Our youth's take on politics

Of all our youth between the ages of 20 to 24 , only 27% are studying a higher education and not all will conclude it successfully. Of this same demographic group, close to 50% decided not to continue studying and all are employed yet 60% of them have an informal job. Of those aged 18 to 24, almost one-fourth of them doesn't study or work.

The situation isn't easy for these groups. Those who finish a college education have few well-paid job offers and almost zero benefits. Those who drop out of school to find a job realize their earnings are barely enough to meet their basic needs. For those who neither study or work, the situation is much direr: the doors to education and work are closed to them and the shadow of organized crime looms over them, always eager to recruit.

The situation of Mexico's youth is lackluster. Overall, they are disenchanted with governments at all levels.

How little interest they have in politicians has been proved. In April, EL UNIVERSAL made a survey with 30 young people who have made outstanding achievements in their respective fields and the scale they used to measure politicians was harsh, as they see nothing but corruption and selfish interests.

Now this newspaper brings to you a survey made by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in which 500 of their alumni – not only from Mexico City but across their campuses in 25 states – shared their points of view and the results aren't all that different from the ones reported by EL UNIVERSAL. For 90% of college students, Mexican politicians are dishonest and that same 90 % claims that their opinions and needs aren't taken into account by any government during decision-making processes. Although this survey focuses only on a public university, it's easy to imagine the rest of the country and in other universities, the numbers are quite similar.

The substantial attendance of students to the few meetings presidential candidates held in universities, it's viable to say their disapproval of politicians isn't a rejection towards the participation of our youth in democracy. However, that a fourth of Mexico's population has such a negative opinion of politicians should cause an almost immediate change in them.

Because if we saw anything from the campaigns, which end today, is that our youth wasn't a priority. Politicians don't seem to be listening to their population. Maybe this is the cause behind their disapproval. This is the level of Mexico's political class.

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