Affinities welcomes finding that family breakdown is top issue for young people

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Friday, 21, Sep 2007 12:00

A recent US survey found that young people “ranked family breakdown and violence as the most pressing issues of their generation. Poverty was third and global warming fourth. Presidential candidates need to note these concerns if they want young people’s votes. African-American and Latino youths said violence in their neighborhoods was their No. 1 concern while white and Asian youths put the family breakdown at the top.”

The findings are remarkable. David Cameron is trying to put family breakdown on the political agenda in the UK, but the press and media studiously resort to global warming, violence, the NHS, education and – sometimes – poverty as the leading issues. Family breakdown is taboo.

The Social Exclusion Unit named eight indicators of deprivation, one of which was family breakdown. The Office for National Statistics publishes neighbourhood figures and indices for seven of these, but omits family breakdown. Relevant information is being suppressed and no one is complaining about it, not even our Bishops, despite the claim of Archbishop Rowan Williams that the CofE will engage more in politics and human issues.

What will it take for someone to replicate this survey in the UK and rattle a few cages at the SEU and ONS and a bench in the House of Lords?

Despite hurdles, American Dream still inspires

By LEWIS DIUGUID

http://www.kansascity.com/278/story/280999.html

“…… the survey found that one in 10 of the young respondents had served time in jail or juvenile hall. Young people also face a crushing national, corporate and personal debt, high housing costs, high dropout rates, joblessness, rising college costs, violence and crime.

Yet, the survey found that they think their lives will get better.

They “hope and expect to raise children in lasting partnerships.” That’s encouraging. It could ensure the return of an essential institution.

Two-thirds of the respondents expect to attain at least a four-year college degree. But the survey quotes census data showing only one-third of Californians have a college diploma.

Also, 96 percent of those polled said if they worked hard they could achieve their goals. That’s the American dream.

Despite high housing costs and market instability, 95 percent of the respondents said they expected to own homes, and almost 75 percent said they’d have a higher standard of living than their parents.

Respondents ranked family breakdown and violence as the most pressing issues of their generation. Poverty was third and global warming fourth. Presidential candidates need to note these concerns if they want young people’s votes.

African-American and Latino youths said violence in their neighborhoods was their No. 1 concern while white and Asian youths put the family breakdown at the top. Among the groups, a third of the respondents cited school and money for college as their top source of personal stress. Tuition keeps rising, and government keeps pushing more of the costs back on students.”