Camp, did you know that there are classes in ‘Adulting 101’ in the US. Apparently, a large swath of the population is absolutely clueless about adult life skills.’

            ‘Doesn’t surprise me. Look who they vote for.’

            ‘Across the country community colleges, libraries and civic centres are offering adulting classes, teaching basic life skills like threading a needle and mending a shirt or changing a tire as well as financial literary skills. Turns out that many grown-ups can barely read and are unable to follow instruction manuals, be it for vacuum cleaners or even such exalted skills like filling out tax forms.’

            ‘How do you expect people who cannot follow an IKEA instruction manual to vote for progressive policies that will favour them. Apparently, many recent high-school grads are surprised by the ‘unexpected trial of early adulthood’. These grads cannot fill out a job application, compose a CV or figure out a budget for their cost of living.’

            ‘Clueless, that’s what they are and some of the blame goes to the overworked and underpaid parents and to the educational institutions and their unenforced curriculums. If you don’t learn it, you don’t know it. Simple as all that.’

            ‘Doesn’t look good for your future customers at the book store,’ I said.

            Camp just shook his head. ‘Thank god for the readers which more often than not come from the senior and female population. Not too many GenZ-ers.’

            ‘Football, social media, pizza and porn doesn’t require a college education. This same group of people are also those who feel left out, underprivileged and under represented by the mainstream media and politicians. They are usually stuck in lower income brackets, meaning they have debts, live from paycheck to paycheck and cannot see a way out of their trapped situation.’     

            ‘Therefore, they listen to demagogues who promise salvation and retribution, revenge and release and consequently they vote – if they vote – for the ones who profess to know who is to blame for their shortcomings.’

            ‘Blame the others. We know the usual culprits. Take your pick. Jews, Muslims, Immigrants, Foreigners and the Democrats, maybe not in that order.’

            We both looked out at the tranquil harbour and the blue sky reflected in the water. Spring is definitely happening and when the weather is like this, there is no better place to be. Just as long as you have a place to live and an income of sorts.’

            ‘Advance voting for the federal election begins this weekend. More than half the electorate will vote in advance polls. This election will all be about who is best equipped to deal with Trump and international connections.’

            ‘But will it make a difference to you and me Camp?’

            ‘Newsflash: It’s not about you and me, it’s about everybody and their future.’

            ‘Will the young, the twenty-something, go out and vote. Let’s ask Vicky.’

            ‘Yes, I will vote this time because I think it’s important that we all stick together against the bullies and not elect a mini-Trump.’