RALEIGH — When reading and reviewing the book The Battle: How the Fight Between Free Enterprise and Big Government Will Shape America, by Arthur Brooks for the August issue of Carolina Journal, word constraints would not allow me to address all of the fascinating, thought-provoking, and troubling information contained within the book.

For example, after the election, polling revealed that young adults ages 18-32 overwhelmingly voted for President Obama. Brooks has data that show that over 66 percent of them voted for Obama, compared to 32 percent for McCain. He also cites a January 2010 poll that shows that this group holds a positive view of socialism. This is frightening because they are the future of our nation.

The question arises: Why do these young Americans see socialism in such a favorable light? In an age when massive amounts of information are only a computer click away, how is this group so ignorant about the imprisonment and murder of millions of people in a multitude of countries by socialists?

When 70 percent of Americans believe in a free-market economy, how is this group so out of step? I think the makeup of the other 30 percent holds the answers to this riddle.

Brooks says the 30-percent group consists of academics, journalists, entertainers, lawyers, and many in Washington. Brooks calls this group “the intellectual upper class.” “They are smart, powerful, and are in the top 5 percent of the population in income,” Brooks states. This group also consists of followers. These are the people who are enamored with the intellectual upper class.

Brooks does not believe that statism started with Obama’s election. By dissecting the 30-percent group, one can see how these young adults have come to believe as they do.

First, academics: These are the individuals that we entrust our children to every day, but most academics are liberals. “Academics as a whole align massively with the far left — more than any other profession,” states Brooks. They train the K-12 teachers to whom students are exposed every day.

As a plus-23 student, a politically correct term for old people who go back to school, I witnessed this attitude firsthand on the Meredith campus. Many of the traditional-age students were afraid to reveal that they voted for George Bush and were conservative. They also were afraid to reveal that they were conservative Christians.

Sadly, this is happening on all college campuses.

Second in influence only to academics is the entertainment industry. While many of these socialism-loving young adults will criticize CEOs’ large salaries, they seem unfazed by the huge salaries entertainers receive. Hollywood produces movies and TV shows that portray American values, history, and corporations in a bad light.

Journalists are next on the list. For years now, newspaper readers have come to realize that journalists do not report stories in a fair and balanced manner. Recently, it was revealed that a group of journalists got together and schemed to withhold information about then-candidate Obama. Journalists also join with academia and the entertainment industry in presenting a negative portrayal of America and lauding activist actors and entertainers.

Finally, we have lawyers and lawmakers who join to argue that our system of laws is unfair and that we need a move to a government-controlled society.

With all of this influence in their lives, it is no wonder the 18-34 age group sees socialism in a favorable light.

On the bright side, Brooks points out that people 40 and over do not see socialism in a favorable light. Many young adults will be leaving college soon and will enter the job market. They are going to be faced with higher taxes to support Social Security, Obamacare, and the expansion of government. It will become clear that regulations designed to make life fair for all are irritating and infringe on their ability to enjoy life. Once these realities hit, they will begin to move to the right.

Finally, Brooks says, “Entrepreneurship, as a personality trait, might be in the American DNA.” Brooks believes that “America’s vast success might be explained in part by our genetic predisposition to embrace risk.”

Is there hope for America? Certainly. We are not only seeing a backlash among older voters, we also are seeing a rise in conservative groups on college campuses. If Brooks’ assumption is accurate and entrepreneurship is buried in our DNA, then a sleeping giant will arise, and capitalism and the free market will be seen as a wonderful alternative to socialism.

Melissa Mitchell is office manager for the John Locke Foundation.