I hate these punk kids. I don’t care if they have been indoctrinated, they get no pass from me.
Raise the voting age to 30!
I just found out my 23 year old son is one of them. He liked some hateful and ugly screed on Facebook. I thought I had taught him better. His girl friend posted about hearing their neighbors children cry and moan when they heard Trump won. It was Trump that was responsible for it instead of the parents that taught their kids to hate and be fearful.
By the time the novel opens there is a society where there is NO automatic citizenship. When you are 18 you can choose to enlist in the armed forces. After at least two years of service, only then are you granted citizenship and able to vote and hold office. Those without citizenship, the "civilians", still enjoy a good quality of life... but they aren't trusted with the reins of government. Because in this culture it is ONLY those who have demonstrated a willingness to be responsible for the well being of the body politic who are allowed into leadership positions.
There is no welfare state in Starship Troopers, at least not one that we recognize. There are also things like public executions and corporal punishment. There is no gun control. It is a peaceful society.
Imagine an America where the vast majority of millennial students would be banned from the polling places until they've shown some personal responsibility.
Personally I have a better (bitter?) idea.
They want to control the future direction of the Republic, let them do so by getting some skin in the game. 57 years ago Robert A. Heinlein (Annapolis class of 1929) had the right idea - you get the right to cast a ballot after you have voluntarily served the nation. But everyone pays taxes regardless of their ability yo vote.