Should the voting age be lowered in the USA to 16 all comments welcome but it would be nice to see a definate yes or no so later i can tally votes. THanks for your opinions!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please add age and country that would be great thanks again

No, Because there is no reason for them to vote, the majority aren't contributing to society, and most of the laws and regulations don't affect them. Also how many would actually vote, and not very many are mature enough to make a good decision based on the issues that are involved. Oh wait most of Americans aren't mature enough to make a decision based on the issues and philosophy of the persons involved.

I don't know about the USA, but if I'd live there i would definetly say NO.

 

 

 

I am 15 now, and though I know pretty much about politics and stuff, the rest of the people I know don't. A whole country would rely on the votes of un-developed people. i dont know if un-developed is the right word, but i think you get what i mean. they just don't really think clearly nor do most care. so I'd say no.

 

 

 

i think 18 is a nice age to vote 8)

No. I bet if you went up to a random 16 year old on the street and asked him/her about politics, 90% of the time you'd get a "who cares" or "I don't know".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 is fine. Our generation really needs some kind of motivation to vote. It's sad how few young people vote :?

ok re4buttles to all three of those posts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

first of all 16-17 year olds know more about politics than adults, mostly because of the classes required at the high school level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

secondly young adults do contribute to society especially in taxes, is it not true that most 16-17 year olds work and pay taxes and because they have no vote they cant decide how the taxes should be spent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

third is that even if most youth dont vote, not adults vote either so there is no reason to exclude an entire group of people for a perception of lack of voting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

finally linking back to my first statement, itf youth dont care about politics then why did they score better on they survy than adults did in every catagory (i am trying to find the link to the survey atm)

I think the voting age should be 20. Even at 18, you are nto fully developed mentally and physically. And you won't be affected by too many things either, and won't contribute that much.

ah again a counterpoint i must point out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

an expert on civic and politcal development in teens said recently that "at 16 a person is entirly capable of making and informed ballot"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and also decisions made today in politics greatly effect teens, the budget and unemployment plans especially. Think about social security by the time people age 16-17 start to retire the government is going to have no money left to help people along. And unemployment, in 2-10 years most all of people age 16-17 will be looking for jobs, high tech jobs most likely, and if there are no plans to help create more of them, then there wont be any jobs to get

ok re4buttles to all three of those posts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

first of all 16-17 year olds know more about politics than adults, mostly because of the classes required at the high school level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

secondly young adults do contribute to society especially in taxes, is it not true that most 16-17 year olds work and pay taxes and because they have no vote they cant decide how the taxes should be spent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

third is that even if most youth dont vote, not adults vote either so there is no reason to exclude an entire group of people for a perception of lack of voting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

finally linking back to my first statement, itf youth dont care about politics then why did they score better on they survy than adults did in every catagory (i am trying to find the link to the survey atm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know what kind of classes your high school offered on politics, but I can guarentee you that it wasn't nearly enough information to keep you acutely aware of what is going on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16-17 kids hardly contribute anything to taxes overall, just think on average one of those kids makes at most 10k a year, that is barely any taxes overall. Those taxes wouldn't even come close to pay for how much their schooling cost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ummm.... Obviously adults vote, because who else would be voting if they didn't. What do you mean a "perception of lack of voting" I am not sure what you are trying to portray by that statement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surveys can be very misleading, if you have ever taken a class where you need to gather information, eg Statistics. You would realize that data results can be skewed easily. For example, if you went into a poly-sci class and asked a bunch of youth Political questions they would score pretty well, then you could compare that to a group of adults that you found on the street that wouldn't have the same knowledge base. You see unless the survey is covering every individual the results don't reflect a true nature of the people.

18 year olds vote just as much as adults in the US in the last presidential election the numbers were aroud 50% for both ages 18-21 and over 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what i mean by the perception is that one of your arguments is that teens wont vote you cant make a generalized statement about an entire group of people

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

taxes-youth pay very little in taxes. people 16-18 still pay taxes, is that not one of the founding beliefs on which the US was formed "no taxation without representation" and in essence that is all that this amounts to

I see your counter arguements, but give me one good reason why it should be changed to 16. As far as I can see, both in the U.S and U.K, 18 is fine.

18 year olds vote just as much as adults in the US in the last presidential election the numbers were aroud 50% for both ages 18-21 and over 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what i mean by the perception is that one of your arguments is that teens wont vote you cant make a generalized statement about an entire group of people

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

taxes-youth pay very little in taxes. people 16-18 still pay taxes, is that not one of the founding beliefs on which the US was formed "no taxation without representation" and in essence that is all that this amounts to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know where you are getting these numbers, but they aren't true.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes good point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But they are represented, most of those youth are still claimed by either a parent or guardian, who represents them. The only reason 18 year olds can vote is because they can be required to die for their country, so the same should be true for 16-17 year olds.

It wouldn't really matter much, I live in Kansas and not too many my age(17) or younger have much of an interest in voting. I don't really think I'm going to vote cause here lately its always between 2 morons who are too busy pointing out the other candidates mistakes to tell us what they are going to do about things.

Dunno about there, but here in canada it shoudl be put to 16. This is because in grade 10 we have a class specificly for politics (i just finnished the class, and we had a big assignment on the election), and we have already learned stuff about the gornement. Anyways, i bet it wouldnt make much of a diffrence as its already shown that even though adults are more mature, half of them dont even vote, so what makes you think even 1/4 of 16 year olds are gonan vote? Just open it up to more people.

first of all 16-17 year olds know more about politics than adults, mostly because of the classes required at the high school level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

finally linking back to my first statement, itf youth dont care about politics then why did they score better on they survy than adults did in every catagory (i am trying to find the link to the survey atm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It really depends on your sample.. if you take a sample of university level students, then yes, they'll probably know more about politics (since I've found that university students seem to be more involved in political causes). But if you took a more general sample, then you'll find that the interest in voting/politics is usually much lower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

if you didn't know, I am 18, and I believe that most of my peers either have no idea what's going on with or have no interest in politics, therefore do not vote. I have to push most of my friends to get them to vote (which is pathetic, if you think about it). I am their political news source, lol..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just because you take the class doesn't mean you're interested or you're learning anything, no?

It wouldn't really matter much, I live in Kansas and not too many my age(17) or younger have much of an interest in voting. I don't really think I'm going to vote cause here lately its always between 2 morons who are too busy pointing out the other candidates mistakes to tell us what they are going to do about things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only ones out here below 17 that want to vote are the left wing loonies :P

Wait a minute, you people are justifying the right to vote because you have classes in them? Gee wizz, I've been having lessons in Biology, should I become a doctor?

u better! or theres no point going to class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

voting age is fine at 18, imagin the campaign if you vote for me u can get a day of school! haa hes got my vote

Most kids have no idea what they are talking about.. So, a definate no from me. Oh and I'm 18 myself and that's the legal voting age over here.

Wait a minute, you people are justifying the right to vote because you have classes in them? Gee wizz, I've been having lessons in Biology, should I become a doctor?

If you take enough classes in biology, and get good enough, yes :wink:

 

 

 

Edit: to build on what i just said, i passes the class well,a nd understand most of the things about governemtn, and listened to all of the campaigne, yet i still cant just because of age. If i could of, i would of voted.

i like the arguments im getting from you guys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

another thing i have to say is about the politics class makes u informed about government not pushing you into it, just because you take the politics class doesnt mean you have to become a politician. It is there to inform you, just like the rest of school

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ok arguments for lowering the voting age:

 

 

 

1. youth pay taxes- not being able to vote ammounts to taxation without representation

 

 

 

2. The fact that there are political organizations run by young adults that advocate the lowering of the voting age proves that some if not all youth are interested in politics (organizations include ASFAR and Youth Rights oragnization)

 

 

 

3. At 16 you can get a drivers liscence and own a car- is voting more dangerous or difficult

 

 

 

4. Youth are consistantly treated as adults in court (i.e. a 14 year old boy, Nathaniel Brazill was charged with murder as an adult and sentence to 28 years in federal prison)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thats just a few check out the websites below to learn more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.asfar.org/voting/

 

 

 

http://www.youthrights.org

1. they pay hardly anything if anything, so dont go there and they can reclaime it!

 

 

 

2.bet they just want it for their cv, not going to be effective no one will care, anyone can start a organisation.

 

 

 

3.yes voting is more dangerous look at bush or just look at the amount of power they have. and 16 is to young to drive for sure!

 

 

 

4.only in rare cases usally they arnt able to be prosequeted untill they are 18, as such AN ADULT with adult sentencing.

1. they pay hardly anything if anything, so dont go there and they can reclaime it!

 

 

 

2.bet they just want it for their cv, not going to be effective no one will care, anyone can start a organisation.

 

 

 

3.yes voting is more dangerous look at bush or just look at the amount of power they have. and 16 is to young to drive for sure!

 

 

 

4.only in rare cases usally they arnt able to be prosequeted untill they are 18, as such AN ADULT with adult sentencing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sure anyone can start an organization but i urge you to go to the websites i posted earlier look at the success the organization that "no one will care" about

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and i agree bush has a lot of power but the process of voting- going to get registered, placing a vote and leaving, cmon people

In response to #1, since we are minors our legal guardians represent us, at least that's what I made of it.

Age 16 is too low to drive, and too low to vote, in my opinion. I don't think these people are mature enough to decide about politics. Setting up an organization is one thing - having a sensible opinion about politics is something different. (see the Flat Earth Society or something like that...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for taxes, your 8-year old brothers/sisters/relatives also pay taxes when they buy an icecream from their pocket money. Are you going to let them vote? That's a bogus point - you're not of age so your legal guardian (usually your parents) represents you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm also disturbed that someone who's apparently having a lot of trouble spelling in their native language (without even mentioning punctuation or grammar) thinks they are 'mature' enough to vote, because they had 'classes' about political subjects. Did you have English classes too?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, and before I forget... youth is influenced by older people and/or commercial entities (eg. by advertising or teaching) way too easily. And as far as I know, it's accepted in biology that your brain will not have fully developed before the age of 18 (or maybe 21, I don't remember exactly).

Wait a minute, you people are justifying the right to vote because you have classes in them? Gee wizz, I've been having lessons in Biology, should I become a doctor?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's assuming the voting is the peak of a political career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See, your analogy breaks down because becoming a doctor is almost without doubt the "highest" you can go with biology. Whereas politics, voting is the low end of the ladder whereas becoming a politician would be much "higher" up, or closer to the analogy of a doctor from bio lessons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think being taught about politics is definitely reason to vote, though maybe not enough reason. I'd compare this to making healthy lifestyle choices after taking biology classes, not becoming a doctor.