Keith's Blog

Archive for the ‘Election’ Category

General Election

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Whilst the campaigns proceed I have, on more than one occasion, been asked by adults if young people are interested in the General Election. On the basis of my experience over the last couple of weeks I would say that the answer to that is yes they are.

Young people at the Funky Dragon Grand Council were engaged, commenting on the performances of the leaders in the televised debates. Other young people have spoken to me about the extent to which political parties have policies that appeal to young people.

And then today I took a telephone call from Nathan. Nathan is 16 years old and is interested in finding out what the political parties think about lowering the voting age to 16. “If the voting age was lowered they might think more about the issues that are important to young people” he explained. I agreed but said that some people took the view that young people are not interested in politics. “Yes we are” he replied “and what I want to do is ask the parties what they think about it – do you think they will listen to me Keith?”

I encouraged him to get involved. After all it would be a brave or perhaps foolish party who ignored the interest of young voters and those who will be eligible to vote in a couple of years time. For sometime I have heard expressions of exasperation at the disengagement of young people in politics. It would appear to me that this election has stimulated interest in young people.

Lowering the voting age? Answers on a postcard please. Whenever I have raised this before with young people I have heard arguments in favour and against. In the current climate those in favour seem to be in the majority.

What is clear is that it is great that young people like Nathan are taking such an active interest in politics and the policies that will shape their futures.

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