X, Y, Z: Clode's Right Political Dictionary
“Youth Issues” Youth Issues are a set of public policy matters which are of foremost interest or relevance to young voters. For example, in a particular country, political parties may appeal to the youth vote by releasing policies on youth suicide, access to education, and apprenticeships. The age brackets for distinct “youth” voting patterns are not necessarily consistent between countries, for example the age range of 18 to 24 is only relevant in countries where citizens first qualify to vote at age 18. In some elections, age may not be a distinct predictor of different voting behaviour, however politicians often assume that certain issues are of enduring relevance to the younger generation.
“Zeitgeist” This is German for “the spirit of the times”. An impulsive spirit for hasty change will often be resisted by political conservatives. In the political context, radicals usually champion the spirited cause of a loud minority, whereas conservatives usually represent a silent majority, content with established traditions and cautious of rash upheavals with uncertain consequences. The “zeitgeist” may be noisy, euphoric or truculent, but its brashness does not mean that it commands majority support.