Was the 26th amendment wise?

Question

It lowered the voting age to 18. Was this a good idea? Why or why not? I need to write a speech about the 26th amendment. What are the major things i should hit upon?

Answer 1

Major points:

Good: It created uniformity among the states. It didn't seem fair that you could vote in one state, move then lose the right to vote.
Good: If you are old enough to be on your own, go to war, etc you should be able to have a say in the govt.

Bad: Its was pointless, 18 yr olds are statistically the least likely to vote.
Bad: Recent scientific evidence suggests that the human mind doesn't mature until the mid 20's or so. So why give immature people the right to vote. This ties into the fact that it was pointless because the fact that 18 yr olds don't vote is more evidence that they aren't mature enough to have the right.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

No, I don't think it was wise. Wisdom comes with experience, all an 18 year old has for experience is what his teacher told him and we know they are all left wing union members. Maybe you shouldn't use that in your speech.
They know computer games and have no experience in real life. They probably have not been lied to by many people. They still believe that the incoming Democratic Party majority in Congress really will be open, fair, ethical, and bipartisan. They don't remember that John Murtha was an ABSCAM co-conspirator, or that Nancy Pelosi marched in a parade of pedifiles, or that she thinks the military should fly her back and forth to California in a jet big enough to accommodate her ego as well.
Most of them don't know how to balance a check book, but they could be forgiven since they probably have NEVER held a job.
If it is so important for the military 18 year olds to be able to vote, then WHY did the Gore campaign try to get their absentee votes NOT counted? Could it have been a double standard or double speak?

Answer 3

You've got to remember there was a war on then (Vietnam), just like there's one now. And then, as now, it wasn't going well, and was extremely unpopular. Unlike now, however, there was a draft. The draft age was 18. The rallying cry was: Old enough to fight, old enough to vote! So, yes, it was wise. And I think it still is. The enlistment age is still 18, and until they raise it to 21, I think the voting age should remain right where it is.

Answer 4

well, im sure it was debated, and there were reasons for it, just as the amendments allowing women to vote, blacks to vote, and people who arent landowners or educated. I think the theory was if they could be drafted they should be allowed to vote. Also that is the age which we call them adults, and they have the rights and responsibilites of such, except for legally drinking of course, but they can smoke tobacco.

Answer 5

I think it is. An 18 year old is old enough to join the military and serve his/her country. I think it would be a travesty if they couldn't pick their commander in chief. If an 18 year old can be trusted to know how/when to use deadly force, they can help pick our leaders. They're dying for that right as we speak.

Answer 6

Old enough to serve, old enough to vote. But if you are 18 and you don't serve, you should have to wait until 25 at least.