Faith in youth

Gerry Hassan (Perspective, 20 August) provokes us to think again about the need for a new politics.

Two decades ago, the French writer Michel Houellebecq wisely said the post-war generations “believed in progress, the consumer society, sexual happiness and were naive and wrong”.

I agree. We have been seduced by the media to seek pleasures, money and status which, in excess, do not lead to happiness but to a nation worshipping the market with its individualism and selfishness, typically encouraged by politicians like Peter Mandelson saying: “There is nothing wrong with being filthy rich.”

Oh yes there is! It is taking the world to the edge of the cliff as we lose our moral codes and social cohesion. My conclusion, which may sound bizarre after the riots, is that our only hope lies in the present under-30s.

They are quite rightly cynical and non-voting but we have got to spend much more time, energy, money and resources to involve them now at all levels of policy making.

Ray Newton

Buckstone Way

Edinburgh