Four main themes have emerged from these polls. First, youth view themselves as mature, competent, and responsible, while they assume that adults have a negative image of them as immature, incompetent, and irresponsible. In addition, they believe that adults view them as unconventional, but they tend to share many of the same values, beliefs, and ideals as do adults. Moreover, youths view the future as dangerous, competitive, and with decreasing opportunities for success and achievement. Nevertheless, most remain optimistic about their personal futures. Furthermore, the quality of personal relationships is regarded as the most important criterion for judging an organization or institution in which they take part. Thus, many young people believe that it is pointless to try to influence larger public issues. Findings indicate the need for society to reexamine itself and wonder what democratic decisionmaking can mean to its youth.