With the result of the Brexit vote known, the exit of UK from the European Union will have numerous effects on not only the United Kingdom, but Europe as a whole and even beyond. It has caused numerous people online to discuss the result, with the members of the young generation stating that the older generation messed things up for them. They state that the older generation (ages 65+) voted overwhelmingly to leave but they do not have to deal with the consequences of their vote.
The younger generation do. Are they wrong? No, because the young people will obviously live out the result in the long run more so than the current older generation. The one interesting point, however, is some number I have seen some people use: 61% of people aged 65+ turned out to vote and only a mere 25% of voters aged 18-25 turned out to vote. If this fact is true, then it reveals a lot about the young voting base. Despite the younger population being passion and those that did vote had a large percentage voting for remain, there would be those that need not vote. It is those people that are apart of the problem.
Is it all their fault? Of course not- for example, the fact that a lot of people seemingly vote for Boris Johnson’s ideals of xenophobia is also to blame for obvious reasons (note that people claim, with good support, that Boris Johnson’s base for the leave vote is based on xenophobia- it may be a parallel with a certain figure in American politics), however it is still a factor that a percentage of the younger generation did not vote. The easy thing to point out that many people have said already for a few election is that: it is not enough to post on social media, you actually have to vote as well. Not only in the UK, the fact that young people traditionally do not vote is true in the ole’ USA as well, but things have to change if we expect for our voices to be heard. Simply put, the older generation will continue to make decisions for us if an increased percentage of the young voting base does not vote. Our vote has the potential to change entire elections- the fact that an increased number voted for Sanders proves that fact to a certain degree.
The possibility that quite a bit of people are afraid of is that this could be a foreshadowing of a Trump presidency. Is it possible? It certainly is if the stats are similar to the EU referendum, with ages 65+ more likely to support Trump while ages 18-25 seemingly would not vote for Trump. More people need to realize that their vote matters but politicians have always traditionally made it seem as though it never matters and you always end up with the same result- nothing but empty promises (Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton). If we do not vote, then racism and xenophobia will continue winning. Don’t let your voice be unheard or stomped over just what seemingly happened in the UK EU referendum. I salute those that do vote, and if you don’t, at least attempt to. Politicians seemingly have traditionally discarded the young vote as not all that important. Politicians are afraid of old people- that is why they never suggest to cut medicare or other senior citizen benefits- because they would lose without the old vote. We need to prove them wrong and show that the young vote matters just as much. Whatever barrier entry you have, attempt to overcome your challenges to voting.
