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Rebecca Cutts

Member of Youth Parliament,

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Do young people have a valid role to play in national and international politics?

Do you think that young people actually have a role to play in politics?

Many people look down upon young people who try to have an input as being to young to know what they are speaking about or to have an opinion in the first place.

What is your opinion on this?

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Topics: Youth Development local politics politics young people aspirations
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  • John Lawlor

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    Oct 9 2011: No certainly not, young people do not have a role to play in politics. A new ageing gene soon to come on line will solve this problem for those kids who might think that they have some change making contribution to make for society. It will be given as a vaccine to the early teen populations. Contrary to what most people believe initially about this idea, it will in the end prove as a great and positive time saver for the new teen generation. Rather than wasting ten, sometimes twenty years fooling themselves into believing that their life changing work is going to manifest change, we have the technology now to redirect this wrongthink and save them the disillusion experience whereby they awaken into a disempowered life. Lets save them that discomfort shall we and keep the dream alive? Thats right, the only place to dream the dream presently is in sleep..so lets just persue that, breathing, in dream, thats keeping the dream alive. ZZZZZZ

  • JUDY RUTLEDGE

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    Oct 9 2011: I am a teacher, and my students feel that their opinions and feelings don't matter, that they will never be heard, or listened to, that their future is already decided, as far as politics goes. That being said, they cannot develop an interest in government, politics, world events,....so, how do we get them involved?

    They have to know their voices will be heard. Why don't local politicians come in and talk to young people on a regular basis, let them know exactly what they are running for, and how what they want will help the students and their families get what they need, etc.. Then, follow up with accountability talks..."Ok, this is what I told you I'd, see, the system works."
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    Steve Cho

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    Oct 8 2011: 1 word: Zuckerberg.
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    Scott Armstrong 50+

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    Oct 7 2011: Politics is about to change. Young or old, democracy is a beautiful lie and I think people have had enough of lies and spin and rhetoric.

    Power to the People!
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    Nathan Austin

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    Oct 7 2011: Being a member of the youth body, I feel as though we should, only to some extent though. Maybe one should be required to have an IQ of a certain level, then maybe if there are multiple actions that could be taken on the situation then there would be a vote between the eligible. After the votes were tallied they could be discussed and/or averaged with the Adult's votes.
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    Erik Algreen-Petersen

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    Oct 7 2011: Two weeks ago, in Denmark, we elected a new government. Average age is 42.8 years. Our Minister of Finance is 26, and Minister of Health is 28.
    I don't no what young people is to you, but this is young relative to any other european government. Good or bad? We don't know yet, but I'm sure it will be different, and I'm really excited to see what they're going to accomplish.
    My guess is that courage and creativity will play a larger role in the decisionmaking processes.
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    Scientia Veritatis

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    Oct 3 2011: This is rather hard to answer.

    They do not have any official way to truly impact national politics, but whenever a group of young people gathers to protest or do something amazing, the media points their cameras at them. The primary weapon we youngsters have is inspiration and shock. For example, when the Diner Sit-Ins first started in the early 20th Century, they were powerful not only because of the symbolic action - although that undoubtedly played a role - but because of the fact that it was all started by a group of young college students who had enough and decided to take action.

    We can't expect big shot politicians and lobbyists to regard 15 to 20 year olds as serious, opinionated individuals, but we can expect the 300 million citizens that vote for them to be inspired by our actions. Regardless of how rebellious you may want to be, if you want to change the system, you need to use your head. Take what is given and use it to your advantage.
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    Karina Eisner 10+

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    Oct 2 2011: The young have a role to play. Period. And a very important one too!
    Each one is key in the fabric of life, and the young take, by their very nature, what is useful to them from the old and apply it to their own times. They choose tools, make new ones, and help this big machine of existence to continue on. In politics, as well as everywhere else, their eyes are open, their ears tuned in, their hands ready to do what it takes.
    The hope is that they will problem solve better than their predecessors, that they will lead the way to world cooperation and peace, and that they will not instead become the first do die in the front line of archaic wars, weather 18 year old navy seals or children soldiers in Africa.
    Young people hold the key!
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    Dave R

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    Sep 25 2011: A third-grader has been accused of hacking into his school system and changing passwords and other information. Luckily the police are not pressing charges here and are leaving it in the school districts hands. My only hope is they see this as an opportunity to educate and promote the boys talents instead of punishing him. Most the time when kids do these things it is because they are really smart, and really bored."

    ok my personal thoughts on this matter are:
    -that when this generation takes control of society, we are just gonna hafta trust them..
    -i see a better world in the control of us who are wise beyond our years
    -it has already started (look at how the internet went from an idea to a way of life.)
    -the current powers that be are old school and afraid of change/anything they do not understand
    -the mind raised with the truth of infinite possibilities (provided by the internetz) will understand far more than those who have tried to understand (yet are working from a foundation of out-dated ideology), so how can you truly understand unless you have experienced it?
    -the minimum voting age SHOULD be lowered as there are TOO MANY great mindz without a voice (maybe have under-agers pass some sort of aptitude test to allow for them to be able to vote... further on that thought- have EVERYONE have to pass some sort of skill testing question in order to be "priviledged" to vote..
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    Erin Ashley

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    Sep 24 2011: I definitely believe so. I don't feel like your age has anything to do with if you should have input or a say in national and international politics. If you feel a certain way about issues in your homeland or across the sea, why not speak up? Furthermore, I'm just saying, if we are old enough to vote at the age of 18, why can't we say anything until we reach some age? (I'm 22 btw lol)

  • Robert Galway 30+

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    Sep 23 2011: To watch and learn how things are done.
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    James Turner 10+

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    Sep 23 2011: In my opinion the young people need to be able to have input into the political discussion and decision making process of any country. Having an input will hhelp them understand that problems of politics, social engineering, and getting along can be very complex and that a simple answer is not always the best answer. It must be tempered with neutral guidance that helps the understand the future economic, social, and political impacts of their decisions. An example is the discussions about green jobs and environmental protection. In california they cut off the water to the central valley to protect a fish that could have been protected in a different way. Farmers lost crops, many low payed people lost jobs, farms were lost and the area became a dust bowl. Now that elections are coming suddenly water is available to farmers. Young people can learn valuable lessons from this and may have sought different solutions that would not have had such an economic impact if they had been shown the impact of the decision to shut down the water. They might have not come ot a political decision about how to protect their times in office but could have seen it as how to protect both groups of life. Yes, I agree they have a definite place in politics and not just as worker bees but as people asking questions and finding answers.

  • Harvey Von Gunderman III

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    Sep 23 2011: In my personal opinion, This is no longer our world, it is theirs, If they are not allowed to have input into the world that they will have to work with, we will not be making any progress, we need to start fixing their world today, so they do not have to fix their children' world tomorrow, we could be the generation of live longer than any before us, but they will be the generation that lives even longer than we do, through advancements in all fields, lives are lasting longer and longer, and at the rate that tech is changing, who is to say that within the next 50-100 years we will not living over 100 easily, these things need to be brought into consideration when it comes to their futures, though now they do not fully understand the world that they live in they soon will, and using their input to guide our decisions will make it easier for future generations to save the planet, save our species, maybe even solve the problems of the universe.
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    Mihir S. M.

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    Sep 23 2011: Young person could be anyone who has energy to do and try new thing.. and enthusiasm!
    It could be a 60 years old man trying to learn dance he like.. Then he is Young i say... :)

    • Harvey Von Gunderman III

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      Sep 23 2011: I think this is referring to Youths, people 25 and under or even younger than that, using their insight and ideas to guide our decisions.
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        Mihir S. M.

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        Sep 24 2011: yes, you are right.. thanx :)
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    Mark Sewart

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    Sep 23 2011: I certainly believe and know from my own experience that young people often bring an uncluttered objectivity to debate which is most welcome and helpful, because it challenges us in our assumtpions and beliefs. Reflecting on my own beliefs, however, I have been interested with the passage of years to see how my assumptions and beliefs have been modified by experience and how I see now that the beliefs I held as a teen and young adult were a little too 'black & white'
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    Charlie Shread

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    Sep 23 2011: Young people need a voice - they have an essential perspective on life that many adults have been educated out of.
    My project is about getting young people to shape theirs schools - primary and secondary. By getting young people involved in decision making, we give them responsibility, which stops them just being passengers and turns them into active thinkers who learn how to change their own lives and the world around them. If this sounds like something vaguely interesting, check out this temporary site:
    http://changethefuture.co.uk

    There will be a proper pitch website here in a couple of months, so please bookmark this if you're interested and come back to it :)
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    Kareem Fahim 10+

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    Sep 22 2011: They do. As a matter of fact they are the only ones who can play a role. They are the future and hope!!

    • Harvey Von Gunderman III

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      Sep 23 2011: They are only allowed the freedoms that the world allows them, they are the green thumbs, the new kids on the block, they don't understand their roles in society yet, and because of that leader of industry, society, and family, always rule them as a less valid source of information, though i have seen progress, much more needs to be done, because when it comes down to it, this is their world now, its our job to give it to them in the best shape for them to work with it
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    Richard Acton

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    Sep 22 2011: Political decisions have long term implications, decisions made know about for example health services or the economy will affect the futures of young people like myself so yes I think we should have a say. many young people have informed, insightful and novel views the consideration of which could be enormously beneficial.

    Young people are in most developed nations a shrinking group, and without the consideration of our views our societies are endanger of becoming endemically conservative in nature. This is not conducive to Progress.
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    Y-Q Tham

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    Sep 22 2011: Yes they do! (considering I'm a young person myself) Our world today demands new perspectives and with the arrival of the force known as social media, I guess the teens, the new generation must be heard. How can you guide someone to learn if you do not listen to them first? Perhaps it's time we hear them, we let them speak, and carve young people to be that change for tomorrow.

  • Tobias Gustavsson

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    Sep 22 2011: Countries definitely need to let young people have a say in politics, living in Australia where voting is mandatory, I find it reidiculous that some adults are forced to vote when they don't know or care about politics, while the opinions of young people who genunely care about the issues are essentially ignored

  • Nur Shafikah

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    Sep 22 2011: You don't need to be old to be wise.
    Everybody have their own opinion no matter how young or old.

  • Che Cho

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    Sep 21 2011: I think young people always played a role in politics. If you look at big revolutions and wars, you will notice that these are only possible when there are enough young man to fight. A demographic pyramid with a big base of young males seems to be necessary to certain political developments. Take for example the spring revolution this year in arabic countries, you will find a lot of young people there, or the population of germany before the two world wars. The question wether young people decide about political issues or not, is another discussion, but at least they affect these decisions, by just "being there".

  • Wayne Roberts

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    Sep 21 2011: Rebecca, Young people do have a place in politics. I believe that children are our are future. Lets teach them well and let them lead the way. We can show them all the beauty they possess inside.

    sorry, couldn't resist.

    There is an interesting piece of research that is reported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and was carried out in 2000. Quite a while ago now, but the current situation with disillusioned young people and the fundamental changes in political stability across the globe can find foundation in what was reported on this subject, even back then.

  • Aanand patel

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    Sep 20 2011: Politics is nothing but protecting the interest of any group you belong to.It can be as small as a particular community or nation as a whole.knowing about the political structure and whole system not only educate our youth but also gives a sense of right or wrong about govt. policies and it's whole working.It is must that youth of any country should know their rights and to see whether the tax that they are paying are being spent for correct purposes.This they can do by actually participating in politics.To change things empowering youth is quite good.

  • Hanno the Navigator

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    Sep 17 2011: Once in a while I get amazed all over again by our ability to turn simple questions into complicated ones.

    Politics and economics are extraordinarily complex and intertwined networks of problems and solutions. These networks are much more complex than the natural sciences because their elemental particles are not electrons, screws or genes but humans in all their non-linear psychological glory.

    Young people (generally speaking of course) just don't have the experience necessary to grasp these issues. They are still, in many ways, raw material. They can obviously have their opinions, but one should remember that there is not much depth behind them.

    After all - who here doesn't chuckle when remembering his opinions as a teenager?

    • Gary Chase

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      Sep 18 2011: Adults are proving that they know less than is necessary to cope with the demands of world society.The passion of the young has to be welcomed into the decision making process. A fresh approach is mandatory for the survival of all life on this planet. Time is running out for all of us.
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      Charlie Shread

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      Sep 18 2011: People younger than around 13 generally speaking, then I mostly agree, but over that age, if they are given enough of the right information, they can have good judgements on a situation. They also have a unique perspective over many adults - they can offer ideas with much less pessimistic logistical restrictions - hence more raw creativity - which offer new angles and ideas worth thinking about.
      Most young people haven't had their creative freedom drilled out of them yet.

    • Mike Monkowski

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      Sep 18 2011: "They can obviously have their opinions, but one should remember that there is not much depth behind them."

      This is true of many political commentators and even some political candidates. Young people, at least, usually acknowledge that they are still learning and that they don't know all the answers. Many adults make their decisions purely on emotion. Young children are always asking, "Why?" Adults rarely do.
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      Debra Smith 200+

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      Sep 18 2011: You must need to be inspired by a TED talk on this topic, Hanno! I think that John Hunter sees it differently.

      http://www.ted.com/talks/john_hunter_on_the_world_peace_game.html

      When my kids were young and reeling from some craziness perpetrated by some adult, I used to tell them "Just because people are in big bodies does not mean that they are really grown up inside." My eldest son knew at 13 that he would be a Canadian diplomat. He overcame obstacles (like no one in our family ever having worked in government) and flew like a directed missile to that position so that he can make a difference in the world. He became the youngest ever hired by DFAIT.

  • Somasekhar Vuppuladhadiam

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    Sep 17 2011: Youth are vibrant, aggressive and fresh in their thoughts. Today's youth are the leaders of tomorrow and given an oppurtunity to discuss on the national problems and suggestive remedies to overcome the hurdles, they will definitely contribute to the success of the developmental works the nation could undertake.
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    Daniel Mugwanda

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    Sep 17 2011: The prvalent leadership figures are more traditional that they have told the young men and women , time will come, yet real leadership is measured against its ability to birth out better leaders. To this effect the Youth has also been enveloped with such atraditional thought of expecting time to present itself to them.However i believe it is very important for the Youth to stand and take part in Today's politics.it is the inability of the youth to participate today which will paralyse tommorow's leadership ability.
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      Debra Smith 200+

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      Sep 17 2011: Hi Daniel! Your points are being proven true in the movements of Egypt and the middle east. Thanks for reminding us!
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    Kent Spencer 10+

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    Sep 17 2011: I believe they do. But young people haven't stepped up to play that role. We follow this set path that older people vision us taking. (text,facebook,party) most young people follow it without a care of anything else. As if they aren't concerned with more important issues of society at all........makes us look bad, and makes it harder for those who really have something to say
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