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    Gen Z doubts about democracy laid bare in ‘worrying’ survey
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    Gen Z doubts about democracy laid bare in ‘worrying’ survey

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    31 Comments

    2. MrPloppyHead on

      So firstly… a survey of 13-17year olds… 13 year olds!

      Secondly. The notion of some benevolent dictator ( a concept which is undoubtedly promoted by the facists) is easy to dispel.

      Simply make two columns. In one list all the names of the benevolent dictators and in the other list all the names of the nasty cunty dictators. You will find that one of those columns is empty.

    3. FloydEGag on

      Gen Z are defined in this as between 13 and 27. I suspect a lot of the people saying the army should be in charge or we need a revolution are actual children – wannabe-edgy and/or naive 14/15year olds…I know I wanted a revolution when I was that age.

    4. Icy-Tear4613 on

      How much to gen z care about polls? Someone asked me at that age I’m answering random answers.

    7. Jaded_Strain_3753 on

      Bluntly, democracy isn’t producing particularly good outcomes for the UK right now, especially for young people. I still believe it’s the worst form of government except for all the others, but it’s not surprising young people are unhappy.

    9. most_crispy_owl on

      I’m one. I don’t think it’s working and I don’t think a lot of issues should or can be solved democratically. We have a fragmented society with too different priorities, and many idiots.

      I think we should democratically decide on our values, and then let those in control just get on with it, adhering to the values with oversight.

      We can’t get anything done when everything is a debate.

    10. Nanjingrad on

      Wow who knew that an inflexible two party system manned by lobbyists and dinosaurs would leave young people disillusioned.

    11. Traditional_Tea_1879 on

      The main issue is that they have had a taste of the alternative.
      Once they have, they will find a new desire for democracy.
      Unfortunately, it is not necessarily that easy to get back to democracy once you lose it of course.

    12. TurbulentData961 on

      Why the hell did they only survey the younger half of gen Z . Half of us were in uni in the corbyn years and working for ages now and instead they ask teenagers about democracy ? Wtf were these people thinking

    13. AllRedLine on

      Is it a surprise? You can do everything ‘right’ and even supposedly decently paid jobs still aren’t enough to be able to afford a house or many of the foundational luxuries that were always touted as the key marketing tools of democratic capitalism. The UK is a shambling corpse of a nation for anyone below 40.

    14. Pristine_Act444 on

      The more i learn about our political system the more i find i know nothing and possibly shouldn’t be aloud to vote as i cannot make an informed decision. Bet i would get a right telling off from me mam if i didn’t use my vote though.

      “The **mandate model** views representatives as less independent actors. This came about after the emergence of modern political parties; now constituents rarely vote for a representative based on their personal qualities but more broadly, they vote for their party to be elected into government. A mandate is an order or instruction from a superior body therefore this model suggests representatives follow the party line and must carry out policies outlined during election campaigns.[^([17])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_representation#cite_note-17)

      The **resemblance model** is less concerned about the way representatives are selected and more concerned whether they resemble the group they claim to represent. It is similar to [descriptive representation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descriptive_representation), they argue that to represent a group of people such as the working class or women to its full potential you must be part of that social group yourself. Therefore, only people who have shared experiences and interests can fully identify with particular issues.”

    15. PurahsHero on

      I can’t blame them.

      In the UK, the government is realistically decided by a few thousand voters in a handful of marginal seats. Even then, the parties seek to actively screw over their generation in almost every possible way, while openly chasing the vote of ageing boomers who always had it (relatively) good.

      Nothing gets invested in that benefits them directly. The climate crisis is getting worse before their eyes. The economic ladder has not just been pulled up but strategically nuked (unless your parents are insanely rich). They are told they are lazy and workshy because they want to focus on having a good life, and when they work they are told they should be out having fun.

      The current system has done its absolute best to screw them directly. And people are shocked that they say “nah, not for me thanks”?

    16. LegendJG on

      Isn’t is true that some generations have effectively “won” every election since they turned voter age? Ie. For 50-60 year olds, whatever party they have voted for, has gained power? Then you have the complete inverse for anyone under the age of about 35-40?

    18. OnePotMango on

      What is this thread? We’re really questioning democracy and not the blatantly obvious neoliberalist Capitalism?? Based on the opinion of 13-24 year olds???

      This feels like a massive AstroTurf bot party. Why is The Times also framing it this way (aside from the fact they are neolibs themselves)? UK media trying to send us the way of the US…

    19. much_good on

      It is not that democracy doesn’t work. But a society where in you vote every 5 years for parties largely serving the whims of corporations, private equity groups and their own bank accounts.

      It’s a funny term democracy, some believe that should mean you control your work place, you should directly be able to decide policy and hold politicians accountable. That is not what we have.

    20. QuantumWarrior on

      If you look at the last election figures Gen Z were pretty much the most polarised generation with lots going further right to Reform but lots going further left to the Greens.

      I expect we’re going to continue to be poisoned by hard-right rhetoric coming from America and a (hopefully bigger) counter-movement on the left to maintain sanity. The difference here thankfully is we do actually have parties on the left to take up that role, and we don’t seem to have quite as much patience for the kind of absurd stunts going on across the pond.

      Only time will tell of course.

    22. LookOverall on

      My fear is that the relatively low wealth economy of the 20th century were an anomaly, historically unprecedented and, perhaps, impossible to recreate.

    23. Allnamestaken69 on

      20 years of austerity at this point.. has left many of us hopeless and dejected, espcaily as we watch grifters be empowered all cross the west and western democracy being eroded by outside interests (Russia, China).

      Our liberal parties opening the door for this trash (democrats, even labour when you consider they are effectively running a good campaign right now to get reform in next go around with their utter indifference to working people sproblems). Look at Germany and the AFD…

    24. amadan_an_iarthair on

      They’re defining Gen Z as 13-27.
      And, I’m going to honest. I had some fucked up, hateful views during that period. Because, honestly, I was still developing. So did a lot of people I know. I grew, changed, actually met people.
      _That said_, there are those trying to manipulate young people. Happens to every generation and now social media doom scrolling is just perfect for it.
      We need to do something to counter it. And I mean We, because we’ll be fucked if any government do it.

    25. jj198handsy on

      I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to be 17 when brexit happened, to be then told it was the greatest demcoratic moment in modern history, and that ‘we’ were going to take back control, only to see Boris give it (or try to give it) to his dad, his daughter, his brother, a total failure who thinks condoms cause crime, and IRA fan girl and the son of a KGB agent who spied on us for decades, and probably still is.

    27. Aware-Building2342 on

      The problem is we don’t have enough democracy.   Wage growth started departing from total growth in the 70s.  That’s when capital became far more internationally mobile and unions became weaker.  As the power of unions and democracy lost out to markets and international bodies standards of living failed to rise.  But now anyone who asks for stronger more localised democracy and less globalisation is deemed a fascist. The fact that the likes of Ian Dunt and Paul Mason can call any brexiter a Nazi when they used to believe in leaving the EU themselves and the likes of Tony Benn and Corbyn did too says everything that’s wrong with the middle classes running the media.  People need to be taught what life was like before universal suffrage, how suffrage led to the ascendancy of the labour party, unions, the creation of the NHS and the welfare state.  They need to look the countries that don’t have democracy like UAE with it’s mega sky scrapers built by Indians with no rights and almost no wages.  

      Ultimately a technocratic world is going to focus on GDP growth but not consider it’s distribution 

    28. Livelih00d on

      You can’t trust these sorts of polls. Most regular people aren’t answering them, especially with the younger generations, the ones who do are much more likely to be politically radical or just trolling because it’s funny.

    29. legosneakersfan on

      I’m 46 and democracy has failed me my whole life so I don’t see why Gen Z wouldn’t feel that way. Democracy is just idiots being bought.

      The social contract has absolutely been broken,politicians are all lying fucking scum across the board and the wealthy and companies get to basically shaft every single one of us with zero fucking consequences

    30. VamosFicar on

      They have finally realised that no matter which colour tie you vote for, you get the same pricks wearing them.

    31. HotHuckleberry3454 on

      Let’s be clear we do not have a democracy. We have a corporatocracy. Until we stop the inhuman and mindless corporations from influencing our government officials we do not have democracy. The people have no power.