Dear editor,
Re: No faith left in democracy (Record, Oct. 19).
I am writing this in response to a letter by Karl Stevenson.
Although the writer did make some valid points, I don’t think that corporation input in our government is the sole reason for low young voter turnout. The democratic and economic system in which our society relies on is simply not representative of young people and young families.
A new report released titled New Deal for Families covers some of the issues. B.C. is the only province that the average income for young couples has actually fallen. Since 1976, young family income levels have dropped by six per cent (when they are working twice as much) and housing prices have gone up 149 per cent (after control for inflation).
For many young people buying a house is simply not an option, and so they rent from the retirement age demographic. Since 1976, incomes have increased by 20 per cent for retirement-aged people (after control for inflation), who have benefited from the housing market and young people dutifully paying their rent.
The modern world paints a grim future for young people. In Ottawa, it is discussed that there will no CPP left once the younger generation reaches retirement, and in the same breath they invest $1.4 billion of our CPP dollars overseas in the financially unstable European consumer market.
Whether it is low income levels, the rising cost of living, climate change or student debt, most young people understand something is wrong with the way things are going.
I am a young voter. Time and time again I do not see issues being discussed by politicians that will draw young voters to the polls. With broken campaign promises, too often politicians come across as simply merchants of the system that is failing young people.
Harrison Walker,
Courtenay