CA: Why stop with 14-year-olds?

OC Register ^ | 3/12/04 | Richard Kirk

[NormsRevenge]

State Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, is at it again. The same dude who, over a decade ago, established that immensely productive state task force on self-esteem, has recently joined with a group of like-minded legislators to propose giving partial votes to teen-agers. He would give 14- and 15-year-olds quarter-votes. Their 16- and 17-year-old siblings would get half-votes.

[NormsRevenge]

byline on op piece

If ignorant illiterates can vote (and elect Sen. Vasconcellos), toddlers deserve say

[NormsRevenge]

.

[claudiustg]

What about my cat? How long will he be forced to live with an inferior status, while even seeing his childish tormentors elevated?

[Hugin]

He would give 14- and 15-year-olds quarter-votes. Their 16- and 17-year-old siblings would get half-votes.

Lets carry this a step further. 18-30 year olds get 1 vote. 30-50 year olds get 1.5 votes. 50-65 year olds get 2 votes. 65-70 year olds get 1.5 votes. 70-75 year olds get one vote. 75-80 year olds get half-vote. 80-85 a quarter. Over 85 no vote.

[nmh]

Can the adults get any more childish?

[Not A Snowbird]

My cats would like to vote. They're pulling for government subsidized catnip.

[janetgreen]

Vasconcellos is an idiot.

[BSunday]

I like the way your scale works out. But I would like to propose an amendment - 65-75 year olds who live in southern Florida get no votes.

[eyespysomething]

Actually, I'd trust my 8 year old to vote better (read: more informed) than most adults. But that's just me and many parents on FR.

[lowbridge]

Lets carry this a step further. 18-30 year olds get 1 vote. 30-50 year olds get 1.5 votes. 50-65 year olds get 2 votes. 65-70 year olds get 1.5 votes. 70-75 year olds get one vote. 75-80 year olds get half-vote. 80-85 a quarter. Over 85 no vote.

And the graveyard gets 25 votes per grave.

[lowbridge]

What about my cat?

You can marry your cat in San Francisco.

[squarebarb]

Wee wunt 2 vote. Us ate yir olds no a lot. Wee no minny thengs. Jus bekawse i em a ate yir old kat dont meen i dont no how much kat chow costs.

[Sergio]

How about the old, "No taxation without representation" thing. Citizens of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico cannot vote in national elections because they do not pay Federal Income Tax. They vote in local elections because they do pay local income taxes.

So when the 14 to 17 year olds start filing tax forms by April 15th every year, then they can vote.

I know that most kids in this age group don't make enough to have to pay any taxes, but the "bother" of having to file would be enough to make most of them stay home. I would also think that having to deduct Federal, State, and Local taxes from what little they may over a summer, would be a sure way to turn quite a few liberals into conservatives.

Best Regards

Sergio

[tkathy]

I have a feeling that lowering the age of sexual consent is not far behind. These are predatory adults with a hidden agenda IMHO.

[heleny]

And, as pointed out elsewhere, the newly enfranchised children can later sue for full votes. After all, they're not 1/4 or 1/2 persons, just as former slaves weren't really 3/5 persons.

[heleny]

If the well-educated voters of Santa Clara can elect, time and again, a representative as frivolous and intellectually benighted as John Vasconcellos, how could incontinent 2-year-olds do worse?

Why stop at 2-year-olds? How about newborn babies, or, better yet, what about the rights of the unborn children?

[mrustow]

I have a feeling that lowering the age of sexual consent is not far behind. These are predatory adults with a hidden agenda IMHO.

Bingo! If you can vote, you can ...

[ffusco]

What percentage of young people in California are not Latino...Maybe he isn't such an idiot after all.

[longtermmemmory]

I still say this is about working towards lowering the age of sexual consent. If you can vote at 14 you can consent to sex.

sick