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Thursday, September 29, 2011

200 000 under 30's not enrolled and don't give a toss (surprise, surprise)



200,000 under-30s not enrolled to vote
Two months out from the November 26 election, nearly 200,000 people aged between 18 and 30 are not enrolled to vote. More than 120,000 people aged between 18 and 24 are yet to enrol, a shortfall of more than 70 per cent of the estimated 438,300 who should be. In the next age bracket, 25-29, about 57,000 of the eligible 281,700 still need to enrol.

Is there any surprise that 200 000 under 30 year olds aren't enrolled to vote? Why would they? The cynicism towards politics is legitimate, when the sleepy hobbits of NZ can flock to a multi-millionaire money trader with the sort of hope evangelical Christians have for the rapture, who wouldn't be cynical?

When the mainstream media spend more time on Happy bloody Feet than us losing jury trials, who wouldn't be disenfranchised and disconnected . We have one of the highest youth suicide rates in the OECD, terrible investment in young people, high teenage pregnancy rates and selfishness sold as a virtue, that the next generation have become consumers and not citizens should surprise no one.

Want to lift the participation rates of young people in our democracy? Lower the voting age to 16 alongside a citizenship curriculum in schools. Rather than blame young people for boy racing, music piracy and every alcohol problem under the sun, how about empower them with their rights as citizens at an early age so the roots of democracy are protected, or they can wither and die.

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2 Comments:

At 29/9/11 9:06 am, Blogger Jasper said...

I think these young folk are too busy working Paula says??? - More lies from Paula Benefit! Her own department & these dodgy surveys don't support her latest claim - "Every month around 7,000 people go off benefits into work and young people who turn up prepared to work, with the right attitude can find jobs.” Remember April to September 2011, 3990 made unemployed!! Less than 1000 jobs for that quarter, her department (MSD) & Statistics NZ's survey's had been quoted by Key a few weeks ago!! Lair, lair!! - Paula can't handle the job, sack her in November!!

 
At 29/9/11 8:23 pm, Blogger be.fre said...

"Lower the voting age to 16 ..."

They sure as hell couldn't do worse than my generation (Baby Boomers)...

As a matter of fact, let's reverse this; young people allowed to vote - until they reach 40 (30?). Then the franchise is removed.

 

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