Calgary Wow How could you!

[Blaithin]

Pardon me, I’m just a Millenial.

For years I heard “get out and vote” but when I do, I’m labelled things like young, dumb, ignorant, naive....

Ever since I was a teenager it was enforced on me that adults under 35 weren’t speaking. Weren’t representing themselves. Voting numbers were falling to record lows. It was up to us to get our shit in gear.

So we did.

And all we hear is how stupid we’re being. How easily swayed. How easily lead and manipulated. How shallow.

If you feel that people are incapable of holding adult opinions until they’re in their 40s then you should have thought of that when you were the main driving age group. However it’s the cycle of a democracy, the youth are statistically more liberal and socialist while the older generations become conservative. Just like in investments where people are more aggressive in youth and more cautious as they approach retirement.

After preaching for years to the youth to vote, here are your results. Like them or not.

[westernvicki]

[
http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/public-sector-crowding-out-private-job-growth-hampering-employment-opportunities-in-canada

As resource based revenue shrinks and must be factored into the cost of the public sector the adaptation we would hope would create more entrepreneurs or conversely more people on public support.

[burnt]

Pardon me, I’m just a Millenial.

For years I heard “get out and vote” but when I do, I’m labelled things like young, dumb, ignorant, naive....

Ever since I was a teenager it was enforced on me that adults under 35 weren’t speaking. Weren’t representing themselves. Voting numbers were falling to record lows. It was up to us to get our shit in gear.

So we did.

And all we hear is how stupid we’re being. How easily swayed. How easily lead and manipulated. How shallow.

If you feel that people are incapable of holding adult opinions until they’re in their 40s then you should have thought of that when you were the main driving age group. However it’s the cycle of a democracy, the youth are statistically more liberal and socialist while the older generations become conservative. Just like in investments where people are more aggressive in youth and more cautious as they approach retirement.

After preaching for years to the youth to vote, here are your results. Like them or not.

Thank you for an honest and thought-provoking post. It hits pretty hard and makes me look at how I have viewed the younger generation - and I am likely at fault for making unfair generalizations.

I do know, however, that there is a broad range of mindsets on display in the younger set around me, in my community and in the larger ethnographic. Perhaps this is a reflection of the rural setting of mid-western Ontario.

One question that you raised for me is this - has the make-up of past governments been determined - in large part - without the input of the younger voter? I don't see this as being the case, but there are likely stats that could verify that either way.

And another question is this - is the average age of the voters the only influence in determining the outcome of an election? Clearly, to say yes would be very simplistic and would ignore a multitude of other factors.

Here is something to watch - there is a strengthening voice to the observation of a fundamental shift to the right and "traditional" values in the younger generation. They have looked at the results of a couple of generations of left-leaning belief and policy and have determined that the cost is too high for such poor outcomes.

So, it is very likely, many are saying, that the next couple of generations are going to be far more conservative and "traditional" than their parents and grandparents, an interesting reaction that will generate some intense conversations at Christmas dinner over the coming years (assuming that there will be Christmas dinners...)

One more thing - I am profoundly sorry that you should ever have felt that you've been labelled as stupid. Based on your contribution to the discussion, you do not deserve that. And I'm not saying that because I always agree with your views.

P.S. - In light of the insights you've shared, one would not be surprised to see you get ahead of the curve and implement "conservative" views and voting patterns.