Yesterday, June 23, 2016, the UK held what was known as the EU Referendum. This was an open vote, where the voting-age citizens of the United Kingdom were asked whether or not they wanted to stay or leave the European Union. This union is an economical and political agreement that 28 European countries participate in for the unity of the market within these countries. The so-called "Brexit" as it is labeled (Britain's exit) will cause monumental changes in the way the country has run and could possibly be disastrous for the economic alliance that this has maintained.
Here is the interesting part: the majority of the vote that tipped the results by just 4 percent, was made by people over 50.
So, you may be asking, "What does this have to do with me?" After all, we live in America and we are not part of the EU, so it really won't affect our lives or our jobs.
Let's consider another statistic: Donald Trump. He is currently the front runner in the current 2016 political election and has a good chance of becoming the next President of the United States. While this idea seems ridiculous to the Millennial Generation, it seems entirely feasible to his supporters. But, who are his voters? By a large majority, they are older white males. Less than 2 percent of his supporters are younger than 30 years old.
Here's my question to you, the complacent generation: why are we letting people who don't have to live with their decisions make all of our choices?
If Trump is president, the decisions he makes in those 4-8 years will affect his supporters for about 16-20 years. They will affect us almost 3 times as long. They will affect our children and our grandchildren, and meanwhile, all the people currently wearing those "Make America Great Again" hats will be resting peacefully under the ground.
To put it frankly America, the time for respecting our elders has come and passed. They are making messes without having to clean them up, and we are sitting back thinking that our complaints are making a difference. Consider the difference in the demographics and let yourself realize what we are going to end up with if we let an older generation decide what we need.
We have to build our country -- whether it is the US or the UK -- into what it needs to be as we grow into it. We can't keep listening to those who supposedly are "older and wiser" because not only are they out of touch, but they won't be around to see the results.
So, here's the plan: open doors for the older gentleman, help the little old lady cross the street, listen to your grandpa tell his "when I was your age" stories, smile and nod, and then go out and change the world. Don't let someone who can't figure out how to use a smartphone tell you how to run your country.
This is your future, Millenials. Don't sit back and let them have it.
