Boston University Professor Laurence Kotlikoff said he would reach out to young voters in the presidential election if he becomes the Americans Elect candidate this spring.
“Wherever we go, heaven or hell it’s our kids that we’re leaving behind,” he said. “I really am the kids’ candidate and that’s what I’m counting on, people like you to get the word out and get those support clicks.”
Kotlikoff, who teaches economics, said a generational problem has affected the economy. While programs such as Social Security and Medicare protect older populations, they are projected to have financial repercussions in the next decade.
“We have a basic savings plan that nobody can understand, that is under cover of all these provisions, slowly but surely screwing younger people,” Kotlikoff said. “[Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid] leave the elderly completely unaffected and put the entire burden on people under 50, which is unfair.”
To fix that problem, Kotlikoff has his own plan. Under his proposal, about 8 percent of each worker’s pay goes to that person’s account. The dividend is split evenly between spouses or legal partners to account for significant others who take care of kids at home. The government also contributes to the accounts of the poor who work.
While the federal government places the money into a pool, workers receive retirement funds based on how much they make individually throughout their careers.
“Your account would never be less than what you put in,” Kotlikoff said.
Kotlikoff said he would freeze the old system to prevent its expansion, covering current retirees and employees while phasing in the new one.
BU students said they care about the economic issues that have gained attention in the campaigns.
Peter Johnson, a freshman in College of Communication, said he wants a president that can deal with the debt.
“[I look for] a lot of things [when choosing a president],” Johnson said. “Just someone who I know I can trust in the position, whether its foreign policy or making the right cuts but not slashing important programs.”
While the candidate’s major platforms are fiscal reforms in order to help curb future problems, some students aren’t sure that will be enough to garner youth support.
“I don’t think it’s an immediate issue for a lot of people, especially the youth,” said Conor Gillies, a College of Arts and Sciences junior. “Things like healthcare and education are issues that would be more immediate than to clear the books of sovereign debt.”
Gillies, however, said the country focuses too much on the deficit when the country should be addressing issues that may yield negative repercussions sooner.
“I don’t think [fiscal policies] are immediate issues facing us in the worst recession since the depression,” he said.
While a major part of Kotlikoff’s campaign involves fiscal policy, his platform includes other social and political issues as well. He supports Roe v. Wade and aims to find a middle ground for Americans in the immigration and healthcare reform.
“There are five Nobel Laureates winners in economics who endorse [my] health plan,” he said. “You don’t get five Nobel Prize winners in economics to endorse anything.”
However, his fiscal policies, including tax reforms, healthcare reform and social security are the major parts of his candidacy.
“I think money matters to youth a lot more now than it used to [with] the job market and kids trying get out of college and paying loans,” said CAS sophomore Allegra Barnes.
While Barnes noted the economy’s relevance to young voters, she said it might not be enough to mobilize the youth vote.
“That’s a tougher question, it’s debatable,” she said. “Probably ‘enough’ is debatable, I would guess probably not.”
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