Dear John,
Wow – a lot of you had a lot of questions about the Generation Screwed student organization.
And here are some answers for you.
What does Generation Screwed actually do?
Great question – let’s break that down with some background and then the nuts-and-bolts practical stuff.
Generation Screwed is the youth organization for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Students at universities across Canada join Generation Screwed campus clubs. They’re fighting runaway government spending and debts that they’ll have to pay off.
So what does Generation Screwed actually do?
It starts with tabling.
Student volunteers, we call them coordinators, set up tables in common areas on campus. They spend about eight hours talking to their fellow students and handing out materials like stickers to put on laptops. So many students are getting on board that we needed to bump up the budget for materials to hand out.
Here’s the best part: they sign up students for Generation Screwed campus events.
Generation Screwed just held an event with dozens of students at the University of Calgary. The CTF’s Alberta Director, Kris Sims, came out to answer questions about the dangers of raising taxes. She answered a lot of good questions.
Generation Screwed is organizing events like that across Canada.
Then there’s the annual training weekend in the summer. The leaders get together from across Canada to plan campus campaigns. And CTF directors do training sessions about everything from access to information requests to crafting social media campaigns.
In fact, our former Quebec Director, Renaud Brossard, was a Generation Screwed coordinator. He did hundreds of media interviews for the CTF. Where did he get his media training? Generation Screwed.
Why is the organization called Generation Screwed?
It’s an edgy name. And with any edgy name, some people really like it and some don’t.
Students picked the name because government debt is a HUGE problem and you shouldn’t sugar coat it. Just the interest charges on the federal debts costs $30 billion a year. The name Generation Screwed makes the magnitude of the problem crystal clear.
Why should I pay off the student loans for these people?
You shouldn’t and they’re not asking you to.
Generation Screwed is fighting back against government debt, not student debt.
So, to be clear, these students aren’t asking for help on their student loans.
Why don’t these students stop whining and take responsibility and get a job like we did?
Listen, who of us hasn’t made a crack about the kids these days?
But Generation Screwed students are all about action, not complaining.
They’re volunteering their time. These students already have jobs and homework to do, but they still make time to help us out on campus.
They’re warning their classmates about government debt. They’re learning how to file access to information requests to hold politicians accountable. They’re even taking media training to learn how to make their points persuasively.
Let’s face it, if more of us were doing this kind of volunteer work back in school, Canada would be in better shape today.
Are these the “idiots” calling for a home equity tax?
Nope, but the confusion is understandable.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation started Generation Screwed in 2013.
In 2014, a professor at the University of British Columbia started an organization called Generation Squeeze to advocate for young people. It’s pushing for a home equity tax. We’ve had fun pushing back hard against that bad idea.
To be crystal clear: our Generation Screwed campus clubs definitely aren’t pushing for a home equity tax.
How do I join Generation Screwed?
This is our favourite question.
Just click on this link: https://generationscrewed.ca/join-movement/
Or email [email protected] to get connected to the club at your university.
What about all of these other policy issues I’m wondering about?
A lot of you asked about different policies and issues. We’re responding to as many as possible. In the meantime, check out Taxpayer.com and our YouTube channel for the real scoop on a lot of these issues.
Hopefully this answers your questions and brightens your day – these students are great and they’re going to make Canada a better place.
Thanks for stepping up to support the next generation of taxpayers – it’s making a difference!
- Gage, Todd, Shannon and all of the CTF staff
PS: If you would like to chip in to support these students, here’s the link to the secure donation site: https://www.taxpayer.com/campaigns/lasting-change-depends-on-young-people-
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