In our country, life expectancy doubled throughout the 20th century, exceeding the average of 80 years. For those who are in good health and have not had the misfortune of fatal diseases or accidents, 90 years is not a pipe dream. Catalonia has 2,000 centenarians, one of the highest proportions in the world. Of course, in this case it is better to be a woman since they double the life expectancy, with respect to men, between 80 and 94 years old and the they quadruple from the age of 95.
This has not always been the case and, much less, for women in most patriarchal societies and with subsistence farming. Shoehei Imamura showed them openly in his film ‘The Ballad of Narayama’ (1983). The old women were abandoned by their children on the icy peaks of the mountain to make way for their grandchildren. Today, in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic, we naturally observe how the long-awaited and scarce vaccines have started with injecting into nursing homes already elderly people. A intergenerational solidarity, by the youngest and most productive people, which is worth underlining.
Too long ago that society and, consequently, the public powers have made invisible to young people through reductionist stereotypes and clichés and contradictory. Despite of 40% youth unemployment, of a labor market precarious and impoverished, of an evident and obvious social exclusion, of a late and difficult family emancipation, of the resurgence of flats full of tenants … Despite the regrets, youth issues have disappeared from public conversation and in the general political debate. It would be wise not to forget that without young people, for the majority, there are no pensions.
Despite 40% youth unemployment and obvious and obvious social exclusion, their problems have disappeared in the public conversation and in the general political debate
—
The vindication of the youth of the Transition was the vindication of the age of majority and the right to vote at 18 years of age. A necessary civil and political recognition to build our life projects and democratic participation. It was not easy at all. Two and a half million young people between the ages of 18 and 21 We were excluded from the first non-democratic general elections on June 15, 1977. However, we managed to get the Constitution to contemplate in its article 12 the age of majority at 18 years. A historical milestone, even compared to the situation of other young Europeans. Yet today in Italy Senate candidates must be over 40 years of age and voters over 25 years. Perhaps the approval of the electoral participation from the age of 16 it would get more attention from the public powers.
The problem principlel of young people today is not civil and political rights, but the labor and economic, that allow them to undertake an emancipatory life project. It is necessary more training, of course, reduce university fees, increase scholarships and the aid to the Erasmus program, which would have to be extended to other student and youth groups. But more training is not enough, as many of the unemployed or precarious young people know very well in a labor market where the task is scarce and much more, decent jobs. The renting a home today represents the 90% of the income of those under 30 years of age.
Thomas Pikety’s suggestive proposal on the runiversal youth plan financed from inheritance tax, andThat is to say, of the redistribution of a part of the inheritances of a few to the group of young people. The Giro prosecutor of the Biden Administration it is a good stimulus to raise it even at the level of the European Union.
It may interest you
A unconditional rent and lump sum upon reaching a certain age. For example, 50,000 euros at 25 years. A stimulus to expand training (access to postgraduate and master’s degrees), fund research, invest in any type of professional activity, Mount a private or cooperative company, collaborate with an oenegyes, pay the entrance of a flat, but at around the worldo…. It is urgent to avoid the generational fracturel. They deserve to be offered a chance by society. I am convinced that they will return it to us in spades.
– .
