Polling data shows gen Z is the least likely demographic to vote for One Nation, with support coming from older generations.
Young Australians have told triple j hack how a difference in politics has impacted their family dynamic.
Relationships Australia said it is hearing from more people experiencing family fallouts over politics.
I’m a boomer (as many of you may be sick of hearing) and have to keep reminding you that a segment of my generation were there on the streets fighting to end the Vietnam War, nuclear weapons proliferation, sexism, anti-homosexuality laws and racism and to legislate for Aboriginal land rights, safe reproductive rights, environmental protections and so on.
It is true that by comparison to today’s society, times were simpler but they were no less political. We were aware of propaganda (as you say, it is not a new thing) and how it always seems to lead to the oppression of those who had the least resources to fight with (except each other).
Perhaps dividing ourselves (yet another division) by generation is another artificial way of alienating us from one another. So long as we believe unthinkingly in an ‘us and them’ we are a lot easier to manipulate and be pushed into squabbling amongst ourselves. Just what the empire managers want.
Bingo!
Yeah, I phrased it “problematic boomers” to try and differentiate between those with predominantly poor views currently and those without. I’m sorry I should have done more to highlight that there isn’t one mind among all, because its not fair and don’t believe that at all.
I absolutely agree with you that the generational divide has been used to cause division in so many ways. I’m sorry I caused you to feel like you had to defend your gen. I also really appreciate that you gave me that whole run down, that’s fucking awesome to see all gathered up in one place like that. (I know there’s more, too.)
I was more hinting at how to talk to people with problematic beliefs, in that questions can be powerful and propaganda comes for everyone, left and right alike. Because we’re all people who can fall for some bullshit, sometimes. If we know we’re just as likely to fall for bullshit as “they” are, it humanises “them” and then maybe all it takes is a good conversation (maybe not always) and you plant seeds of what if.
I’d absolutely love to sit around a campfire with you and ask you a billion annoying questions about everything you’ve seen. Not for the same reason, just because those chats can be awesome and you seem like you could paint a good picture of what you’ve been through. Hope we’re still friends!
Crikey, we were never not friends. All is well.
I feel somewhat embarrassed you might think I was some sort of groovy, militant activist. I certainly was always on the left side of politics and was involved in a few things but I was never your ‘out there’ collectivist or whatever. I was too naive to begin with.
Some people as they get older become more conservative and/or more cynical because they see that whichever party is elected, when it comes to the big, important matters, it makes little difference. Like, for example, sending our young people to kill others and destroy their homes and communities when these people have never harmed us, just for the benefit of empire, or, supporting massive industries that extract, pollute and harm nature, societies and individuals, or continuing the economic system that favours the haves at the expense of the have-nots (which keep increasing). So be it boomers, X, Y or Z, without some understanding of the machinations of empire, we will more than likely do what most do: look after ‘me’ and ‘mine’ and get caught up in whatever form the current rat race is in order to keep our heads above water or take advantage of our situation if we are lucky to have a good one.
We can all learn from each other. I am learning so much from reading what those of you who are younger than me (which is just about everyone here) have to contend with and your viewpoints. Aussie Zone can be our campfire.