Editorial: Seeing what’s next

Friday, Jan. 12, 2007 | 6:59 a.m.

A national survey of 18- to 25-year-olds suggests that they are more interested in attaining fortune and fame than in becoming community leaders.

The research, which was conducted by the Pew Research Center, also shows that those in the so-called "Generation Next" seem to be more tolerant than their parents. Survey results show that 67 percent believe that immigrants make society stronger, and about 25 percent support an increase in legal immigration. What also is interesting is that this group is evenly divided on allowing same-sex marriage - 47 percent favor it and 46 percent are opposed.

In comparison, fewer than half of adults 41 to 60 years old surveyed shared the younger generation's view of immigrants, and only 16 percent of people older than 25 favored an immigration increase. When it comes to gay marriage, 64 percent of people over 25 opposed it.

Still, for all of its seeming social tolerance, Generation Next is also a group enamored of being wealthy (81 percent) and being famous (51 percent). Maybe this thirst for wealth is fueled by a federal government, which is run by their parents, that has promised to leave today's young adults little or no Social Security program and a monumental national debt.

Baby Boomers - born from 1946 to 1964 - should remember that they, too, once were accused of being spoiled and of expecting too much while working too little. But if we are doing this right, each generation should have a better life than the previous one. This survey shows that today's young adults do think that they have it better than their parents did in terms of education and job opportunities. They are more materialistic and technically savvy than their parents largely because their parents afforded them such privileges.

That this newest group of adults is focused on attaining personal financial security and is more tolerant of issues that currently divide our nation may signal a much-needed aptitude for getting us out of debt and solving society's challenges. We just hope that the 30 percent who said that they value becoming community leaders are willing to do it.