Generation Opportunity, With Over 3.4 Million Fans, Says Young Texans Respect Innovators and Job Creators

Contact: Matthew Faraci, Generation Opportunity, 202-997-1636

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Generation Opportunity today unveiled yet another powerful social media platform, the Facebook page "Keep Texas Awesome," with over 140,000 fans. The page provides a forum for young Texans and friends of Texas to discuss issues that matter to them such as the future of America, jobs, economic opportunity, and the things they believe make the Lone Star State a great place to live, work, and do business.

"Texas has a proud and time honored tradition of independence and business leadership that is fully embraced by young adults and friends of Texas across the country and around the globe. As young Americans continue to suffer the consequences of President Obama's failed economic policies, including high unemployment and the overall lack of economic opportunities, states like Texas demonstrate how policies friendly to innovators and both large and small businesses lead to greater opportunity for everyone. Young Americans, including those in Texas, respect those with the courage to take risks and start businesses, and they understand that freeing them to do what they do best, create jobs and grow their businesses, benefits all people," said Paul T. Conway, president of Generation Opportunity and a former Chief of Staff for the United States Department of Labor in the George W. Bush administration.

Young Americans agree that freeing businesses is the key to job creation and more economic opportunity. According to a 2011 poll commissioned by Generation Opportunity, 59 percent of young adults believe the economy grows best when people are allowed to create businesses without government interference. In the same poll, 53 percent of 18-29 year olds believe lowering business taxes increases hiring. Also, a full 69 percent of young Americans prefer reducing federal spending over raising personal taxes to balance the budget.

Forbes reported last year that the Lone Star State had added 1.2 million jobs since 2001, while the United States as a whole lost 1.1 million jobs during the same time period. Texas is expected to continue to lead the way in job creation for the next few years according to Moody's Analytics, who forecasts 2.9% annual employment expansion through 2015. Low taxes, less regulations, and an aversion to government interference have allowed Texas entrepreneurs and business owners to increase hiring despite a stalled economic recovery on the national level.

Generation Opportunity educates and organizes young Americans across the nation to help them make an even greater impact on issues affecting the nation and their communities through a combined strategy of social media and grassroots tactics. The "Keep Texas Awesome" page now brings the overall total number of Facebook fans with whom Generation Opportunity communicates to over 3.4 million, a number that includes fans of its popular Facebook pages "Being American by GO," "The Constitution by GO," and "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High."

The organization's grassroots field team has been working across the country to organize and activate young adults seeking greater economic opportunity and access to meaningful, full-time jobs in their chosen career paths. Generation Opportunity has been organizing young adults attending community colleges and universities, those who work in the trades and professions, young entrepreneurs, construction workers, veterans, and young parents who are concerned about the poor economy and the lack of jobs.

Generation Opportunity has already visited and listened to the concerns of young adults attending Texas A&M University, Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas, as well as young people living in the surrounding communities. The organization also engaged young adults in Austin at South by Southwest (SXSW) and attended community events in Dallas.

Last fall, Generation Opportunity grassroots organizers met with and trained student leaders from a wide number of Texas colleges and universities including Midwestern State University, Palo Alto College, Tarrant County College, Texas A&M University-Qatar, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Texas A&M University-College Station, Texas State Technical College, and the University of Houston-Victoria at the 2011 American Student Government Association (ASGA) Conference.

Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll with the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (April 16 - 22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and highlighted results for all young Americans ages 18-29 appears below:

• Young Americans -- Majority Disapprove of President Obama's Management of Youth Unemployment, Washington Out-of-Touch:
   
• Just 31% of 18 - 29 year-olds approve of President Obama's handling of youth unemployment.
   
• 69% say the current leadership in Washington fails to reflect the interests of the younger generation.
   
• 59% of overall Millennials agree the economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference.
   
• 53% believe lowering business taxes increase hiring.

Young Americans -- Delayed Dreams from a Poor Economy and the Lack of Opportunity:

• 77% of young people ages 18-29 either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to economic factors:
   
• 44% delay buying a home;
   
• 28% delay saving for retirement;
   
• 27% delay paying off student loans or other debt;
   
• 27% delay going back to school/getting more education or training;
   
• 26% delay changing jobs/cities;
   
• 23% delay starting a family;
   
• 18% delay getting married.

Young Americans – American Energy Dependency is Top National and Economic Security Issue:

• Greatest threats to national security: National Debt (62%), Energy Dependency (61%), and Indebtedness to Foreign Powers (50%).
   
• 70% would increase production of domestic energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY
Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs, and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.

Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization's social media platforms -- "Being American by GO," "The Constitution by GO," "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High," and "Keep Texas Awesome" on Facebook -- have amassed a total fan base of more than 3.4 million. All four pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here; visit "Being American by GO" on Facebook here, "The Constitution by GO" on Facebook here, "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" on Facebook here and "Keep Texas Awesome" on Facebook here.

For our Spanish-language page -- Generación Oportunidad -- click here.