As society already knows, the older age group have the majority amount of votes when it comes to the electoral voting period in the month of November.
Yet, why is it that us middle aged individuals are at the bottom of the pole? We are so lazy and focused on our involvement in our own social lives that we simply just say " I dont care" .But in order for people to listen to us, for the government to believe that our opinion should be heard, we need to increase our votes.
We have such a low amount of votes that the electoral commison was even trying to consider cutting down the age to vote, to see if it might increase the amount of middle age individuals voting percentage.
Many people disagreed with them trying to pass the new law for letting 16 year olds vote. But others, thought that is was a good idea, letting the younger get involved with politics. Although, some even thought that they should increase the voting age instead of reducing it.
I believe that 18 years of age is a good way to keep the voting age because some of the youth know nothing about politics, and some 18 year olds don't even know that much themselves. Although, some 16 year olds may be respinsible and could teach a lot of older people a lot of things with there sense of fresh ideas, however there is that other half of 16 year olds who are immature and still have trouble decideing there left from right. So its better to leave the voting age the way it is, why let younger individuals get involved in the voting tactic just to increase the middle age population of votes?
No. Your blog proves this point. 16 year old's are not smart enough yet; rather, they are not politically aware yet. Some are, most aren't. Just by reading the title of your blog, I have come to the conclusion that you shouldn't be able to vote either. I don't think you're quite literate enough. It's funny that 16 year olds have to make a lot of noise to be able to vote though.
I thought that first comment was kind of harsh-but then I reread what your article said, and I agree.
I agreed from the start-that 16 is to young to vote. Most 16 year olds know absolutly nothing about politics, and most 16 year olds care about nothing except their friends and socializing.
They also are influenced to easily. They wouldn't research and learn about candidates or issues, they would just choose one based on what their friends say, or other sources that aren't always reliable. 16 is not a responsible enough age for anyone to vote.
:)
You said "most 16 year olds know nothing" - couldn't there be a way to let those few 16 year olds that do know something a chance? Perhaps a test, similar to a license?
I think it might work. And the more I think about it, the more I think it will. There could be a test available to 16 year olds (must be 16 at the time of said testing, not turning 16 after the fact) that could give those 16 year olds the privilege of voting. The test could be on political issues, current events, and even on the make-up of the elections (how they are carried out, etc.) At 18 this privilege becomes a right - so those that did not take the test or did not pass the test get to vote anyway. But since we adults are making many of the decisions that are going to be affecting the lives of the youth - I think we should find a way for the youth to be heard.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
That is definatly a good idea.
It just seems like a lot of work, when it would only be 2 more years until they could vote anyway.
Most 16 year Olds are complete dumbasses, and do not know whats going on in the political world!
I am 17 and I have subscriptions to TIME, Newsweek, and Nat. Geo. My favorite channel is CNN. Plenty of teenagers are politically unaware, but not all. Many adults are just as clueless as 16 yr olds. We are not all "dumbasses" we have political knowledge. Everyday in school we discuss important social issues. They affect us too. -Candie
I agree that some teenagers aren't complete dumbasses, but we don't want ALL 16-yr-olds to be voting. And yes, many adults are just as clueless and keep making these questionable decisions! I say we design a test that'll let only certain people vote.
**Save English as a first language, yo.
Do I want to watch another Adam Sandler movie?
**Save English as a first language, yo.
The concept of interest in topics does not validate the competence to reasonably participate in those political acts. I cannot accept the veracity of a sixteen or seventeen year-old's vote. I cannot accept the veracity of even some eighteen year-old's vote. The lack of maturity simply hinders their ability to reasonably and thoughtfully elect decent candidates. Subscriptions to various magazines does not give children the necessary comprehension needed to make good political decisions. It is bad enough that we let them drive cars and talk on cell-phones at the same time. I don't want to see "Joe Shmoe" in office because he supports chewing-gum factory workers or tattoo parlors. The label "dumbass" may not be entirely incorrect or unwarranted here.
I wasn't saying the subscriptions give me the intellect, I merely think I am more competent in political matters then most adults I know. I agree most of my age group is clueless but a lot are affected and interested in laws. The minimum wage was widely discussed this past election by students in my school who work. Every Senior in my state has to take a government class, every year kids grow up faster. I'm not saying I particularily want us to vote just realise adult thought doesn't happen the day you turn 18. -Candie
Why not give 16 year olds a form of provisional status? The state registration commitee could offer a test, akin to the GMAT for graduate students. Scoring a 90% or higher would mean a 16 or 17 year old could apply to vote. The test could be a type of competency exam (hey, why not make eveyone take that, we might end up with less idiots in office!) in which the person being examined would need to show proficiency in US history, political history, issues history, current events, political party platforms, how the electoral process works, ect.
Reading liberal propaganda does not make you informed, rather it makes you brainwashed.
"Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil."-C.S. Lewis
A very well-placed quote, Ransom, my friend.
CandieG, please do not take umbrage at my previous words, I meant no offence. Always learn, continue to learn, learning is everything, but HUMILITY can be an even greater character-builder. You can never be intelligent enough... you can always learn more, dear girl. Remember:
"The more I learn, the more I realize how truly little I know."
When I was sixteen, I think I was politically aware enough to make an educated decision voting-wise. However, most of my classmates weren't and I wouldn't want to doom the country that way. Then again, how many adults are really politically aware? If I remember correctly, quite a high percentage of voters base their votes on appearances, or a single issue. Sixteen year olds could possibly be more aware than that if they're taking government classes in school. If it was made mandatory to take a government class all four years of high school I would say sixteen year olds should be able to vote. Otherwise, we'd really just be sending more people off to vote blindly.