — 67 percent — were either “liberal” or “very liberal.”

http://tech.mit.edu/V130/N61/graphics/thumb-lg-libertarian.jpg

Also, male libertarians far outnumbered female libertarians — 323 to 169, or nearly 2-to-1. But the graduate to undergraduate libertarian ratio was almost exactly 1-to-1.

There’s still lots of data for us to take a look at. Keep a eye out in the coming weeks for more survey analysis.

[dannno]

My best friend's dad growing up was an MIT engineering grad, and he is the one who introduced me to libertarianism (and reason (not the magazine)). Pakistani dude of all things.

[muzzled dogg]

Libertarian student run radio show on college radio station

http://realnewsshow.blogspot.com/

Holiday party this wknd after vt c4l state convention

[wormyguy]

Sounds like it's mostly Bill Maher-style "libertarians."

[Anti Federalist]

Also, male libertarians far outnumbered female libertarians — 323 to 169, or nearly 2-to-1.

Sexist, Misogynist pigs.

:rolleyes:

ETA - and it can't be claimed that smarts or education is causing this rift, this is MIT ffs, say whatever else you want but you don't get there by being a dumbass.

There is something "hard wired" here and that needs to be addressed, not shouted down as being nothing more than the rantings of a bunch of phallocentric, grunting teenagers.

[MRoCkEd]

Sounds like it's mostly Bill Maher-style "libertarians."

I dunno. About 60% of these self-described libertarians said they are fiscally conservative. Only 17% said they were fiscally liberal (Bill Maher types).

[muzzled dogg]

massachusetts is one of the bluest states in the union.

republicans are considered the worst of scum because they are mostly socially conservatives.

for that reason, most of them probably said dems

[Slutter McGee]

Also, male libertarians far outnumbered female libertarians — 323 to 169, or nearly 2-to-1. But the graduate to undergraduate libertarian ratio was almost exactly 1-to-1.

And this is why I don't date libertarian women. Not enough of em.

Slutter McGee

[vita3]

What percentage of MIT students are human?

[RM918]

What percentage of MIT students are human?

You think there are literal Paulbots?

[vita3]

There is lot of bots everywhere in dis enterprise.. i mean Nation

[CableNewsJunkie]

My best friend's dad growing up was an MIT engineering grad, and he is the one who introduced me to libertarianism (and reason (not the magazine)). Pakistani dude of all things.

cuz he's a terrist

[t0rnado]

I'll just leave this here:
http://www.jozefnagy.com/files/mithack.png

[Anti Federalist]

I'll just leave this here:
http://www.jozefnagy.com/files/mithack.png

That was awesome when they did that.

[low preference guy]

hopefully this means they'll stop graduating morons like Krugman and Bernanke.

this is great news. i thought academia was completely lost to leftists.

[Brett85]

This just means that they think they're libertarians because they support gay marriage.

[low preference guy]

This just means that they think they're libertarians because they support gay marriage.

what an ignorant comment. the stupidest MIT student is brighter than you, and they realize it's about more than gay marriage.

[dannno]

This just means that they think they're libertarians because they support gay marriage.

No, most of them are fiscally conservative.

[wormyguy]

massachusetts is one of the bluest states in the union.

republicans are considered the worst of scum because they are mostly socially conservatives.

for that reason, most of them probably said dems

Well, actually, pro-choicers now only have a 2-vote majority in the State House...

But certainly college-educated young people in MA are very socially liberal.

[Brett85]

what an ignorant comment. The stupidest mit student is brighter than you, and they realize it's about more than gay marriage.

STFU. It's funny that a complete moron like yourself who can't even use capital letters would say something like that.

[MRoCkEd]

come on now gentlemen

[Brett85]

No, most of them are fiscally conservative.

But do they want to actually reduce the size of government back to it's Constitutional size? 23% of them said that they identify with the Democrat Party. You can't be a socialist and a libertarian at the same time.

[kah13176]

hopefully this means they'll stop graduating morons like Krugman and Bernanke.

this is great news. i thought academia was completely lost to leftists.

If you're talking specifically about MIT, Krugman was from Princeton.

[TCE]

It's an incomplete survey, and thus, doesn't reveal much. It would have helped if we had some in-depth questions. Liberal/Conservative doesn't help us. Even here, those definitions are vastly different. So we have a nice, dangling carrot that is cool to look at, but in the end, useless.

[speciallyblend]

But do they want to actually reduce the size of government back to it's Constitutional size? 23% of them said that they identify with the Democrat Party. You can't be a socialist and a libertarian at the same time.

what they are saying is no way in hell do they want to be known as republicans! The R really is a scarlet letter to many including myself! I just happened to swallow the gop pill for Ron Paul and hoping the gop wakes up! Alot of folks do not want to be related to the republican party and they have just cause!! not that the dems are better but i surely do not tell everyone i am a republican for a reason!

[Distinguished Gentleman]

I bet it was closer to 2 or 3 percent at my university. The fact that MIT is so much higher suggests that Libertarianism "mostly" appeals to: higher than average I.Q males, and probably what's considered a "nerdy" personality type.

It also tells us we have a tough road ahead of us appealing to the general population.

[gls]

But do they want to actually reduce the size of government back to it's Constitutional size? 23% of them said that they identify with the Democrat Party. You can't be a socialist and a libertarian at the same time.

Ostensibly the Democratic Party is better than the GOP on several issues very important to many libertarian-learning college students, such as war and civil liberties. Of course in reality both parties are pretty much the same on these matters, but that's not the perception.

[Vessol]

But do they want to actually reduce the size of government back to it's Constitutional size? 23% of them said that they identify with the Democrat Party. You can't be a socialist and a libertarian at the same time.

Not all democrats are pure socialists, just like not all republicans are pure neocons/facists.

The thing is that thanks to the last 8 years that most of these kids became politically active as teenagers, were the Bush years. This gives a very negative outlook on the Republican party.

I myself hate both parties equally, but I can understand why many my age would have a deep hatred of the Republicans.

[Brett85]

what they are saying is no way in hell do they want to be known as republicans! The R really is a scarlet letter to many including myself! I just happened to swallow the gop pill for Ron Paul and hoping the gop wakes up! Alot of folks do not want to be related to the republican party and they have just cause!! not that the dems are better but i surely do not tell everyone i am a republican for a reason!

Yeah, I see your point. The only reason why I'm a Republican is so that I can vote in primaries. Otherwise I would join the Constitution Party or the Libertarian Party.

[Brett85]

Not all democrats are pure socialists, just like not all republicans are pure neocons/facists.

The thing is that thanks to the last 8 years that most of these kids became politically active as teenagers, were the Bush years. This gives a very negative outlook on the Republican party.

I myself hate both parties equally, but I can understand why many my age would have a deep hatred of the Republicans.

Yeah. My point was simply that the Democratic Party isn't libertarian at all when it comes to the size of the federal government. But I agree that the Republican Party needs to do a 180 on foreign policy issues before they'll get younger people to vote for them.

[oyarde]

It's an incomplete survey, and thus, doesn't reveal much. It would have helped if we had some in-depth questions. Liberal/Conservative doesn't help us. Even here, those definitions are vastly different. So we have a nice, dangling carrot that is cool to look at, but in the end, useless.

Yes , some specific Constitutional questions .

[oyarde]

Ostensibly the Democratic Party is better than the GOP on several issues very important to many libertarian-learning college students, such as war and civil liberties. Of course in reality both parties are pretty much the same on these matters, but that's not the perception.

I think socialist dems are even worse on civil liberties than the pubs .

[oyarde]

I bet it was closer to 2 or 3 percent at my university. The fact that MIT is so much higher suggests that Libertarianism "mostly" appeals to: higher than average I.Q males, and probably what's considered a "nerdy" personality type.

It also tells us we have a tough road ahead of us appealing to the general population.

Probably .

[Brett85]

I think socialist dems are even worse on civil liberties than the pubs .

Yep. Just think about the 2nd amendment, smoking bans, seatbelt laws, etc.

[gls]

I think socialist dems are even worse on civil liberties than the pubs .

Yeah, probably, but a lot of young people are naive and assume that President Obama is different than George W. Bush on the PATRIOT ACT, GITMO, NSA warrantless wiretapping, etc., despite all of the evidence to the contrary. They buy into the lofty rhetoric without bothering to look at the actual policies and voting record.

[oyarde]

Yeah, probably, but a lot of young people are naive and assume that President Obama is different than George W. Bush on the PATRIOT ACT, GITMO, NSA warrantless wiretapping, etc., despite all of the evidence to the contrary. They buy into the lofty rhetoric without bothering to look at the actual policies and voting record.

Yeah , the gop has a leaning to really only be really bad on stuff like the patriot act , where the dems are as well . In addition the dems would like to never let you smoke a cigarette or own a gun , require you to pay an Unconstitutional fine for not buying health care etc etc .

[oyarde]

Yeah, probably, but a lot of young people are naive and assume that President Obama is different than George W. Bush on the PATRIOT ACT, GITMO, NSA warrantless wiretapping, etc., despite all of the evidence to the contrary. They buy into the lofty rhetoric without bothering to look at the actual policies and voting record.

If we could get people to read bills , look at voting records and see which reps actually spend some time listening to the people at home , progress could be made.

[Fredom101]

What % of all college students are libertarian?
RP says he gets huge enthusiastic crowds when he visits colleges, so I would think that the the ultra-liberal image of the typical college student may be changing a bit.

[oyarde]

What % of all college students are libertarian?
RP says he gets huge enthusiastic crowds when he visits colleges, so I would think that the the ultra-liberal image of the typical college student may be changing a bit.

What percentage ? However many of them who are smart enough to understand who will be paying for the failed , UnConstitutional social programs .

[vita3]

The name "MITRE" comes from an acronym for "MIT Research and Engineering."

[Keith and stuff]

Now if we could get some of these folks to move to New Hampshire as part of the FSP.