If you REALLY wanted change, you should have voted during the elections. Just because the leaders of all political parties didn’t address issues that concern the younger population doesn’t mean you need not vote. It’s very easy to complain about poverty and joblessness, and hell, I AGREE with the Occupy movement. But in order to actually change anything in our country, YOU HAVE TO VOTE!!! The majority of people occupying Wall Street are the unemployed. Our unemployment rate in Canada is much lower. That’s why you don’t see as many people protesting in Canada.
Here’s some stats from Statistics Canada:
55.9% — The proportion of people in Canada aged 18 to 24 who reported that they had voted in the last federal election.
75.8% — The proportion of people in Canada aged 25 to 54 who reported that they had voted in the last federal election.
89.4% — The proportion of people in Canada aged 55 and over who reported that they had voted in the last federal election.
So only half of young people voted. Therefor, instead of complaining that you want change, be pro-active in your approach to changing the country. Then at least your complaints will be valid because you actually DID do your part as a citizen. —anonymous_voter
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 2, 2011.
How do you know they didn’t vote? Did you go up to every single one of them and ask them if they voted? I sincerely doubt it.
I’m thinking that if they are being active enough to live in tents in parade square, they probably were active enough to vote in the last election.
It’s the youngins that DON’T speak up like these people who aren’t voting.
I don’t blame these people for being angry — youth today do shit fuck all — including voting. They’re too busy at yoga class and texting. Perhaps if you made an iphone app for voting more younger people would vote? Funny and SAD at the same time.
LOL I can’t believe the arrogance of those against these protesters – assuming that they don’t vote.
Whether someone votes or not, they are completely 100% entitled to protest their little hearts out and there isn’t a goddman thing you can do about it OB. Get over yourself.
Giant douche? Or turd sandwich?
You decide!
WHAT? No mention of Starbucks?
You do realize that protesting is more proactive than voting right?
Protesters are represtentative of the more politically active population, not the general population, and as such should have much higher voting rates than the averages published by Statcan.
“The majority of people occupying Wall Street are the unemployed. Our unemployment rate in Canada is much lower. That’s why you don’t see as many people protesting in Canada. Here’s some stats from Statistics Canada: “
Wrong again. It’s mainly younger people who are protesting, and young people have very high unemployment rates in both Canada and the US. Also, the larger protests in the US are in NYC and Chicago, where unemployment rates are relatively low compared to other American cities with larger manufacturing sectors. Based on your argument, there should be larger protests (relatively speaking) in Detroit and Windsor, ON, than in NYC or Toronto. Based on media reports, this isn’t happening. I would argue that this is more about meek prospects for the future coupled with an unfair distribution of wealth and fair opportunity. It doesn’t help that older folks today are both richer and (because they have higher life expectancy) more dependent on the younger generation than they were years ago.
This is going to be the first generation that are worse off than their parents – and it certainly isn’t because they’ve been protesting for the past few weeks. Lots of great reasons to be angry
worse off than their grandparents dmouth
Things change when we vote? When did this start happening? I’ve never seen a significant change from one government party to the next. They’re all out for one thing- themselves. Every one of them will screw over the little guy no matter whose in power.
And no, before you accuse me of being part of the young demographic in the Occupy movement, I’m not. Just someone who has lived long enough to see that governmental faces may change, but the results are the same.
I do believe in the idea behind the Occupy movement, but I fail to see how sitting around all day making speeches and banging drums is going to force any change from above. They really need to come up with some solutions to go with their protesting.
Don’t worry OB, once they run out of pot they’ll go back to their parents’ house and sulk that no one will hire them. Stupid protesters.
It’s ironic that protesters are the reason why Seb hasn’t been publicly humiliated/beaten/executed because of his lifestyle.
It doesn’t matter who you vote for the only person that matters is the person counting the votes.
I sincerely don’t understand the format of this protest, times are harsh everywhere across this country and the world. I have friends with children who have lost longtime jobs in a heartbeat. There are people in this fair city without a home to call their own, or even a family. Walking through parade square yesterday all I could think of was how these young people hula hooping, bongo playing, and eating mcdees I might add( not so great for let’s bash corporations campaign) seem like they’re just protesting for the hell of saying that they did. I support the cause, and my heart goes out to the people truly affected, but I really believe that it could be protested in a more professional manner than “let’s pretend we’re from the sixties”. Live in the now, use persuasive arguing and reasoning instead of busker tricks, show the faces of those affected instead of camping in smoky tents, and then maybe people will listen.
“…but I really believe that it could be protested in a more professional manner…”
I tend to agree with you, kombacha…up to this point. Exactly how does one protest “professionally”? What are the qualifications? Are they hiring? What would be my starting salary? Do we get time and a half for protesting on statutory holidays? What does one wear to the interview? Can I get business cards? Would tents/bongos/hackey-sacks be provided or could I write them off as a business expense? Are they listed on the TSX? Somebody tell me PLEASE!
avast0 – Al Gore teaches professional protesting along with EAC, Greenpeace, CAW, CUPE, Sid Ryan, anyone at rabble.ca, the Raging Grannies (Dipper ladies with grey hair who only ‘perform’ when instructed by Dipper Central HQ in Halifax).
Just make sure you practice chanting ‘ Hey hey, Ho ho fill in the blank has got to go’.
When in Europe make sure you use the Socialist Worker signs in London, and in Paris and Rome they really teach protesting to the PhD level. The French & Italian police love a nice big protest/riot – they get to practice ‘Extreme Clubbing’
see a later bitch, for what i think of this.
I’m pretty sure that if they care enough to tent outside for this length of time they took to the polls.
I agree it’s important to vote but I’d send that message out to the lazy people who aren’t out there trying to make a difference.
You do realize that the corporations own the government, right OP? That’s why all the fuss about lobbyists. Doesn’t matter who you vote for they all work for the same people.