The Inter-generational Party

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By Elizabeth May on 25 August 2010 - 8:07am

When people ask me the ways in which the Greens are different from the old line parties, I usually point out that we are consistently concerned with the long term issues  -- that we think about the seventh generation in our decision-making. Our policies and our message are inter-generational.

It occurred to me the other day when I was out canvasing in neighbourhoods around the Saanich Peninsula that we are also inter-generational in our membership.  We did a canvass blitz with about a dozen volunteers. The youngest, a fabulous canvasser and dedicated volunteer I had always pegged at about 18 or 19.  It turned out she is 15.  (I was led to think she was older more due to her strong sense of confidence and high level of articulate communication than appearance.)  Another canvasser who is a reliable volunteer was our oldest volunteer that night. I thought he was in his 70's.  When he told me he was 87, you could have knocked me over with a feather.  (John attributes his robust health and energy to his wife, who is a nurse. Still, he said that with a wink.)

I saw further evidence of this at our national BGM. The youth component of the weekend was substantial. There were a dozen or so amazingly well behaved children from 6 to 12, a handful of totally adorable infants, and a teenage and early twenties crowd of enormous potential and enthusiasm.  Our kickoff keynote speaker was Ilona Dougherty, founder of Apathy is Boring, a non-partisan NGO dedicated to getting out the youth vote. Saturday the Young Greens held their own conference to end apathy.

Meanwhile, a large number of the participants were seniors --  octogenarians and older.   The space in our lives for inter-generational contact is quite small.  Segregation of young people to young peoples' space and old people to their designated areas allows the middle aged group to work constantly without running into either the very young or the very old in the work place.  It is quite unnatural, and yet we allow it unexamined to determine who we get to know.

It is a real tribute to any political party that it can attract people from across a fairly wide spectrum of our society.

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This is a wonderful dynamic

Submitted by Claudia Rodrigu... on 27 August 2010 - 8:18pm.

This is a wonderful dynamic that seems to suggest we are doing at least two things right. We have the energy and vision to attract the very young, whilst we have the integrity and uncompromising principles and values to attract those young enough to remember that in many areas, better times were had. We had a constitution that was upheld, leaders that fought zealously for a cause instead of a ribbon or paycheque, and we had a national debt that was still manageable before we gave private banks control of our purchaisng power, dignity and self-preservation. CEO's of Canada's six largest banks were paid 53 million in 2006.

The "still young to remember" must teach the not so young to remember that there still remain better times to be had.

Canada inexcusably falls short on domestic business investment in particular with new machinery and equipment. The Harper government's lowered corporate tax has witnessed corporations lowering their contribution to these investments. The trend has and continues to be, that while corporations increase profit, investment in new machinery and equipment decline as percentage of GDP.

Yes, times were surely better. In the 17 years before the FTA, GDP per capita increased by $9,365. 17 years after the FTA, Canada's GDP per capita fell to $8,354.

We must harness the power of taking these dynamics into consideration, while working to encourage a harmony of resilience and future of growth where we do not compromise our commitment to the principles and values soiled into our constitution.

We must respect the wisdom and integrity of those that lived to see better times, while uplifting the hearts and minds of those whose futures can expect no less. Because the survival of our planet depends on us appreciating that we cannot afford anything less than a green future.