Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Should we let 16 year olds vote?
The Volokh Conspiracy ^ | September 19, 2014 | Ilya Somin

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 ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: unitedstates; votingage
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-100 last
To: Figment

You’re just too high strung
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8OWNspU_yE


81 posted on 09/19/2014 6:39:05 PM PDT by Figment
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: right-wing agnostic

Universal suffrage is the fatal flaw in all democracies.


82 posted on 09/19/2014 6:42:51 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: entropy12

Because a right wing dictator hasn’t taken power yet and set things straight in DC

Its coming soon


83 posted on 09/19/2014 6:43:13 PM PDT by Rome2000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Reaganez

Only 18 year old veterans should have the franchise, not pot smoking cretins


84 posted on 09/19/2014 6:46:10 PM PDT by Rome2000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: right-wing agnostic

We should raise the voting age back to 21. Anybody in school or college hasn’t attained the necessary life experience to make a wise voting decision.


85 posted on 09/19/2014 6:48:36 PM PDT by meyer (Who needs gas chambers when you have Obamacare?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: entropy12
Why do we allow non-tax paying adults to vote?

That is a good question. Only the people paying for things should have a vote.

86 posted on 09/19/2014 6:49:41 PM PDT by meyer (Who needs gas chambers when you have Obamacare?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: meyer
That is a good question. Only the people paying for things should have a vote.

They'd find a way to get around that. I'd go with "anyone who's paying for it paying and can be trusted with a firearm."

Now, this is arguably going to deny people representation. Under the doctrine of "no taxation without representation" anyone who's being denied the right to keep and bear arms can choose whether they want to pay their taxes and get to vote, or not get to vote and not owe any taxes.

87 posted on 09/19/2014 7:21:46 PM PDT by tacticalogic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: right-wing agnostic
To Right Wing Agnostic - Yes, I understand your view that you only want property owners to vote. So, a couple that has owned their home for many years, has a few million dollars in the bank, sells their home and moves into an apartment can't vote? Is that correct?

What about NOT permitting a person to vote if they receive any unearned government benefits? That would include Welfare, Food Stamps, Rent Subsidy, and Medicaid, for example. Receiving Social Security or Medicare would not disqualify a person from voting. In this manner, if a person is dependent upon the government for support they could not vote for the people who provide their support. Since office holders want to pander to the people that vote for them it would no longer include the “takers.”

Also, raise the voting age back to 21, except if a person is serving in the military they may vote once they are in the military, providing they are at least 18 years of age.

88 posted on 09/19/2014 7:45:25 PM PDT by saltshaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Figment; trisham

89 posted on 09/19/2014 8:33:41 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Figment

ROTFLMAO!!!

“I’m afraid. ...the strain. ..was more than he could bare...”

LOL!


90 posted on 09/19/2014 8:38:18 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: right-wing agnostic

Heck, I don’t want anyone under 30 to vote.


91 posted on 09/19/2014 8:40:02 PM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: manc

If you go in the military you should be able to vote and drink. Not necessarily in that order.


92 posted on 09/19/2014 8:40:43 PM PDT by morphing libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: right-wing agnostic

16 year olds born on February 29th be allowed to vote. But everyone else should wait until they are 25, and have filed tax returns.


93 posted on 09/19/2014 8:47:58 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Ebola: Death is a lagging indicator.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rome2000

You can’t be an 18 year old veteran.

Only active duty.

I wish we could discriminate against cretins but alas the basic rules of democracy prevent it.


94 posted on 09/19/2014 9:02:18 PM PDT by Reaganez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: right-wing agnostic

OMG ABSOLUTELY NOT, NO WAY, HELL NO, NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!


95 posted on 09/19/2014 9:11:10 PM PDT by Kit cat (OBummer must go)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TonyM
"Liberal High School teachers would require they vote by absentee ballot to be filled out in class and left for grading by the faculty in order to pass for the next grade."

I agree. A 16-year old would not be expressing his own opinion, but would only be voting what the teacher has brainwashed the class into believing. The pressure in classrooms is incredibly hard for any student that doesn't agree with the teacher. If they disagree, they pay the price through their grades or pressure from other students. It takes a really smart TOUGH kid to be a Conservative these days.

96 posted on 09/19/2014 9:40:45 PM PDT by holyscroller ( Without God, America is one nation under)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: manc

would go you one further and say only people who pay federal Income tax should be able to vote.
We are the ones with skins in the game. why should a lazy welfare queen or some trailer trash have the same voting power as someone who works 80 hrs a week?


97 posted on 09/20/2014 5:52:46 AM PDT by Yorlik803 ( Church/Caboose in 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: right-wing agnostic

Only people who have served in the military, or people who pay a net positive in taxes should vote. If you are on welfare you are disenfranchised until such a time that you are no longer a taker.


98 posted on 09/20/2014 5:58:09 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (All that is required for evil to advance is for government to do "something")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: right-wing agnostic

16 year olds? Heck, over liberals that act like spoiled 7 year olds that would be an improvement.


99 posted on 09/20/2014 6:37:59 AM PDT by CodeToad (Romney is a raisin cookie looking for chocolate chip cookie votes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: right-wing agnostic

The answer to this question is a resounding NO!!!!!


100 posted on 09/20/2014 1:03:48 PM PDT by pallmallman (Q)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-100 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson