Youth vote

[The_Squid]

Canadian youth voted in "unprecedented numbers" in the 2015 federal election.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-youth-turnout-2015-1.3636290

While there was an increase among all age groups, the biggest occurred among eligible voters aged 18 to 24, the elections agency said. Turnout among this group increased 18.3 points, to 57.1 per cent compared to 38.8 per cent in 2011.

Elections Canada said Wednesday this is the biggest increase in turnout among this age group since it began making demographic turnout estimates in 2004.

This doesn't bode well for the CPC and this is exactly why they need to get with the times and ditch a lot of their backwards policies. Trudeau caused enough of a sensation and ran an excellent campaign that got the youth vote out in force to support him.

If they keep coming out in elections, the CPC are going to be relegated to perpetual opposition. I think this also helps the NDP, as long as they select a good leader. If the Liberals need removing, the youth vote are not going to turn to the CPC as their 2nd choice, especially given their recent history. The CPC can do something about this.... and his name is Michael Chong... or perhaps Michelle Rempel.

Elect another stodgy old guy with the same failed policies and borderline bigotted campaign (barbaric cultural practices snitch line) and they don't have a chance.

[?Impact]

What an empowering message to counter the apathy Canadian youth have had about our electoral system.

[TimG]

Canadian youth voted in "unprecedented numbers" in the 2015 federal election.

Youth get older. Their attitudes change. Opinions I had when I was 20 are very different than the opinions I have now. I would rush to claim a sea change in the body politic based on the transitory values of the currently young.

[The_Squid]

Youth get older. Their attitudes change. Opinions I had when I was 20 are very different than the opinions I have now. I would rush to claim a sea change in the body politic based on the transitory values of the currently young.

That's true... You could just keep hoping that people will become socially conservative again one day ...

[TimG]

That's true... You could just keep hoping that people will become socially conservative again one day ...

What you call 'socially conservative' includes a lot of libertarian leaning people who are sick and tired of PC fascists trying to dictate what people are allowed to think and say. Young people don't realize that defending the right to express unpopular views is important because they can't imagine that they would ever wish to hold unpopular views. Getting older teaches people that lesson.

[msj]

Youth get older. Their attitudes change. Opinions I had when I was 20 are very different than the opinions I have now. I would rush to claim a sea change in the body politic based on the transitory values of the currently young.

Yes attitudes certainly do.

I bet there are more, proportionately, people aged 50 and older who support gay marriage, pro-choice policies and other "liberal" social policies than there were back in, oh, say 1900 or 1950 or 1995.

I bet that trend will continue for some time so that in 2030 the typical 50 year old will have attitudes completely different from that 50 year old in 1900, 1950, 1995 etc....

Society has become increasing more "liberal" in many ways just as we become less religious.

Or, IOW, as we become more enlightened.

[TimG]

Society has become increasing more "liberal" in many ways just as we become less religious.

The current trend is reversing where an intolerant PC orthodoxy dominates the thought processes of many much like religion dominated the thought processes in the past. In that sense society is become more conservative - not liberal as time goes on.

[msj]

The current trend is reversing where an intolerant PC orthodoxy dominates the thought processes of many much like religion dominated the thought processes in the past. In that sense society is become more conservative - not liberal as time goes on.

I doubt that.

Just because some idiot college kid may shout down some pro-Israel or other right wing person trying to give a talk on campus is not about to change minds when it comes to gay rights or women's rights.

Sure, some people may be so intellectually deficient that they will react to SJW's in this way but I think it is only at the fringe.

The majority of people are smart enought to know that these SJW's are twits which has nothing to do with the logical reasons that justify treating gays or women like any other human being deserves to be treated.

[?Impact]

PC fascists trying to dictate what people are allowed to think and say

Massive thread drift, saying "getting older teaches people" does not bring it back to the youth vote. I suggest you start a PC fascists thread so you can rant.

[Archduke al-Qaddafi]

Most people in the 18-24 age range have never really paid taxes, and this is why they vote for left wing parties, if they bother to vote at all.

[msj]

Massive thread drift, saying "getting older teaches people" does not bring it back to the youth vote. I suggest you start a PC fascists thread so you can rant.

Good point. Sorry for my part in this.

But I think the point is that society's change.

Today's youth are quite liberal in attitudes but I wonder the extent of the differences with their elders?

Sure, as a 40+ year old I know I am out of the loop of today's youth but I suspect when it comes to social policies I am at least on the same page as they are.

I think the liberal trend has been ongoing in this regard for decades.

Now fiscal matters - sure, there will be differences there.

[msj]

Most people in the 18-24 age range have never really paid taxes, and this is why they vote for left wing parties, if they bother to vote at all.

As a tax accountant who knows exactly how much tax I pay each and every year I am getting tired of this nonsense.

Harper lowered the GST thereby keeping my income taxes higher - a fair choice for him to make and one for which I repaid by never voting for the CPC.

All political parties make choices as to tax and spend and for those of us willing to pay taxes in order to live in a civilized society we know that when it comes time to vote it is far more complicated than how much taxes I pay.

The good thing about the youth vote is that their idealism may help offset, somewhat, the curmudgeons who continue on about lowering taxes (and reducing government).

So they are a valuable contribution to society even if their views, particularly fiscal, change over time.

[TimG]

The majority of people are smart enought to know that these SJW's are twits which has nothing to do with the logical reasons that justify treating gays or women like any other human being deserves to be treated.

Then why are politicians talking about passing laws forcing people to accept the delusions of the transgender as if they are a fact? No definition of 'treating people like they are humans' should require that other people be forced to deny real life facts. Edited June 15, 2016 by TimG

[BC_chick]

Then why are politicians talking about passing laws forcing people to accept the delusions of the transgender as if they are a fact? No definition of 'treating people like they are humans' should require that other people deny real life facts.

For the ignorant non-majority.

[TimG]

For the ignorant non-majority.

The ignorant ones are the people who seem to think that transgender delusions should be treated differently from the delusions of schizophrenics. Setting up a PC mythology and using the force of law to compel people to pretend to believe in that mythology is no different than forcing people to follow Islam because Muslims are offended by non-believers. Edited June 15, 2016 by TimG

[dre]

What you call 'socially conservative' includes a lot of libertarian leaning people who are sick and tired of PC fascists trying to dictate what people are allowed to think and say. Young people don't realize that defending the right to express unpopular views is important because they can't imagine that they would ever wish to hold unpopular views. Getting older teaches people that lesson.

Problem is there's no reason for libertarian leaning people to vote for the CPC over the LPC. These are both parties known for large obtrusive government, and the CPC in particular has shown contempt for personal liberty with policies like warrantless wiretaps, the patriot act north, ratcheting up the war on recreational drugs, etc. This kind of stuff makes libertarians cringe.

[TimG]

This kind of stuff makes libertarians cringe.

This is true. So each person has to make the choice that bothers them less. It does not change the fact that the progressive view of the world is not always the most liberal view.

[Smoke]

Somehow I don't think you'll have the same youth turnout when the legalization of "pot" isn't an issue anymore.

[The_Squid]

Somehow I don't think you'll have the same youth turnout when the legalization of "pot" isn't an issue anymore.

The CPC can go with the "hopefully they don't show up again" strategy.... sounds like a winner!

[Newfoundlander]

Economic issues become a much bigger concern for people as they move from being students to professionals. While people's views on economics might become more conservative overtime I doubt many people's social values - abortion, same-sex marriage, etc. - will change when they get older.

[Newfoundlander]

The CPC can go with the "hopefully they don't show up again" strategy.... sounds like a winner!

While I'm sure there are many in the CPC who feel this way the same has applied to other parties in the past as well.

[Archduke al-Qaddafi]

Problem is there's no reason for libertarian leaning people to vote for the CPC over the LPC. These are both parties known for large obtrusive government, and the CPC in particular has shown contempt for personal liberty with policies like warrantless wiretaps, the patriot act north, ratcheting up the war on recreational drugs, etc. This kind of stuff makes libertarians cringe.

Harper was an authoritarian, but he is no longer party leader. There actually are libertarians in the CPC, which is more than I can say about the Liberals. Maxime Bernier has been consistent in his libertarian views for the 10 years he has been in Ottawa, and I will be supporting him for party leadership. I will not be tearing up my party membership just yet.

[TimG]

I doubt many people's social values - abortion, same-sex marriage, etc. - will change when they get older.

Which is why most older people are 'conservative' when it comes to social issues even if that 'conservative' was considered 'liberal' when they were young.

[Guest]

Which is why most older people are 'conservative' when it comes to social issues even if that 'conservative' was considered 'liberal' when they were young.

Exactly. We are all doomed to be conservative eventually.

[eyeball]

Over my dead body.