No country for our hard-working young people

THERE is a popular stereotype that twenty-somethings spend their entire lives looking at their phones. Or perhaps choosing their wardrobes. Or stacking up on drinks at home before heading out for a night of which they will remember little.

There is truth in all these images. But there is a lot more to these people.

I recently happened upon a bunch of outraged twenty-somethings. Some were still in third level education. They worked the summers and had part-time jobs during term time when they could get them.

The others were working and on a variety of salaries. None was married. Some were in relationships but who knows if they would go the distance. None had children.

So what was the subject of their outrage? Well it was the Budget.

Normally this would be way behind Kanye on their radar but, again, that is a stereotype. In the wake of the Budget someone had published a calculation of what a single mother with a fleet of children gets tax free from the State. It was all carefully tabulated on an Excel sheet and came to approximately 50 grand. So to earn it would require a salary of 80 grand plus and no one at this table was within a mile of 80 grand.

They were doing their best with their car loans. Some were paying rent. Some got help from parents. Some didn’t. There was no one there who came from a family that could be regarded as over-privileged or wealthy. All that they had inherited was a work ethic.

I listened as I am prone to do. At the back of my mind the thought surfaced that I am paying some of that 50 grand. But I kept my mouth shut. I am all for a social welfare system that gives people a leg up when they need it. I am all for spending money on education, and I think that children who get a good education have a far better chance of leading a satisfying life and contributing to society. They deserve no less.

All I kept hearing was 50 grand. I stress that I do not think these were unusual young people. They had this quaint notion that you work and pay your way.

They would save up to buy a house and not all were sure they would ever make it. Emigration was a possibility. Australia was mentioned often. They had no intention of bringing a baby into the world until they could afford it. They considered this normal. I didn’t ask but I doubt if celibacy was how they would achieve this.

Many women are single parents. I much prefer the country that supports them than the one of days past which ostracised them. The people I get pissed off with are the men who disappear and don’t pay a red cent to support their child. They may be helped in this regard by knowing that the State will pick up the tab.

It was time for me to throw in my tuppence worth. I asked them who they would vote for if there was a general election.

The collective table of seven hard-working young Irish people could not think of one politician in the Dail who represented THEM. This I found worryingly true. When people feel disenfranchised it is never good for a country.

One Donald Trump entering the space is enough.