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The Forum > Article Comments > Political parties ignore Generation Y at their own peril > Comments

Political parties ignore Generation Y at their own peril : Comments

By Rebecca Huntley, published 18/8/2005

Rebecca Huntley argues Generation Y voters are waiting to be engaged by a political force prepared to speak their language.

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Generation WHY you say!
I agree wholeheartedly, Generation X, has and is suffering from widespread eXploitation because of their apathy. Generation Y is about asking questions, and making a stand.
The recent events of a socially conscious band, KiLLTV, gatecrashing the final eviction of BIG Brother is a perfect case in point. This band has had enough of the eXploitation. (www.KiLLTV.com.au)
They have a sense of the future, and enough common sense to plan for their future.
In fact, one of the band members stood for State Parliament at 18, was elected Councillor at 23, and still remains so.
Bring on Generation Y, we need a change.
Posted by Dr Mac, Thursday, 18 August 2005 9:05:04 PM
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I am a "Generation Y-er", and I can confirm what the author says about people my age. I know all (yes, ALL!) my friends are intelligent and socially aware and would be interested in politics if were interested in them. They dream of a better world but don't see party politics as a way to acheive that. The Liberal party is for middle-aged business people, the Labor party is useless and why bother voting for a minor party? I beleive Australian politics should be about making the world a better place - making heaven on earth, starting with Australia. It seems politicians are just interested in following idiological dogma, which has more to do with crushing the other side and generally not rocking the boat too much than actually trying to create a glorious utopia.

A friend of mine is a journalism student who wrote a small article with a similar theme - young people feel excluded from the political process. One of the people she interviewed said that they feel politicians are focused only on people our parents' age, and one of the suggestions in the article was better civics education in schools. Another friend, a would be primary school teacher, said she was "disgusted" by the social studies lessons that she saw during her work experience time - the regular teacher didn't even know the name of the opposition leader.

If you want young people to be interested in politics, I reckon extensive civics/politics lessons would be a good place to start. My year 7 teacher had a wonderful idea that was really a lot of fun - she split the class up into 4 groups, each of which was the government of an imaginary country. We had trade, foreign affairs and everything. It was, as Thorpie says, "fully sick" ;-)
Posted by Albert, Friday, 19 August 2005 1:18:40 AM
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A little bit of advice form an oldie to all generation Y'ers:

If you're not a socialist at 20 you haven't got a heart.

If you're not a capitalist at 40 you haven't got a hesd.
Posted by plerdsus, Friday, 19 August 2005 6:27:05 PM
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The current generation is quite disengaged from politics I think because there are no charismatic politicians for them to look up too. Young people are generally very idealistic and can spot hypocrisy from a hundred paces, attributes likely to make them shun political leaders and their views.
Posted by ant, Saturday, 20 August 2005 9:16:08 AM
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As an X-er with a Y-daughter, I've seen perspectives from both sides. One thing I do know is Y-gen is waiting for someone to take them on - seriously. They are quick to spot a fake and will test your limits to see if you really care. My daughter feels that pollies have their own agenda and her opinions don't matter much to them. Working with Y-gen regularly in performing arts, I've found my own attitudes as a parent and person of influence affect the attitudes of the generation after me. Nevertheless, Y poses a challenge to us all not to take the freedom we have for granted (as reminded on VP Day) and to show them that some things are worth the effort - especially them. I believe the next generation can be our most valuable asset if we're willing to work with them.
Posted by AJStarr, Saturday, 20 August 2005 11:47:50 PM
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Petty in todays'The Age shows the kind of decision making young people tune out on http://www.theage.com.au/cartoons/index.html .
Posted by ant, Monday, 22 August 2005 7:21:26 AM
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Tune out - I thought that was the 1960's!

Every generation gets older, buys houes and has kids!

Generation Y probably think as most of community do that:

1. violence and crime in society is a big issue

2. if they come from regional communities that they will need to travel to the City to get work

3. that jobs are as important as trees

4. that interest rates are importabnt as they are wanting to get on the property ladder

5. that many want to travel if they don't want 4.

etc, etc. Not much has changed - Hawke excited young people once - yet those young in the 1980's may / often vote Howard now.

I think people have a tendancy to equate young with progressive - which is a false assumption based on the 1960's flower generation which culturally was significant but didn't reach a majority of support.
Posted by Corin McCarthy, Tuesday, 23 August 2005 10:48:59 PM
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Let's face it, only 10 per cent of people are thinking voters who research candidates and their thoughts on issues (or their public record), the other great unwashed just vote for tweedle-dee or tweedle-dumer or as most of the youngin's - trying to be relevant & 'aware' - vote for a party based on a colour! About 6% don't bother to do more than have their name marked off...
Posted by Reality Check, Wednesday, 24 August 2005 1:18:28 PM
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Who are these people who decide the sociological determinants of whole generations that cross cultural and national divides? I was born in the 60s as was most of my friends and find little in common with what is predominantly market driven research and my own life. I work in office of sociologists, while I am trained in hermenuetics, and very few of my workmates would draw so much meaning out of what often seems to be non-existent statistics and mythical theories.
Posted by Antigone, Saturday, 10 September 2005 3:38:51 PM
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Speaking as someone who has recently enrolled to vote I can say this:

I have been waiting for many years to be able to cast my vote to help determine the fate of this country, however I also seriously doubt I will make any difference at all.

Yes, call me an idealistic youngster but I truly believe many voters are sellouts; voting based on scare-campaigns targeted at the middle aged family person, or in response to slur-campaigns. I despise that religion plays a part in politics, and I believe that I am not likely to be alone in this as surveys have demonstrated that Yer's are not particularly religious.

My greatest wish is for a party who even gives me the smallest glimpse at a positive future. Because all I can see now is a choice between people who cause us to live in fear while they undermine the social fabric (VSU, Workplace Reform, Telstra sell offs, wars) or a party which seems to be playing some complicated game of "Who's the leader?" while they run around in circles.

Perhaps Generation Y is very cynical, I know I am, but then in today's world you have to be, because if you took everything at face value then you'd be an absolute sucker.
Posted by Innle, Monday, 2 October 2006 11:07:20 PM
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Generation Y does what they want and thinks with freedom. It's not that they don't care about what is going on in the political arena it's they are shut out. In almost all other facets of Generation Y's lives freedom, choice and following your dreams is very much a part of decision making. Political parties make Gen Y's feel powerless - when really they have more power than they could imagine. Perhaps there is a reason as to why political parties are ignoring Generation Y ? I think though more than ever embracing the freedom loving spirit of Gen Y across the board is the way forward. Recently an employment site called PloyMe.com.au has launched - their whole focus: giving the power back Gen Y workers!
Posted by Ches, Monday, 23 July 2007 3:02:13 PM
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