Two Bits – 9 May 2014

So what do you want for your future? I used this column last week to urge you to vote, so this week I am going to share the views of 20 young people on the present and their hopes for the future.
This survey was conducted last week by a friend of mine amongst 20 black, Indian and white young people, aged 20-25 years, all with matrics and all starting out in their careers – teachers, accountants, clerks, bookkeepers etc.
They were asked to give short replies to five questions. Here they are:
QUESTION 1. Do you feel that the leadership of this country are doing a good job?
Sixteen gave a resounding ‘No’. The word ‘corruption’ featured six times, following by ‘greed’ and ‘dishonest’.
One sample: ‘No – they are corrupt and no-one takes responsibility for anything that goes wrong. How can you fix problems when you fail to acknowledge them?’
Four said yes, and one said: ‘Even though they only fulfil half the promises they get some done. Five years is not enough time to get so many people work and houses.’
QUESTION 2: Do you think the people in power are honest and deserve respect?
Only two of the 20 said yes. One said ‘No – they lie to us to use taxpayers’ money for luxurious lifestyles.’
QUESTION 3: Are you going to vote on Wednesday? Do you think your vote will have any effect on change?
Fifteen said yes, many using the phrase ‘every vote counts’, so it seems that message has got through. However they weren’t so sure that their leaders would change their ways. Of those that said no, this comment stands out: ‘The ruling party said they will be in charge until Jesus returns so I think it is a waste of time to vote.’
QUESTION 4: Are you aware that SA is third highest in the world for unemployment?
Half said yes, half no. They didn’t appear surprised one way or the other.
QUESTION 5: What do you suggest leaders do to improve the job situation?
This is where the replies get interesting. A quarter said government should go all out to encourage small business. Others said the government should fix crime and corruption and stop wasting available resources.
Like this comment from an unemployed teacher: ‘I have a Bachelor of Education degree, and instead of being in the classroom, I am at home and doing promotion work. Our government complains there is a shortage of teachers and yet I know a number of qualified teachers who are seeking jobs like I am. What’s even sadder, I was a government bursary recipient, which means my full tuition was paid for and I was promised a job. But I still have not been contacted by the education department.’
It’s depressing that they have such a poor opinion of the present government, yet interesting that they have an opinion at all. If my peers had been asked the same questions 40 years ago, the answers would have been very different. My circle of friends would have condemned segregation, but would have had no view about any other aspects of government, mainly through ignorance. There would have been no comment about crime, corruption or jobs. Different times.
Okay, so they have a poor view of their present government. From adversity springs determination to change the future. Yet I would love to be a fly on the voting booth to see how they actually vote, whether they will vote against the party their parents most likely voted for.
Here’s wishing you all a satisfying election day. May your party win!
* * *
This Jo’burg guy moved to the North Coast and bought a piece of land. He went to the co-op and told the manager he was going to take up chicken farming. He then asked to buy 100 chicks.
“That’s a lot of chicks,” commented the manager.
“I mean business,” the Sandton boy says.
A week later he was back again. “I need another 100 chicks,” he said.
“Boy, you are serious about this chicken farming,” the man told him.
“Yeah,” the yuppie replied: “If I can iron out a few problems.”
“Problems?” asked the proprietor.
“Ja,” replied the yuppie: “I think I planted that last batch too close together.”