Should the US lower the voting age to 16?

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

**** even if they did lower it how many of them would actually put down the X-BOX controllers, get up off the couch, and get out and vote?

By the time this law ever got passed, we'll be voting by internet.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

I used my powers to correct vergiss's gender on your thing, I hope you don't mind.
Anywho, I think you give too little credit to 16 year olds. I was 16 fairly recently (alright, a quarter of my life ago, but still, closer than most). In my experience 16 year olds had about the same amount per capita of informed people as the general public. I mean, yeah, of course a lot of sixteen year olds who are immature, but we have plenty of adults who haven't figured out that things are more complex than black and white, and they're still allowed to vote.
If we're going to hold maturity as the standard to allow voting, then I'd have to say there would've been a lot fewer votes cast in the last election.

I was twelve when the Watergate events unfolded. I didn't pay much attention, but there were at least three or four classmates in social studies (this is the seventh grade) who could name the names and explain what they did. I don't know that they could explain Brown vs Board of Education, but they had an interest in Watergate.

But they were definitely the exception. Most of us were paying far more attention to the early-bloomin' girls.

 

[Conflict]

I had a dream that one day liberals and conservatives will climb that mountain top together and when women will no longer be judged by their political ideologies but by the content of their braws.

I can deal with a different political standpoint if the content of their bra is generous. No shame. :mrgreen:

 

[Conflict]

I think no. I actually think the voting age should be increased to 35. This is because people must have time to mature and gain life experience before they should be able to partake in the msot important election in the US. People 35 and over have had families and have gotten a good education in most cases, and would make the most educated vote.

Another idea of mine is that you must have a certain IQ in order to be able to vote, or perhaps you must be informed about the world today. Maybe take a test to gain eligibility...

Right. And while we're at it let's just burn the constitution and the American flag.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

Right. And while we're at it let's just burn the constitution and the American flag.

Isn't that response a little over the top? Some Guy was merely saying that life's experiences are essential in a good voter.

I set the limit at 30, myself. At 18, I had a highschool diploma and stock-boy's job in a grocery store. At 30, I had an honorable discharge from the Navy, practical experience running a nuclear reactor, suvived a submarine collision at sea, had a hell of a lot of fun in the Philipines, collected an ex-wife and some ex-girl friends, an paid my own way though college for an engineering degree, some wonderful hangovers, stuck a knife in one guy in self-defense and practically strangled another for his assault on my girl friend, wrecked a few cars, and moved to a completely different state.

Life's experiences count tremendously. And voting is a responsibility too dangerous to give to just anyone.

 

[Stace]

I can deal with a different political standpoint if the content of their bra is generous. No shame. :mrgreen:

Oh, you're funny. But I guess I'm good to go on that one, anyway. :2razz:

Anyhow, as to the topic at hand, when I was 16, I probably could have handled voting. Especially if we're going by the point that a lot of people are bringing up about paying taxes....but I also understand that at 16, even with things I had been through, I didn't have quite enough life experience.

However, at 18....I knew more. Yeah, a whole two years made me that much wiser :mrgreen: But I understood more about responsibility...I had a job, I had a fiance, we had an apartment and bills and all that jazz. Unfortunately, I missed being able to vote in the 2000 election by a few months (didn't actually hit 18 till 2001, though I had the job/fiance/apartment/bills before then), so I was able to gain even more life experience, and common sense, in time for the 2004 election.

Basically....I think 18 is a good age, though....we have to be 21 to drink, and drinking doesn't require much intelligence, so maybe we should actually raise the voting age and lower the drinking age :lol:

 

[Conflict]

Isn't that response a little over the top? Some Guy was merely saying that life's experiences are essential in a good voter.

I set the limit at 30, myself. At 18, I had a highschool diploma and stock-boy's job in a grocery store. At 30, I had an honorable discharge from the Navy, practical experience running a nuclear reactor, suvived a submarine collision at sea, had a hell of a lot of fun in the Philipines, collected an ex-wife and some ex-girl friends, an paid my own way though college for an engineering degree, some wonderful hangovers, stuck a knife in one guy in self-defense and practically strangled another for his assault on my girl friend, wrecked a few cars, and moved to a completely different state.

Life's experiences count tremendously. And voting is a responsibility too dangerous to give to just anyone.

You're claiming that I'm over the top?

Wow.

Voting is a virtue of democracy. It's that simple. I don't think we should lower the voting age to 16.... but I think that if you can choose to kill yourself by smoking at age 18... or if you can choose to enter the realm of "grown up" socializing at age 21... then by god you should be able to speak your mind about who should or should not execute the will of your country. Myself I am just past my mid twenties. Let's just say that I have experienced a greater scale than yourself. No ego involved. If you have any questions or wish to test my knowledge in regards to science, life, liberty, justice, or morality... you go right ahead.

 

[doughgirl]

"1. Youth suffer under a double standard of having adult responsibilities but not rights"

I can see this one as valid....somewhat.

"2. Youth pay taxes, live under our laws, they should have the vote"

This one too.

3. Politicians will represent their interests if youth can vote

Heck they don't really represent ours let alone would they represent theirs. And why shouldnt they represent their interests now?

"4. Youth have a unique perspective, they'll never have those experiences again"

Well they certainly have unique perspectives I will grant you that. What does "they'll never have those experiences again" have to do with anything? I'll never some experineces again either and I am an adult.

"5. 16 is a better age to introduce voting than 18; 16 year olds are stationary"

And so? Most families are stationary, as are senior citizens........

"6. Lowering the Voting Age will increase voter turnout"

You think so? I do not. Then you'd have to let them out of high school early (voting starts early).......another missed day of education.

"7. If we let stupid adults vote, why not let smart youth vote?"

Are there more stupid adults or smart children? lol


"8. Youth will vote well"

Oh please....what is "well"

"9. There are no wrong votes'

If there are no wrong votes than why are we voting in the first place? If there are no wrong votes, then why debate the issues...no one would care what the results would be.

"10. Lowering the voting age will provide an intrinsic benefit to the lives of youth"

What will it do? And how will it enhance those who are adults?

I do not think so. If they can vote than look at the things they would legalize.
What if there were a drug issue on the ballot? Think they would turn this one down regardless of what it is? ha ha
How could they vote on things that they can't even legally do?

Shoot.. many at 16 are just getting their drivers licenses. They can't drink until 21, they cant even get a rental car.........

If you give them the vote at 16, then make them adults across the board.

I am NOT FOR THAT ONE.

 

[vergiss]

Isn't that response a little over the top? Some Guy was merely saying that life's experiences are essential in a good voter.

I set the limit at 30, myself. At 18, I had a highschool diploma and stock-boy's job in a grocery store. At 30, I had an honorable discharge from the Navy, practical experience running a nuclear reactor, suvived a submarine collision at sea, had a hell of a lot of fun in the Philipines, collected an ex-wife and some ex-girl friends, an paid my own way though college for an engineering degree, some wonderful hangovers, stuck a knife in one guy in self-defense and practically strangled another for his assault on my girl friend, wrecked a few cars, and moved to a completely different state.

Life's experiences count tremendously. And voting is a responsibility too dangerous to give to just anyone.

That being said, you can definitely be young and have had much more life experience than someone twice your age.

 

[goligoth]

I am 16 and I voted no. While the point about no taxation without representation thing is interesting I know for a fact that other people my age are in no way in the right mentality to vote. Most people my age believe that if a sentence is more than four words long then it obviously isn't worth saying. People who pay double the price for jeans that are already ripped shouldn't be allowed to vote!!!!

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

You're claiming that I'm over the top?

Wow.

Voting is a virtue of democracy. It's that simple. I don't think we should lower the voting age to 16.... but I think that if you can choose to kill yourself by smoking at age 18... or if you can choose to enter the realm of "grown up" socializing at age 21... then by god you should be able to speak your mind about who should or should not execute the will of your country. Myself I am just past my mid twenties. Let's just say that I have experienced a greater scale than yourself. No ego involved. If you have any questions or wish to test my knowledge in regards to science, life, liberty, justice, or morality... you go right ahead.

You'll understand your lack of understanding when you're older.

BTW, we're in a republic, not a democracy. If we want to remain a republic, we need to stifle those democratic urges.

 

[vergiss]

You'll understand your lack of understanding when you're older.

Unless you're being sarcastic... what the hell, you serious?! He's in his late twenties. Don't talk to him like a 13-year-old just because you're feeling defeated.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

Unless you're being sarcastic... what the hell, you serious?! He's in his late twenties. Don't talk to him like a 13-year-old just because you're feeling defeated.

Oh. Then he doesn't have long to wait until he's thirty.

You say he's a big boy. Let him fight his own battles, then.:roll:

You would do better if you addressed the bottom half of my post.

 

[vergiss]

Oh. Then he doesn't have long to wait until he's thirty.

You say he's a big boy. Let him fight his own battles, then.:roll:

You would do better if you addressed the bottom half of my post.

Aww, feeling kinda embarrassed now?

Well, that part's addressed to him.

 

[Caine]

I am 16 and I voted no. While the point about no taxation without representation thing is interesting I know for a fact that other people my age are in no way in the right mentality to vote. Most people my age believe that if a sentence is more than four words long then it obviously isn't worth saying. People who pay double the price for jeans that are already ripped shouldn't be allowed to vote!!!!

Hey.. ive done this before...Should I not be allowed to vote?

 

[Willravel]

If kids can be charged as adults in the US, then we should probably give them the right to vote. If people don't want kids to vote, then maybe we should charge them as they are: minors.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

If kids can be charged as adults in the US, then we should probably give them the right to vote. If people don't want kids to vote, then maybe we should charge them as they are: minors.

So, what you're saying is that because some kids can commit crimes so horrendou as to warrant treating them as responsible adults for that crime, we should give them the power to mess up the entire country.

Makes sense to me.:roll:

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

That being said, you can definitely be young and have had much more life experience than someone twice your age.

Oh. How many sixteen years olds do you think have had the safety of 130 men and a billion dollar submarine in their hands?

If a 16 year old is present in the delivery room for the birth of his third kid, has he been acting responsibly?

 

[vergiss]

Oh. How many sixteen years olds do you think have had the safety of 130 men and a billion dollar submarine in their hands?

How many 40 year olds have had the safety of 130 men and a billion dollar submarine in their hands?!

If a 16 year old is present in the delivery room for the birth of his third kid, has he been acting responsibly?

What the hell? Since when does life experience equal trailer trash?

I was thinking about all the kids I know who've had an addict parent(s), or been a carer for a family member, or been in foster families or fought hard for an education. They've all come out strong people and just as, if not more experienced than some 32-year-old accountant who went to a private school and had a comfortable, uneventful upper-middle class life.

 

[Caine]

So, what you're saying is that because some kids can commit crimes so horrendou as to warrant treating them as responsible adults for that crime, we should give them the power to mess up the entire country.

Makes sense to me.:roll:

Yes, it does make sense to me.
Its a double standard to tax minors and try them as adults, but turn around and not give them the same rights and privileges as the adults that they mimic.

Let see, they can.....Drive,Work,Pay Taxes,Be Tried as Adults, etc. Yet they cannot vote.

Doesn't make sense to me.

At least if we can't give them the right to vote, we should stop taxing them and stop trying them as adults. (Most of the time people under 18 get every dime they paid in taxes back as a tax return in April anyways).

 

[Stace]

Yes, it does make sense to me.
Its a double standard to tax minors and try them as adults, but turn around and not give them the same rights and privileges as the adults that they mimic.

Let see, they can.....Drive,Work,Pay Taxes,Be Tried as Adults, etc. Yet they cannot vote.

Doesn't make sense to me.

At least if we can't give them the right to vote, we should stop taxing them and stop trying them as adults. (Most of the time people under 18 get every dime they paid in taxes back as a tax return in April anyways).

Well, gee, if we let them vote, does that mean we should lower the legal smoking and drinking ages as well? I mean, heck, they do it anyway, so why not make it legal, right?

 

[Caine]

Well, gee, if we let them vote, does that mean we should lower the legal smoking and drinking ages as well? I mean, heck, they do it anyway, so why not make it legal, right?

Nope.
If you notice the legal drinking age is higher than the legal voting age.
So this argument is moot.

Also, the legal purchase ages are 18 and 21. A 16 year old can still drink at any age.
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html

The age for legal purchase of alcohol is set to restrict drinking of "underage" persons due to reponsibility issues.
You CAN be responsible enough to vote but not drink.

 

[Stace]

Nope.
If you notice the legal drinking age is higher than the legal voting age.
So this argument is moot.

Also, the legal purchase ages are 18 and 21. A 16 year old can still drink at any age.
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html

The age for legal purchase of alcohol is set to restrict drinking of "underage" persons due to reponsibility issues.
You CAN be responsible enough to vote but not drink.

We all know that underage smoking and drinking happens. Yes, you can be responsible enough to vote at 16. But "responsibility" isn't the issue....because I can think of a few people that are of age to vote, but aren't "responsible" enough for it.

If we allow 16 year olds to vote, the issue of lowering the smoking and drinking ages is bound to follow. Those 16 year olds will argue that if we consider them old enough/responsible enough to vote, then they should be able to partake in those "adult" activities legally as well.

 

[Caine]

We all know that underage smoking and drinking happens. Yes, you can be responsible enough to vote at 16. But "responsibility" isn't the issue....because I can think of a few people that are of age to vote, but aren't "responsible" enough for it.

If we allow 16 year olds to vote, the issue of lowering the smoking and drinking ages is bound to follow. Those 16 year olds will argue that if we consider them old enough/responsible enough to vote, then they should be able to partake in those "adult" activities legally as well.

Just because they argue it, that does not mean that they will get it, or it will even ben considered.

Voting is considered a "Right"
Being able to Puchase Alcohol is not a "RIGHT" but a " privilege"

 

[goligoth]

16 year olds are obviously not old enough to vote but since they can't vote they shouldn't be taxed! I say this only because I am sixteen and I enjoy keeping the majority of my paycheck... well that and I wouldn't consider anyone who is sixteen old enough to vote...it would screw our government! Political parties would be sending out ads trying to make themseleves look cool and hip to get the teen vote rather than doing important stuff...

I also went and did a poll of my friends at high school about this. 23-no, 3-yes, 1-don't care, 1-on some issues one person polled was above the age of 18 everyone else was either 16 or 17. most of the people who said no said no because they believed that despite the fact that they thought they were in the right mind to vote, everyone else wasn't...