Youth Unemployment.

 I’m angry at the way my generation has shafted our children. We’ve given them false expectations, a false sense of maturity, largely debilitating schooling, a huge bill for higher education of dubious benefit, and to cap it all no outlet for their skills and enthusiasm. Though it’s no fault of theirs our children are trained consumers of product and entertainment just as19th century kids were trained to labour or starve. Where those kids, though they were never fairly paid or credited for it, built a cushion of wealth for our nation that’s taken a century to dissipate, our kids have entered on the downward curve, indebted, contracting and soft. Today’s wombs are holding leveraged babies. So much for blame, it’s never useful. 

So kids forget your jumping-through-hoops education and enjoy some real learning of some kind that feeds your enthusiasm for life itself. Forget your TV training in consuming, celebrities and luxuries from our ‘Taste the Difference’ range. Beneath the surface of life is a cave of many riches, understandings, emotions and the twists and turns of your own Arthurian legend. It is your duty only to strive to be the best you can be not to just fulfil some employer’s needs. Be that and they will come to you. Pick the fruit that’s within your grasp; you will be taller tomorrow.

And to my generation. Remember that times have profoundly changed. Challenges and solutions are not the same. Remember that your ‘never had it so good’ was built on a million previous struggles and sacrifices, and now it’s your turn. Not this time in Christmas presents but holding, supporting and encouraging our young to find their fulfilment and prosperity. We don’t know the answers, not now, and neither do they, but it is they that must find them with our help, not us.

To politicians. Begin to think. You have too long mouthed. Take risks to be loved and supported, for the answers are no longer in the box.

And to Jeremy Paxman. Well done for not strangling those two shites, I would have nutted ‘em.