A lack of interest by youth in politics is a problem in many developed countries. I’m not sure exactly why the youth is so disinterested. Perhaps they don’t understand how important democracy is. Perhaps they’re jaded by our first-past-the-post system which makes their vote pointless. Or perhaps with school, relationships, finding a job and smoking pot they’re just too busy to care.
But if you took a poll of young non-voters, I’m pretty sure that “inability to text-message party leaders” would not rank highly on the list of reasons they’re not participating.
So why do people pretend that this will make a difference?
I’m all for making things more accessible and increasing the avenues of communication. But when old people reduce youth to nothing more than text messaging and Facebook, I find that just a bit insulting.
Kids see very well the oxdung that surrounds politics, and obviously facing a bleak future of gainless dull meaningless employments (thanks to the boomers who took everything and left them nothing but crumbs) do not see anything positive in a future that will be clouded by the tremenduous debt run-up by their elders and an environment ravaged for the wealth of a few oligarch.
They see pretty well that their vote only counts as a tiny piece of ballot, and being rocked by the extremely individualistic culture spewed forth by the boob-tube, they cannot fathom that by holding together, they could move mountains.
And also there is the tremenduously important matter of whether the Habs will win the cup this season…
I totally agree. Texting the party leaders – I’m not a ‘youth voter’ but even I find this condescending.
I wish younger people realized just how few of them vote. Just checked: According to Elections Canada, turnout in the 2000 general election was only 22.4% among 18-20-year-olds, while among the oldest generations (those over 58), it exceeded 80%.
Every time young voters fail to show up, they effectively double (or more) the weight of a boomer’s vote (and their priorities!). I’d like to see some posters up outside the universities and colleges saying that.