"The views of young people today on politics, social attitudes and life goals are far different from their baby boomer parents," says the Jan. 9, 2007, USA Today regarding a national survey of 18- to 25-year-olds.

"More than two-thirds (67%) believe immigrants strengthen American society; a quarter favor increasing legal immigration," the article continues. In contrast, less than half (47 percent) of those ages 41 to 60 believe immigrants help society and only 16 percent say it should increase.

Younger people are evenly split over gay marriage (47 percent in favor, 46 percent opposed). Yet among those 25 and older, 64 percent are opposed and only 30 percent are in favor of gay marriage.

More than a third of today's 18-to 25-year-olds (36 percent) have a tattoo; almost a third (30 percent) have a nontraditional body piercing (other than in an ear lobe) and a quarter have dyed their hair an unnatural color. Only 32 percent of this younger group attends church once a week, while 20 percent is religiously unaffiliated, atheist or agnostic. Still, 84 percent say their life is really good.

What are their goals compared to earlier generations? Today's 18-to 25-year-olds aspire to be rich (81 percent) and famous (51 percent) contrasted against a 1967 group of college freshmen who thought it essential to develop a meaningful philosophy of life (86 percent).

In short, the younger age group has well absorbed the primary message directed to them in a lifetime of absorbing thousands of hours of popular media—it's all about me. Young people who would like to aim higher in their goals and standards are invited to request a free subscription to Vertical Thought, from the publishers of The Good News, at www.verticalthought.org. (Source: USA Today.)