Millenials are not very Trusting

This Pew poll gives an interesting sidelight on why so many young Americans lean libertarian: because they don't trust anyone else. Only 19% agree that "most people can be trusted." (Trusted to do what, I wonder?) But then again the older people in Gen X (born 1965 to 1980) were once nearly as suspicious and they are getting more trusting as they age.

One disturbing possibility is that the decline in trust reflects the increase in ethnic diversity. Only 60 percent of millennials are white, compared to 80% of the oldest cohort (the Silent Generation). Various studies have shown that the more people think they have in common with those around them, the more they trust each other. Another possible variable is religion; 29% of millennials have no religious affiliation, compared to 9% of Silents and 16% of Boomers.

On the other hand millennials are more liberal politically than any other group; the age gap in voting is huge these days.