Youth voters can shift political landscape

[Ka-El]

Youth voters can shift political landscape — if they turn out

There have been a few breakthrough elections in bringing young voters to the polls: Obama in 2008, Trudeau in 2015. There have been elections where young voters stayed home even more than usual, with disastrous results: the Brexit referendum in the U.K.

However, most years 1-in-3 voters between 18 and 24, turnout. In Canada this meant an estimated 35 per cent showed up in 2011, and 30 per cent in the U.S. in 2016, the year of the Trump tragedy.

By contrast, more than 3-out-of-5 adults in the 50-64 age range typically come out to vote. “So what?” you might ask. “They’ll learn when they get a mortgage how important it is to elect a government that serves them.” Psephologists around the democratic world have demonstrated this truth for decades: the 20-year-old no-show is a dutiful voter at 40, and an ardent one at 60.

Not surprisingly, therefore governments spend a lot more time and money on retirement issues than school tuition, on highly inefficient job creation schemes and little on affordable housing, less on transit than highways, pensions vs. student loans or fair minimum wages.

The list of policy dossiers tilted to “old people” is long. It is a rational response by politicians in choosing priorities: those are their voters, ones who complain loudly when not satisfied.

A policy agenda more generationally balanced is possible if young Canadians flex their electoral muscles. Politicians understandably pay more attention to those who helped to elect them, than to those who fail to vote.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/yo ... &ocid=iehp

We sometimes hear complaints from some of the younger posters here of just how badly the generations before them have messed things up. I think a few of us older folk can acknowledge there is certainly some truth to that, but we can also tell you there is really only one way to make change in a democracy and that is by participating in the democratic process. Protests do have their place in that process, but only as far as to sway others to speak up, and ultimately, perhaps sway their vote.

Democracies only work when people participate, and when they don’t participate, they are perpetuating the process of shifting the power from the many to the few. Youth are going to inherit this world, for better or for worse, but blaming the generations before (whether warranted or not) will do nothing to change their future. Only they have that power.

[Mordu]

Also from The Star--as in the OP.


From the Ontario election.

Twice as many voters aged 18 to 24 backed the NDP (33 per cent) as Liberal; and three times as many aged 25 to 34 voted for New Democrats (43 per cent) as Liberal. The Tories captured roughly one in four millennial votes.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-col ... etter.html

They prefer government spending over balanced budgets (understood by Justin Trudeau and Kathleen Wynne), don’t believe corporations pay their fair share of taxes, don’t believe income inequality has been properly addressed and are more comfortable with big interventionist government.

They also want to see action on climate change, policies to lift people out of poverty and they back a more open immigration system.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-col ... gates.html

[Glacier]

The problem with banking on the support of young people is that an election cycle or two later, and they are no longer young.

[burnedatstake]

I dunno, we live in the most privileged country in the world voted to have the best quality of life, I don't see how those generations "messed up so badly" I think, while not perfect in anyway, that they did pretty well.


All the complaints are basically just about not getting enough free stuff from big daddy government because leftists are too damn lazy to do it themselves.

This article is calling for ignorant, mostly emotionally driven, inexperienced young people to vote for more government intervention when there should be less. They can't manage themselves let alone important aspects of our life.

I'm 27 now, around 10 years ago I was defacing Stephen Harper's election signs and waving around liberal election signs because I had no life experience. After actually working for what I have I've changed completely. I think being away from the liberal / marxist public "education" indoctrination centers has helped immensely as well.

so what you are saying is that you traded 1 indoctrination for another - when you sat down with a bunch of old guys (who you look up to) said what they think is true? you really are still young arent ya......

[Mordu]

If you are young and a leftist, you are ignorant. If you are old and a leftist you are still ignorant, or a liar.

Hi KiloHotel,

You seem to be a young and eager beaver about the voting scene in Canada.

So here's a group that wants to 'educate youth (themselves) to be active and contributing citizens in Canada’s democracy.'

It includes people of your age.

Are you interested in volunteering?




Website

http://www.apathyisboring.com/

Lots of great little videos to check out too.

http://www.youtube.com/user/apathyisboring/videos

[Leifer]

You want to increase voter turnout with the younger demographic?
Have the government suspend voter rights for anyone under 30.

The outcry and righteous indignation would be heard around the globe (and rightly so)!
Then a couple of months in....the government can reinstate their voter rights.

[Ka-El]

Interesting how a discussion on youth voter apathy has so quickly turned into some partisan debate of left vs right, and that the one side who likes to try and convince themselves the other is more stupid (despite the evidence from research to the contrary) is also the side that likes to underrate the value of education and intellectualism. The point of the OP is that it is the youth who are going to inherit the political system they are living in, and by not participating in the process they will end up with the government they deserve. Perhaps I can bring the topic back on track …

Democracies only work when people participate, and when they don’t participate, they are perpetuating the process of shifting the power from the many to the few. Youth are going to inherit this world, for better or for worse, but blaming the generations before (whether warranted or not) will do nothing to change their future. Only they have that power.

[Mordu]

Well then, as I’ve already brought up the Apathy is Boring organization, why not explore and discuss them and the work they’re trying to do?

Here’s the homework.

http://www.apathyisboring.com/

Or, does anyone else know of any other non-partisan, non-profit organization that’s trying to achieve something similar?

[Ka-El]

Here’s the homework.

http://www.apathyisboring.com/

very encouraging.

[tantor]

They should raise the voting age as today's youth are mostly disconnected from reality. Yes they like to blame the older folks who fought wars and lost many to insure their freedom, proving what ungrateful little punks they are. It wasn't us older folks who ruined things, it was corrupt government and these same young voters who blame us are voting for the left and more and more government! They think socialism is good for crying out loud! Trudope got in because the youth wanted legal pot not that I am against it but it is not reason enough to vote in a political party. This was all the bulk of young voters knew about the Liberals policy. That and the ever growing promise of free stuff. Imagine anyone in this day and age who believes anything is free. Not even the air is free anymore as we will all be paying for one of it's gases soon. They and their children will be reaping the rewards of voting Truedope for years to come as he continues to run massive deficits in a country with to small of population to ever pay them off. Not a fan of any of the parties in Canada but at least the Conservatives exercised some fiscal responsibility. Young voters voted in a young leader and we are definitely paying for their lack of understanding now and for the foreseeable future.

[Mordu]

They should raise the voting age as today's youth are mostly disconnected from reality. Yes they like to blame the older folks who fought wars and lost many to insure their freedom, proving what ungrateful little punks they are. It wasn't us older folks who ruined things, it was corrupt government and these same young voters who blame us are voting for the left and more and more government! They think socialism is good for crying out loud! Trudope got in because the youth wanted legal pot not that I am against it but it is not reason enough to vote in a political party. This was all the bulk of young voters knew about the Liberals policy. That and the ever growing promise of free stuff. Imagine anyone in this day and age who believes anything is free. Not even the air is free anymore as we will all be paying for one of it's gases soon. They and their children will be reaping the rewards of voting Trudeau for years to come as he continues to run massive deficits in a country with to small of population to ever pay them off. Not a fan of any of the parties in Canada but at least the Conservatives exercised some fiscal responsibility. Young voters voted in a young leader and we are definitely paying for their lack of understanding now and for the foreseeable future.

". . . us older folks . . ."

" . . . not a fan of any of the parties in Canada . . ."

You seem to be quite passionate about contemporary politics and voting. Would you like to volunteer for the Apathy is Boring non-partisan, non-profit organization and help out?

https://www.apathyisboring.com/

Being Intergenerational

We value intergenerational relationships, and seek out support from elders and community leaders.

http://www.apathyisboring.com/our-story

[Omnitheo]

They should raise the voting age as today's youth are mostly disconnected from reality. Yes they like to blame the older folks who fought wars and lost many to insure their freedom, proving what ungrateful little punks they are. It wasn't us older folks who ruined things, it was corrupt government and these same young voters who blame us are voting for the left and more and more government! They think socialism is good for crying out loud! Trudope got in because the youth wanted legal pot not that I am against it but it is not reason enough to vote in a political party. This was all the bulk of young voters knew about the Liberals policy. That and the ever growing promise of free stuff. Imagine anyone in this day and age who believes anything is free. Not even the air is free anymore as we will all be paying for one of it's gases soon. They and their children will be reaping the rewards of voting Trudeau for years to come as he continues to run massive deficits in a country with to small of population to ever pay them off. Not a fan of any of the parties in Canada but at least the Conservatives exercised some fiscal responsibility. Young voters voted in a young leader and we are definitely paying for their lack of understanding now and for the foreseeable future.

Amazing. Nearly every word you just said was wrong. Some laughably wrong, such as that the conservatives practiced fiscal responsibility tell me which conservative government ever lowered the national debt? Tell me, out of the last 4 prime ministers, which spent the most or resulted in the largest increase in canada’s Debt?

[Mordu]

Interviews with four former Canadian Parliamentarians. Featuring:

Herb Breau of the Liberal party
Douglas Rowland of the NDP
David Daubney of the former Progressive Conservative party
And Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral of the Bloc Quebecois

[Mordu]

RIP Paul Dewer.

Youth Action Now

http://youthactionnow.ca/

Dear Friends,

As many of you are aware, in February I was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma which is terminal brain cancer. On that day many things changed and like so many who have been given this diagnosis I have taken on this journey with serious contemplation about how to live the rest of my life.

What I have discerned is that notwithstanding the urgency to live as much life as possible, I see this path I am walking as a gift to realize the beauty of life itself. Each one of us is capable of contributing something to make a difference with our family, friends and in our community. Sometimes cynicism, isolation and fear hold us back from truly contributing and participating in making the world around us a better place.

Throughout my life I have been supported by so many beautiful people. My parents, my family, my wife Julia and my sons Nathaniel and Jordan. There was also the young people that I taught and the ones I worked with. I shared their hopes aspirations, and their dreams for a better world. Whether I met them in refugee camps or in classrooms right here in Ottawa, they all had one thing in common — an untapped resource to make fundamental and genuine change for a better world.

In these past few months I have been shaken to the core and found new determination to do more to support young people’s aspirations to think and act from where they sit.

To that end, along with friends and colleagues we have established Youth Action Now to support grassroots change driven by young people. It is a vision to respect and honour the future they will inherit and work in solidarity with them to make things happen.

When I was younger, I looked around the world and saw famine, poverty, pollution and conflict and thought kids could do a better job — they should rule the world! I still believe that young people should have a voice and a space to make a difference not just for their sakes but for all of us. Youth Action Now will promote young people’s civic participation and unleash their power by strengthening grassroots action and collective leadership. The focus will be on supporting projects that are conceived by young people themselves. We will work with young leaders to hone their skills, deepen their insight, expand their networks and build their confidence so they can model responsive, resilient leadership.

I am inviting you to join me in this exciting opportunity to unleash our most untapped natural resource — our young people. You can support this initiative by donating money, your time, ideas and energy.

A better world is possible. I believe in the power of the next generation of change leaders to get us there. I want to do my part in unleashing that power. I hope you’ll also be a part of it.