In a great episode of 'The West Wing' a group of kids have a discussion with White House Communications Director regarding lowering the voting age. The teleplay raises some valid points:
1. They point out that the age 18 is arbitrary.
2. They note that if they get jobs at 16 years old, they have to pay income taxes -- but have no direct voice in how much they are taxed or how the money is used.
3. They note that kids breathe the same air and drink the same water that adults do -- but they have no direct voice in determing how these elements are protected and regulated.
4. The pre-empt any argument that they are not smart enough to make informed choices by noting that same argument was made by those who didn't want women or African-Americans to vote.
So what do you think? Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
2006-12-07 05:59:41 · 14 answers · asked by Timothy B 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
It would encourage people to be interested in political decision making at an earlier age. I think that's a good thing.
2006-12-07 06:13:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Sorry no offense, I do not think the age of voting should be lowered to 16 years old, because many others and I remember how we all thought and acted, and made informed choices when we all were under 18 years old. We all did not know any better then. We were all naive and thought we were invincible, and thought we knew everything more than our peers or those older than us, because of the education that we got taught in school. So same applies to all kids under 18 years old regardless what year it is even in the future like 20 years ahead of our time. Believe me by the time you under 18 year olds grow up to be over 20 years old or so will realize the what we were talking about and feel the same as what we experienced and understood what really going on, and will do the exact same thing as those adults been doing for the last 100 years or so. It a vicious cycle. Do not get me wrong, I still think kids under 18 years old should still play a role in political ideas, and concerns about today's politics and rules. I do have an idea, that can make kids under 18 years old be part of the political scene to get their message across, but it is going to take a lot of time to convince those under 18 years old and all voters about it inorder to make it happen. Your are right that many of those under 18 years old are working and paying taxes which should not be in the first place. It is wrong, and it sends the wrong message to those under 18 years old. The politicans got greedy, and want to make sure that companies are not just going to hire young kids under 18 to avoid taxes. Just be glad it is not age 21 and over only allowed to vote just like in some states in the USA and some places around the world too.
2006-12-07 06:38:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good points to consider and a great question...
But my answer remains no for changing the age.
18 as an age is arbitrary, I agree, but so is 16, so is 17, so is any other age.
The 16 year old age at which a job can be had, is under certain conditions. Namely, that school must not be affected, and the worker has to have parental permission.
The same air and water... That argument is really grabbing at straws...
I agee with your last argument, but again it is faulty in that each vote is to count as one. If my son gets to vote at 16, undoubtably in essence I will be able to "cast" two votes, untill such time as he is able to form his own opinions, WHICH btw, is much later than age 18...
Elections are more than a "beauty" contest, and unfortunately, there are many 40+ year olds that look no further.
How much more would it become, if another segment of the total population were able to vote?
2006-12-07 06:16:59 · answer #3 · answered by wi_saint 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shoot, most of the 18 year olds aren't mature enough to vote, why would we want to lower it to 16? Look at some of the mindless comments right here on Y!A. People screaming about politics of which they have no comprehension, thinking they know the answer to how the government should be run? If some of you think this country is a mess now, wait and see what it would be like if they change the voting age. Personally, I don't think anyone should be allowed to vote unless they can remember when Gerald Ford was president.
2006-12-07 06:21:10 · answer #4 · answered by Spud55 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No I think the voting age should stay at 18.
As far as the whole work things goes. Yes they can work at 16 but they can't work past a certain point, get more breaks, etc.
18 is considered the legal age. Many 16 years olds are not mature enough nor do they really have a sense of what is going on in the world. You might have a small group of 16 year olds that are mature enough to handle voting but the majority of them really can't.
As another person said they don't have the same responsibilities and such as a legal adult.
2006-12-07 06:10:09 · answer #5 · answered by butterflykisses427 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Right. Just like the drinking age should be lowered to 11. Why not lower the voting age to 9. Kids are smarter at 9 than at 16.
2006-12-07 06:08:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely not. 18 is the age of adulthood. You are responsible for yourself at that age.
Oh, and 5-year-olds breathe the same air as adults. Do you want them voting too?
Finally, if the West Wing writers wanted to raise the voting age back to 21, would you agree with it? Judging by your ridiculous arguments, my guess would be yes.
2006-12-07 07:08:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No it should not be. From my experience 16 year old kids don't pay enough attention to all sides of an argument nor do they truly understand how politics work. They would be solely voting for people their favorite rap star or actress said was the best choice. In my opinion if you don't know what your voting for, you should not vote.
2006-12-07 06:08:08 · answer #8 · answered by bunnydlh 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Based on the behavior I see around these boards from young adults I would say the voting age should be 25.
(Just kidding) But no... I don't think a 16 year old should be voting. I think they should be concentrating on their education, not political game playing..
2006-12-07 06:09:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Oh, my god no! And the age of eighteen isn't arbitrary - it's the age at which one can be drafted. The voting age was changed from twenty-one to eighteen around the Vietnam war, when protesters were pointing out that it wasn't right to draft young men who couldn't have an input in the policies of its government.
'Old enough to fight - old enough to vote!"
2006-12-07 06:06:40 · answer #10 · answered by jane7 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
No it should not be lowered to 16. Young adults that age are still reliant on parents. Their minds are to easily swayed.
2006-12-07 06:07:10 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋