Age vote to 16

[I think not]

It's great you visited high schools here.
But I have to remind you that most of the 16 and older have already left high school for the CEGEP.

I entered CEGEP at 16.

So you're point doesn't worth much.

Yes, I'm well aware of Quebecs educational system and the other provinces. However my point isn't worth much because you didn't quite understand it.

 

[cub1c]

I'm not denying there are 16 - 18 years olds very well informed and are thinkers, that isn't something you encounter often enough to justify voting at 16. At that age, hormones prevail, or has it been so long Rev you forgot

At least, they rely on something natural instead of money.

I understand that you discussed with 15 and less, yes.

 

[cub1c]

And how is letting prisonners vote justified? How do we justify psychopaths the right to vote?

Saying 16-18 aren't mature enough to vote is a big misconception, the same as american are all stupid.

 

[Reverend Blair]

I'm not denying there are 16 - 18 years olds very well informed and are thinkers, that isn't something you encounter often enough to justify voting at 16. At that age, hormones prevail, or has it been so long Rev you forgot

I haven't forgotten anything. Being a little randy doesn't keep them from being involved, in fact sometimes it encourages them. I do encounter enough 16 to 18 year olds who are well enough informed that I think extending the vote to them would be an excellent idea.

 

[cub1c]

I do encounter enough 16 to 18 year olds who are well enough informed that I think extending the vote to them would be an excellent idea.

I think the simple fact that there is plenty of organizations of young people that want to vote is enough.

The fact that we are discussing this right now is mostly because of them. I thank them, and encourage them to continue. They will win.

 

[I think not]

I'm not denying there are 16 - 18 years olds very well informed and are thinkers, that isn't something you encounter often enough to justify voting at 16. At that age, hormones prevail, or has it been so long Rev you forgot

At least, they rely on something natural instead of money.

I understand that you discussed with 15 and less, yes.

cub1c, may i ask what is the difference between 15 and 16?

 

[cub1c]

Same difference as 17-18?

 

[I think not]

Re: RE: Age vote to 16

Same difference as 17-18?

Precisely my point. This is why I think 16 is a bit young.

 

[Foo1]

Trust me, most of the 16 year olds at my school are no where near mature enough to vote. They'll just vote for the marijana party or just scrawl some giberish for the sake of creating inconvenience for the counters. I say keep it at 18.

 

[I think not]

Re: RE: Age vote to 16

Trust me, most of the 16 year olds at my school are no where near mature enough to vote. They'll just vote for the marijana party or just scrawl some giberish for the sake of creating inconvenience for the counters. I say keep it at 18.

Agreed Foo1. And if you are in high school, please check out my website.

 

[MMMike]

Re: RE: Age vote to 16

Trust me, most of the 16 year olds at my school are no where near mature enough to vote. They'll just vote for the marijana party or just scrawl some giberish for the sake of creating inconvenience for the counters. I say keep it at 18.

:lol: Even more reason to let them vote. I think it is worth taking another look at the voting age for two reasons:
1) it can be more than 4 years until the next election. If you are a day before your 18th birthday, you'll be 22 (!) before you have a chance to cast your vote. That is a long time to have no say in the direction of the government.\
2) there should not be taxation without representation. People start working full time, or at least part time before they are 22 - that's a lot of taxation with no say.

We've got to align the age at which you can start working, and the taxation of that income with the voting age so it makes sense.

 

[bluealberta]

16-year-olds should not be able to vote. Their views are not based on any real experience, and tend to be idealistic and simplistic. They would also be more likely to vote the same as their peers, just to keep in fashion. I am not saying it gets much better at 18, but the line has to be somewhere. Whereas some 16 year olds have a general idea on politics, I cannot see how most of them have a handle on it since most adults are in the same boat. Maybe the next generation.

I agree totally. I spend an inordinate amount of time with teenagers, and find they think very black and white, and have little ability to take into consideration any of life's lessons, simpley because they have not had many life lessons. Does this mean I think they are somehow bad and evil? Not at all, the vast majority are great kids, but that's the point, they are "kids". At 18 a decision has to be made by most on whether to go to higher eduction or into the workforce. Prior to that, some of the hardest decisions some of them make are who to invite to the school dance or what movie to see on the weekend, and whether they can borrow dad and moms car to go. Again, not slamming, just the reality. When you have to start making life decisions, which generally (not always) happens after high school, or around 18 at least, then you can vote. Until then, you are basically a tenant in your parents home, with no real idea of what real life is about. I also tend to agree with whoever mentioned the left wing bias of teachers, it is very evident, given the discussions I have had with teachers of my three teenagers over the past few years. I also find that most kids start off as radically left but tend to gravitate more to the center or right as they get older. Seems like maybe lowering the age to vote would benefit the NDP and Liberals the most, so maybe that explains why most of the lefties in this forum want the age lowered??

 

[Jo Canadian]

I spend an inordinate amount of time with teenagers, and find they think very black and white, and have little ability to take into consideration any of life's lessons, simpley because they have not had many life lessons. Does this mean I think they are somehow bad and evil? Not at all, the vast majority are great kids, but that's the point, they are "kids". At 18 a decision has to be made by most on whether to go to higher eduction or into the workforce. Prior to that, some of the hardest decisions some of them make are who to invite to the school dance or what movie to see on the weekend, and whether they can borrow dad and moms car to go. Again, not slamming, just the reality. When you have to start making life decisions, which generally (not always) happens after high school, or around 18 at least, then you can vote. Until then, you are basically a tenant in your parents home, with no real idea of what real life is about. I also tend to agree with whoever mentioned the left wing bias of teachers, it is very evident, given the discussions I have had with teachers of my three teenagers over the past few years. I also find that most kids start off as radically left but tend to gravitate more to the center or right as they get older. Seems like maybe lowering the age to vote would benefit the NDP and Liberals the most, so maybe that explains why most of the lefties in this forum want the age lowered??

I consider myself more or less left, but everything you mentioned above makes perfect sense on why the age isn't lowered. In fact the way things are progressing now it should be raised to 20!! I'm knowing more "adults" (18-25) who are no better than 15 year olds... It's sad, but what was mentioned about having to learn lifes lessons and the decisions involved is what really counts when it comes to voting decisions.

 

[Chake99]

Its because younger people aren't as pragmatist and more idealist and aquire more pragmatism with life experience.

I think I've fleshed out my political philosophy (and it makes enough sense) that it will be fairly stable though.

and do any of you think that I would be mature enough to vote in the next election?

 

[Jo Canadian]

and do any of you think that I would be mature enough to vote in the next election?

It certainly sounds like you would be able to vote in an election you show an aptitude and an interest in political circumstance.

A good idea (if the gov't had one) would be to give voting rights to younger people who activley showed an interest (school/political parties, etc...) and had them register as a young voter in for those reasons, rather than letting the common high school mentality vote.

 

[Reverend Blair]

All of the negatives I see being applied to 16 year olds can also be applied to 60 year olds, so I see little validity to them.

When it comes to kids being more left-wing though...not for at least a generation. The bill that may, depending on when the election is, come before parliament is sponsored by the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP.

 

[cub1c]

They'll just vote for the marijana party or just scrawl some giberish for the sake of creating inconvenience for the counters.

Oh...yeah...like if Conservatives don't say bunch of giberish.

What about people who vote liberals? I don't find them sane.
I don't think someone who vote liberal should be allowed to vote.

 

[Chake99]

So when I vote who do you expect me to vote for?

The unrealistic NDP, who are unaware what a budget even is and multiply debts ten-fold with huge amounts of spending, only to have to have governments decrease social spending due to interest.

The scandal-running/hiding-sell-off-services-to-buddies-and-use-money-to-cut-taxes-and-still-run-a-deficit-while-hiding-it-and-blaming-it-on-the-next-administration-conservatives?

Or the liberals whose platform I agree with the most, who balance budgets, and slowly pay down deficits, but are blazingly corrupt but are stupid enough to not hide it.

But by having that revealed one can only hope they will minimize it.

My carricatures are based on both Ontario provincial and Federal.

BTW I am 14

Hope you won't start ignoring me now or something .

 

[Reverend Blair]

You have two years to decide, Chake. You'll find things will have changed considerably in the parties by then. BTW, your characterization of the NDP is way off and you never mentioned any of the alternative parties.

 

[Chake99]

You have two years to decide, Chake. You'll find things will have changed considerably in the parties by then.

If the bill is passed.

BTW, your characterization of the NDP is way off

The NDP in Ontario were a disaster.

My description is not way off the mark but I admit it is an exaggeration. Note the word carricature in the previous post.

and you never mentioned any of the alternative parties.

Alternative parties would not really be affected by my vote, and the main one I know, the Green Party, I disagree with.