Posted on 09/19/2014 2:56:32 PM PDT by right-wing agnostic
Scotland allowed 16 and 17 year olds to vote in yesterday’s historic referendum on independence. Georgetown political theorist Jason Brennan, author of the excellent book The Ethics of Voting, makes a strong case that the United States should do the same thing:
Scotland decided to trust its 16-year-olds to vote in the biggest question in its history when the country headed to the polls this week for a referendum on independence. Americans, in contrast, don’t even trust theirs to help pick the county sheriff. Who’s right?
Many here might be skeptical about the idea of the United States following Scotland’s lead in lowering the voting age. The trouble is that the main reason most people cite for barring 16- and 17-year-olds from voting looks like an equally good reason to stop most American adults from voting, too.
The key argument against letting high school juniors vote is simple: Their choice would affect all of us. After all, a voter chooses for everyone, not just him or herself. Many worry that most 16-year-olds lack the wisdom or knowledge to cast smart votes, so we don’t let them vote because we want to protect ourselves from their decisions.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I’d prefer 21 yrs of age, but then we allow them to enlist in the military to defend
the country. So I’d say 18 yrs should be maintained and definetly not be lowered.
Sixteen??? Gimme a break.
Only married men with children, who are living with the mother of their children, should be allowed to vote.
Interesting idea. I like it.
Why can't people earn the right to have a larger vote? Sounds like good citizenship to me.
They do lack the wisdom and experience to vote. Are parents even aware of all the lefty dogma their kids are indoctrinated with?
It is the beginning of end for Democracies when people discover they can get free stuff by voting for the right politicians.
We are not the first country experiencing this. Many European countries have gone through this. Eventually people discover the folly of socialism and reverse course. But that takes 40-50 years or more. We are now approaching middle of that phase. So 20-25 years minimum before we reverse the direction.
I agree, land ownership.
A free Obama phone is not property.
I am not so sure it shouldn’t be allowed until 32.
I can see some situations where I would not mind a 16 year old voting.
1. They graduated from HS before their 16th birthday, with a 3.5 GPA or better
2. They are enrolled either in college or in a trade school and are maintaining a 3.5 GPA or better OR have held down a full time job for a minimum of 1 year prior to voting.
3. They have passed a civics test designated for earlier than age 18 voters.
4. They have performed some amount of hours of community service.
5. They have NO criminal record of any kind whatsoever.
Raise Voting age to 27, if it is good enough for Obama Care, and Obama Care supposedly trumps the constitution, so it is good enough for me....
Only if they vote Democrat.
I wasn’t Trisha
Most 21 year olds should not vote. They don’t care about what affect them, all they care about is what a star in Hollyweird is saying about an issue. No, voting age should be RAISED to 30.
Well, of those 'free' is left as a constraint.
I would add active duty and retired military.
The voting age should be returned to 21! 16 and 18 are not mature enough to make good judgements.
This reminds me of an old story in Esquire about 45 years ago in which the very young are allowed to vote and they took over the government. A movie was made about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_in_the_Streets
I let my sons to discuss the stock I own for them. When I get board directors information on directors, I talk to my sons about what is going on and let them read the report and talk with me about what directors they should vote for. I vote for them, since it is in my name, but it is theirs stock.
Voting, drinking, smoking, at 21 unless you have your military ID.
The military does bring a great level of maturity not found on campus or in a job at McDonalds.
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