Idk what world you're living in, but how about you stay there. It's no secret that younger people tend vote democratic so any effort to raise the voting age is (yet another) attempt to disenfranchise the democratic vote.
Ignorance is clearly not limited to the youth. We all live in the same country, under the same government as equals. We are all directly effected by the law and therefore we have the right to voice our opinion in the form of a vote.
Tarheel: The argument you use really has no basis in logic. By your understanding we should let not only 18 yr olds vote, but 16, or even children. After all we're all governed as equals right? Nonetheless y'all are missing the point,
a 18 yr old isn't even psychologically mature yet: the human brain does not finish maturing until the mid-20s. this is why, even though you can drink in pubs or legally engage in sexual intercourse in your mid to late teens, or kill for your country
, no one will lend you a car – without huge insurance costs – before you hit 25. Young adults are not fully mature, and are far more likely to make less than wise decisions. www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=141164708
No, that's just because younger people typically have less driving experience and are thus more likely to get in accidents and the rental companies don't want to deal with higher insurance. It's ridiculous, though.
They should do away with the draft and have an all volunteer army. It is pure sexism to only require males to sign up for the draft. Why aren't the liberals demanding equality?
In 1981, the Supreme Court upheld the male-only draft because "women are excluded from combat." Now, women are permitted to serve in combat roles, so I guess this is going to change.
I would allow for leniency on the ages, 18 or 21, but I feel it is wildly hypocritical for the govt to proclaim that a young man or woman is old enough to make a uniformed decision that could result in his/her death, but not a...
That's true but we cannot prevent those 40 year olds from voting. It's not like we can ask them to take a test before voting. I think there are too many who will throw out an opinion without having considered the subject. Look at how many think ...
@bmycomrade: yes there are outliers in each group, but a 18 year old is far more likely to be ignorant of many political issues than someone who's had to deal with them their whole adult life.
I went to school in Europe and I wouldn't exactly call it successful. A lot of people go through an education and still end up with no job because there's no job in that field.
You end up with a starved system because the tax payers are not ready ...
@rightway, then we need to stop considering them adults in other arenas. If they aren't mature enough to cast a vote, then they aren't mature enough to make far more powerful life decisions like marriage or the military. I teach, I trust them to vote
@bmycomrade: oh I agree! 18 yr olds shouldn't get to decide many decisions they do now, but small personal things, like marriage, that don't affect the rest of us shouldn't be a problem. www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=141164708
If marriage is a small personal thing, why did DOMA even exist??? I disagree that "full maturity" of the brain should affect how we treat them. It's disenfranchisement and makes mental state a prerequisite for voting, which sets precedent to
I would have to say I agree more with Arkansas idea:
16 -- driving age
18 -- contract age & age of consent
19 -- drinking age
21 -- marriage age & military age
25 -- voting age
I think if they can sign a contract (which btw is all that marriage is legally) or join the military it is straight up disenfranchisement to not allow them a vote. If the decisions of politicians can send them to war, they ought have a say by voting
DOMA is a different thing entirely dealing with gay marriage If two hetero 18 yr olds get married it won't affect the rest of us. And by your mentally deficient argument children should vote but we know they aren't fully mature yet.
Sorry I got the comments a bit out of order :p anyway children and teens have decisions made for them by parents and politicians all the time and they have no say in them.
Not by my argument no. They are not allowed other responsibilities that 18 year olds are.
And how does two homosexual people wanting to be married affect the rest of us?
Of course they are, they are more than twice in age! That doesn't mean that we shouldn't allow an 18 year old a vote. And really 'competent in what' is the real question. What makes you competent to vote? Should we judge that at all? It's a right.
What does it matter if voting is a right? People think marriage is a right, yet we do not allow 12-year-olds to marry. Creating legal distinctions based on age is an accepted and acceptable practice.
A distinction is important, but it should logically match with other legal distinctions of similar weight. Marriage, military, ie legal adulthood. If our legal system views them capable of those, then a vote should follow suit. Or change all the ages
So what? The law affects 8-year-olds just as much as it affects 80-year-olds. Neither 8-year-olds nor 80-year-olds have jobs. Education concerns the former, pensions concern the latter, and both groups make frequent visits to the doctor.
The 8 year old is dependent on its parents for everything, so it is fair that the parents will vote in their interests. An 18 year old is more independent, if not completely. They can work, live on their own, pay taxes, get married,
You would let them make a decision that could cost them their life at 18 but not a decision on a vote at the same. Your argument is invalid. Talk about a double standard.
It's weird. It's like either make everything 21 or make everything 18 to be an adult. You're old enough to vote and die for your country but you can't drink? I kinda think maybe it should be 21 for everything?
I think having different ages is better. By 18, a person needs to be able to drive and to sign contracts and consent forms since he'll be away from his parents at college. However, voting is so important that the minimum age should be older.
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