An Fear Rua - Our youth unconcerned with the economy?

Hurling Veteran

(202 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 11:21

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Was at a family gathering and was in conversation with my 20 something and 30 something relatives. Each time I tried to discuss the economy with they they diverted, yawned and eventually dismissed me. The transfers of Robin Van Persie and Seanie Johnston were more interesting to them than the state of our economy. None of them watch the news regularly apart from the sports. None of them read the newspapers apart from a glance at the front page and the TV and sports pages.

They are not alone and it is a trend I have noticed generally. How can we rise out of this mess when the young do not care?

staycalm

(1,081 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 11:27

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I doubt they were changing the subject because you were talking about the economy. Id say they were changing the subject simply because you were talking......

Taebags

(148 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 11:31

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As long as they are able to afford to go out for a few pints on a weekend then the youth won't care about the economy.

Cusack Park

(640 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 11:46

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most people are sick s**t of it at this stage i would say

dubliner 2

(10,823 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 11:53

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Originally posted by Taebags:
As long as they are able to afford to go out for a few pints on a weekend then the youth won't care about the economy.

That's pretty much what it comes down to. And after four years of this schite it's hard to blame them.

carryharry

(4,804 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 11:55

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Originally posted by staycalm:
I doubt they were changing the subject because you were talking about the economy. Id say they were changing the subject simply because you were talking......

ooops!

frasiercrane

(1,843 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 11:55

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I used to read the newspaper everyday particularly when i was unemployed.However the more I read the newspaper the more annoyed (at all the sh1t in it) and the more depressed I got reading it.I barely read any newspaper anymore and only glance at news stories on the internet.Newspapers are full of crap and honestly I's say at most there are 5 pages of worthwhile writing in every newspaper.Can't blame anyone for losing interest in discussing the economy when in reality very few people really have a clue what they are talking about when it comes to the economy.

Then again these soccer transfer sagas are equally pointless and there always seems to be one every summer that drags on and on and is discussed endlessly when the result and reason for the transfer are inevitable and could be dealt with with a few sentences.I hope we never get another Seanie Johnston saga as much for the tediousness of the story as it progressed as for the fact it is against the spirit of the GAA

South Limerick Referee

(16,613 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 12:45

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Our grandparents watched the news religiously at 6pm and 9pm even though both were identical and would have watched it at several other times as well if it was on. I have posted about this before. We no longer live in a life of suppression and in fairness such freedom of choice is badly needed. Until very recently most children grew up in houses where there was one TV and they were forcefed the news etc. missing out on watching regular TV, particularly those of the age you speak of. As they move through life they make their own choices.

You should not begrudge law abiding citizens who prefer to watch TV programmes other than the news, or prefer to avoid the Doomsday stories on the newspapers instead reading the Sport, TV etc. I dont read the Sunday World generally, not because I have anything against it, but because my newspapers of choice on a Sunday are the Sunday Indo, Sunday Times, Mail On Sunday, and previously the Sunday Tribune. All primarily to read the Sports sections. However I bought the Sunday World a couple of years ago one week to check up on the Soccer trips as they have a good page on deals. I pulled up beside someone in the car for a chat and the Sunday World was top of the pile. The comment was something like "Its no wonder this country is finished when our schoolteachers are buying that sort of rubbish. You wont have much chance of getting a job if thats what you are reading"

I rest my case

Roberto Jordan

(825 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 13:35

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Originally posted by South Limerick Referee:
Our grandparents watched the news religiously at 6pm and 9pm even though both were identical and would have watched it at several other times as well if it was on. I have posted about this before. We no longer live in a life of suppression and in fairness such freedom of choice is badly needed. Until very recently most children grew up in houses where there was one TV and they were forcefed the news etc. missing out on watching regular TV, particularly those of the age you speak of. As they move through life they make their own choices. You should not begrudge law abiding citizens who prefer to watch TV programmes other than the news, or prefer to avoid the Doomsday stories on the newspapers instead reading the Sport, TV etc. I dont read the Sunday World generally, not because I have anything against it, but because my newspapers of choice on a Sunday are the Sunday Indo, Sunday Times, Mail On Sunday, and previously the Sunday Tribune. All primarily to read the Sports sections. However I bought the Sunday World a couple of years ago one week to check up on the Soccer trips as they have a good page on deals. I pulled up beside someone in the car for a chat and the Sunday World was top of the pile. The comment was something like "Its no wonder this country is finished when our schoolteachers are buying that sort of rubbish. You wont have much chance of getting a job if thats what you are reading"I rest my case

Sounds lik eyou have serious childhood based issues with being told to chnage over from Home and Away SLR!!!!!

I woudl still just about be classed as "young" .

Not sure that youth are really much more clueless than older generations. 90% of the people I live, work and meet have little of interest that they can or wnat to discuss aside from sport. ( And SLR I know thsis ckind of porves the point you were labouring to make) If they did they wouldnt read the news papers that they do. But I feel entitled to say this as someone who spends his winter Sundays listening to radio na Gaelteachta while reading the Observer.

aAmongst older poeple with family & mortagages etc. they has been an upswing interest in politic / finance for purely selfish reasons....but most people have a fairly proletarian mindset at the end of teh day and unfortuantely McCreevy was right when he said they just wanted the price of a pint more or less......

glasandbán

(2,046 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 13:40

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The youth can't be blamed for disengaging. They are the most marginalised group in society economically and arguably stand to suffer most from a recession caused by those who went before them. Meantime economic policy appears to be all about helping the middle classes hold on to what they have rather than addressing long term youth unemployment -bar encouraging emigration. Young people are well aware of the economic situation in Ireland but have no platform to affect anything. What political party could be said to best represent the 20's and early 30's constituency?

Glór na ngael

(1,198 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 14:02

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Originally posted by glasandbán:
The youth can't be blamed for disengaging. They are the most marginalised group in society economically and arguably stand to suffer most from a recession caused by those who went before them. Meantime economic policy appears to be all about helping the middle classes hold on to what they have rather than addressing long term youth unemployment -bar encouraging emigration. Young people are well aware of the economic situation in Ireland but have no platform to affect anything. What political party could be said to best represent the 20's and early 30's constituency?

Help the middle classes hold on to what they have? It's the middle classes who are being hammered in this recession by paying over half of their earnings in taxes and levies!In contrast, the working classes and upper classes haven't been squeezed nearly as much.

Paying high tax rates is all fine and well if you're living somewhere like Sweden or Denmark and getting high-class public services in return. But forking over so much in return for dire public services in Ireland would make anyone's blood boil.

As for young people switching off the news, I can't really blame them. Watching news and current affairs programming in Ireland would make anyone depressed these past few years, due to the constant bad news and negativity. I say this as someone who's worked in media and communications,and who follows the bews closely, but even I found myself switching off from the likes of Vinnie Browne before I emigrated a year ago.

The Minstrel

(646 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 15:47

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Originally posted by Hurling Veteran:
Was at a family gathering and was in conversation with my 20 something and 30 something relatives. Each time I tried to discuss the economy with they they diverted, yawned and eventually dismissed me. The transfers of Robin Van Persie and Seanie Johnston were more interesting to them than the state of our economy. None of them watch the news regularly apart from the sports. None of them read the newspapers apart from a glance at the front page and the TV and sports pages. They are not alone and it is a trend I have noticed generally. How can we rise out of this mess when the young do not care?

30-somethings are not our youth.

KeepOnHurling

(3,223 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 16:03

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The situation of our economy and how it got to be that way are very depressing topics.
I'm not surprised people don't want to be bringing it up too much.

Sport is a great distraction to have, and there's always something to talk about.

South Limerick Referee

(16,613 Posts)

Posted: 06-Aug-2012 16:59

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I have no problem with your winter Sundays, that is your choice, as long as you dont expect me to do the same. However there are people who feel that I and others should be reading the Observer/Guardian/Sunday Business Post etc. and making RTE Radio 1 (non-sports stuff) our main Radio Station of choice. Sorry sunshine, life is about choices, and I will make mine to suit myself.

My winter Sundays are spent playing soccer when fit, or else going to Munster Club games or else watching Sky Sports Super Sunday along with an enthusiastic read of the Sports pages. Guess what, I do it with a smile on my face too, no harm in that either. I had a great winter last winter too. Watching Limerick teams win the Munster clubs, watching Barcelona in the flesh, watching Ji score the winner for Sunderland against Man City and Martin Tyler roaring his name and the Twitter/Facebook machines going into overdrive.

Twas fantastic stuff.

To think I could have been wasting myself away listening to RTE Radio One political shows and reading the Observer/Guardian/Sunday Business Post. Thanks but no thanks. Our political forefathers fought for freedom, it is up to us to utilise that freedom at our own discretion.

Originally posted by Roberto Jordan:
But I feel entitled to say this as someone who spends his winter Sundays listening to radio na Gaelteachta while reading the Observer.aAmongst older poeple with family & mortagages etc. they has been an upswing interest in politic / finance for purely selfish reasons....but most people have a fairly proletarian mindset at the end of teh day and unfortuantely McCreevy was right when he said they just wanted the price of a pint more or less......

glasandbán

(2,046 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 12:33

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Here's a good article on this topic:

DAN HAYDEN and ANDREW BYRNE

OPINION: EVERY BUDGET cut needs a justification. During this crisis, politicians have often spoken of the need to “ensure that our children have opportunities and the chance for a good life”.

Cuts are said to be necessary so that the State’s finances are handed over to the next generation in proper order. Yet the reality is that Irish policies during this crisis have not protected Ireland’s youngest citizens, but rather have been imposed at their expense more than any other group.

Ireland’s young are not an abstract rhetorical device. Many are working and, more than any other group, many of them cannot. While the unemployment rate in Ireland hovers at about 14 per cent, the average for young men is about 25 per cent.

Neither is this problem isolated to Ireland. Across the EU and particularly in the “debtor states”, youth unemployment is at unprecedentedly high levels, with figures putting employment for under-25s in Greece and Spain above 50 per cent. If you are a 24-year-old university graduate in Madrid, more likely than not you are unemployed.

Without the opportunity to work, many are leaving this country, with every intention of returning but little prospect of fulfilling that aspiration. In 2011, 33 per cent of emigrants were between the ages of 15 and 24, with a further 34 per cent aged 24-44.

Yet policymakers are not passive bystanders to these trends. Emigration and unemployment are exacerbated by labour market policies both in the public sector and in many protected professions which strongly favour current workers over new and recent hires.

A two-tier system offers different legal protections to temporary and permanent workers. New, young workers are often recycled through short-term contracts while older colleagues are not subjected even to basic evaluation of their performance. First-in/last-out policies remain unquestioned though a new “worst-in, first-out” would undoubtedly benefit young people trying to get a start on their careers.

The starkest demonstration of this is the situation facing teachers who began their career in February 2012. They will earn 30 per cent less than peers who began their careers only two years ago while, over their working lives, they will contribute significantly more of their income in pension payments than older colleagues. These older colleagues will retire younger, and with vastly superior benefits to what a young teacher can now ever hope to achieve.

The National Pension Reserve Fund was designed to relieve the burden of covering high pension costs for this generation’s retirement in 20-25 years’ time. This has been forgotten by short-termist political parties who see the reserve solely as a vehicle to relieve short-term pressure on their budgets.

While this may ultimately be necessary, the long-term implications of disbursing this fund now on risky propositions are notably absent from public debate.

Childcare costs, which are among the highest in the EU, disproportionately affect younger parents, who endure a triple threat of high costs, declining new entrant wages and, for many, an expensive home mortgage.

This will be supplemented further by the almost certain prospect of rising levels of indebtedness as the Government withdraws support for third-level education, as is already happening in the US and the UK. The two-thirds of US bachelor’s degree graduates who had student loans in 2010 had average debts of $25,250, while predicted debt levels for 2012 entrants in the UK reach above £35,000. This personal debt will be even more difficult to carry in light of the public debt burden resulting from the banking crisis.

During the Tiger years, political life was captured by a small number of powerful interest groups in construction, banking and finance. While these groups achieved their short-term goals of super profits during the boom years, they accumulated greater and greater risks which resulted in the socialisation of debt when the house of cards collapsed.

Few have escaped the fallout entirely but well-organised groups still hold great sway. Meanwhile, younger people are notoriously poor at representing their interests at the ballot box. Young politicians, many of whom were elected in the last general election, are rewarded for loyalty to their parties and to their senior peers who can help them advance.

The data bears out these facts. Central Statistics Office figures show that between 2004 and 2010, the income of those aged 65-plus increased by almost 40 per cent, almost 3.5 times that of those aged 18-64. A recent report by the Bertelsmann Foundation placed Ireland 17th for intergenerational equality, behind the UK, Germany, France and notably, below the OECD average.

What we are witnessing is the opening of a profound generational breach, where policies in employment, education, childcare and the banking system are driving a wedge between younger and older generations. Unfortunately for the young, they find themselves on the wrong side of this artificial division, denied the opportunities to realise those essential aspects of a fulfilling life: well-remunerated work, housing and the supports needed to raise children.

While interests on both sides of public debate have argued about conflicts between the public and private sectors, the real conflict has been a generational one, which has passed to date almost without comment. Politicians, employers and unions have lazily sacrificed the young at the altar of political expediency, all the time mouthing the words “we’re doing it for the kids”.

The kids are here, alive, now. And their backs are breaking.

GalwayDownUnder

(1,438 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 13:22

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Originally posted by South Limerick Referee:
Our grandparents watched the news religiously at 6pm and 9pm even though both were identical and would have watched it at several other times as well if it was on. I have posted about this before. We no longer live in a life of suppression and in fairness such freedom of choice is badly needed. Until very recently most children grew up in houses where there was one TV and they were forcefed the news etc. missing out on watching regular TV, particularly those of the age you speak of. As they move through life they make their own choices. You should not begrudge law abiding citizens who prefer to watch TV programmes other than the news, or prefer to avoid the Doomsday stories on the newspapers instead reading the Sport, TV etc. I dont read the Sunday World generally, not because I have anything against it, but because my newspapers of choice on a Sunday are the Sunday Indo, Sunday Times, Mail On Sunday, and previously the Sunday Tribune. All primarily to read the Sports sections. However I bought the Sunday World a couple of years ago one week to check up on the Soccer trips as they have a good page on deals. I pulled up beside someone in the car for a chat and the Sunday World was top of the pile. The comment was something like "Its no wonder this country is finished when our schoolteachers are buying that sort of rubbish. You wont have much chance of getting a job if thats what you are reading"I rest my case

Why didn't you tell him that you're a well respected poster on anfearrua with not 13 nor 14 nor 15 but over 16 thousand posts. He would have changed his tune then.

Muilleann

(61 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 13:30

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Originally posted by Hurling Veteran:
Was at a family gathering and was in conversation with my 20 something and 30 something relatives. Each time I tried to discuss the economy with they they diverted, yawned and eventually dismissed me. The transfers of Robin Van Persie and Seanie Johnston were more interesting to them than the state of our economy. None of them watch the news regularly apart from the sports. None of them read the newspapers apart from a glance at the front page and the TV and sports pages. They are not alone and it is a trend I have noticed generally. How can we rise out of this mess when the young do not care?

And they're dead right too!

We just carried on with it too back in the 80's regardless of the doom and gloom around us.

'Tis great to be young!

Muilleann

(61 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 13:30

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Originally posted by Hurling Veteran:
Was at a family gathering and was in conversation with my 20 something and 30 something relatives. Each time I tried to discuss the economy with they they diverted, yawned and eventually dismissed me. The transfers of Robin Van Persie and Seanie Johnston were more interesting to them than the state of our economy. None of them watch the news regularly apart from the sports. None of them read the newspapers apart from a glance at the front page and the TV and sports pages. They are not alone and it is a trend I have noticed generally. How can we rise out of this mess when the young do not care?

And they're dead right too!

We just carried on with it too back in the 80's regardless of the doom and gloom around us.

'Tis great to be young!

Muilleann

(61 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 13:30

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Originally posted by Hurling Veteran:
Was at a family gathering and was in conversation with my 20 something and 30 something relatives. Each time I tried to discuss the economy with they they diverted, yawned and eventually dismissed me. The transfers of Robin Van Persie and Seanie Johnston were more interesting to them than the state of our economy. None of them watch the news regularly apart from the sports. None of them read the newspapers apart from a glance at the front page and the TV and sports pages. They are not alone and it is a trend I have noticed generally. How can we rise out of this mess when the young do not care?

And they're dead right too!

We just carried on with it too back in the 80's regardless of the doom and gloom around us.

'Tis great to be young!

Muilleann

(61 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 13:30

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Originally posted by Hurling Veteran:
Was at a family gathering and was in conversation with my 20 something and 30 something relatives. Each time I tried to discuss the economy with they they diverted, yawned and eventually dismissed me. The transfers of Robin Van Persie and Seanie Johnston were more interesting to them than the state of our economy. None of them watch the news regularly apart from the sports. None of them read the newspapers apart from a glance at the front page and the TV and sports pages. They are not alone and it is a trend I have noticed generally. How can we rise out of this mess when the young do not care?

And they're dead right too!

We just carried on with it too back in the 80's regardless of the doom and gloom around us.

'Tis great to be young!

Muilleann

(61 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 13:30

Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply

Originally posted by Hurling Veteran:
Was at a family gathering and was in conversation with my 20 something and 30 something relatives. Each time I tried to discuss the economy with they they diverted, yawned and eventually dismissed me. The transfers of Robin Van Persie and Seanie Johnston were more interesting to them than the state of our economy. None of them watch the news regularly apart from the sports. None of them read the newspapers apart from a glance at the front page and the TV and sports pages. They are not alone and it is a trend I have noticed generally. How can we rise out of this mess when the young do not care?

And they're dead right too!

We just carried on with it too back in the 80's regardless of the doom and gloom around us.

'Tis great to be young!

staycalm

(1,081 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 13:34

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We heard you the first 10 times

This message has been edited - 16-aug-2012 @ 13:35

JHume

(3,067 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 14:32

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The article posted by Glas and Bán articulates the State's approach perfectly.

Someone earlier referred to Government policies protecting the middle class.

Subsituting the terms "middle aged and elderly" would be more accurate.

No surprise really given the age profile of the Cabinet – they are only concerned with protecting their own generation.

A huge demographic con is currently being perpetrated, with mind boggling debt accumulated to maintain the lifestyles to which citizens aged 50+ have become accustomed to, all at the expense of future generations who will pick up the crushing bill.

The Oireachtas is the fiefdom of the middle aged and elderly (or soon to be elderly), and politicians are terrified of offending them. Much easier to target the young who are too busy working, rearing families and paying off mortgages to organise effectively.

There is no means of changing this within the current political system.

But come the revolution, they will be the first to lose their heads.

Remember92

(31 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 15:49

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This is what is wrong with our country

South Limerick Referee

(16,613 Posts)

Posted: 16-Aug-2012 23:23

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A lot of posts allright, but I choose to reply and counter-reply to topics. I am here since 2003 or 2004, so my posts equate to somewhere around 5 posts a day. That isnt really excessive.

Originally posted by GalwayDownUnder:
Why didn't you tell him that you're a well respected poster on anfearrua with not 13 nor 14 nor 15 but over 16 thousand posts. He would have changed his tune then.

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