Is Sixteen too Young?

[Reverend Blair]

http://www.rabble.ca/columnists_full.shtml?x=35982

Would 16- and 17-year-olds vote if they were given the chance? If a new private members bill — expected to be voted on by MPs in February — passes, they could have the chance to do so in the next federal election. I think it's a great idea.

The bill is co-sponsored by MPs from all parties — Liberal Mark Holland (Ajax-Pickering), New Democrat Nathan Cullen (Skeena-Bulkley Valley), Conservative Belinda Stronach (Newmarket-Aurora), and the Bloc's Stéphane Bergeron (Verchères-Les Patriotes) — and promoted by Vote16.ca.

Scott Piatkowski (an excellent writer btw) wants to give sixteen year olds the right to vote. I agree with him. The kids aren't any stupider than us adults, and they are going to have to live with the effects of today's policies for far longer than we are, so why not?

 

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

Hey! Reverend Blair

I like the way Scott writes as well.

I think that if 16 year old citizens are allowed to vote, it will balance the integrity of the election results.
For too long, education has played second fiddle to retirement programs. I'm pleased that younger folks will have a say.

It is ironic however; that as governments begin to talk about expanding democracy, they are at the same time, introducing security measures that dwarf the essentials of voting in the first place.

Calm

 

[Reverend Blair]

Is it ironic, or is this bill an attempt to mitigate that?

 

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

Hey! Reverend Blair

Oh! Call me Paranoid. But, all these security measures that have been introduced as law is very irritable to me.

To lock a person up in our country and not even let the person view any evidence ..... then our vote is meaningless.

I feel just as angry about these newly passed laws as I did when the RCMP were found opening peoples mail at Post Offices in the 1970's. Until then, I always felt that mail was sacred.

And now, Canada has agreed to share all our personal information with the U.S. government .... and only to find out that they wanted to put a wife-beater's friend in charge of securing this information. Only to find out that they were gonna give a guy with mob connections access to it. Only to find out, that the guy had an illegal as a house servant .... ta-boot!

But .... Gee-Whiz ..... I'm so thankful I got the right to vote. Last time I voted, I snuck in after dark so no one would see me.

Calm

 

[Reverend Blair]

That's why I put the fourth option up there, Calm. There are a few here who don't remember when the bars didn't open until the polls closed. I remember though...it was the last time Mulroney got elected and me and Zen and Mrs. Rev and some chick Zen found were standing around outside the bar waiting to go see the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

I guess after that debacle Elections Canada figured if people were going to vote like they were drunk anyway, the bars might as well be open.

Mulroney's reign was really the beginning of the end though. We had some problems before him, but nobody doubted that Canada had every right to be a sovereign country. He shifted the tax base from the corporations and the rich onto the middle and working classes, he drove us so deeply into debt that we had to cut everything, and he signed away our control over our economy, resources and culture with the FTA and NAFTA.

 

[Andem]

I believe we should allow 16 year olds to vote for the simple fact that the politicians NEVER appeal to young people. They are never targeted and asked what they think. Never!

Maybe if we lowered the voting age, there might be a little more interest from a younger age which would make it more likely that when they actually are adults, they would have a sense of politics; what they want and what they can expect.

 

[no1important]

I think 16 should of been the voting age years ago. The young people have a stake (16-17) in who wins. Not just for the usual reasons but to vote for someone who will make sure post secondary education is funded as well, and other social and financial issues.

The government always whines about 18-24 year olds not voting and they can not figure out how to appeal voting to young people. Lower the age to 16 is the answer. If you get yopung people voting at 16 I think most will continue to vote in their adult life.

I know in High School I was more into politics than I am now. I am in my 30"s now and I have yet to miss an election.

 

[missile]

If you can join our Armed Forces at age 16,then why not allow them the vote?

 

[Reverend Blair]

I've got a problem with kids being able to join the military at sixteen in western countries...it's part of what screwed up the UN bill on child soldiers.

They should be able to vote though. Hopefully it would have an impact on education issues and it might get them out to polls as a habit.

 

[Gonzo]

If you can drive, you shoule be able to vote. Though, I think you shouldn't be able to drive at 16.
Lowering the voting age would get younger people involved in politics. I remember the first time I voted. I was pretty excited. Now, after a few elections, and no one I voted for ever winning, I'm less excited. But I still vote. The green got someting for my vote in this last election. It counted for something.

 

[Reverend Blair]

The new payment system does add a bit to the process, doesn't it? Now if we could just proportional representation so that our MPs had a real voice in Ottawa, it would add even more.

Something I'd like to see go along with a lowered voting age is classes on politics taught in our high schools. Get the kids used to actually looking at the platforms of the parties and the actual issues involved.

 

[no1important]

Re: RE: Is Sixteen too Young?

The new payment system does add a bit to the process, doesn't it? Now if we could just proportional representation so that our MPs had a real voice in Ottawa, it would add even more

I agree. I think proportional representation is the way to go. I know thats why some people out here dont bother voting as it it over before it starts.

 

[Andem]

Re: RE: Is Sixteen too Young?

The new payment system does add a bit to the process, doesn't it? Now if we could just proportional representation so that our MPs had a real voice in Ottawa, it would add even more

I agree. I think proportional representation is the way to go. I know thats why some people out here dont bother voting as it it over before it starts.

Both points make total sense the the modern age. 16+ voting and proportional representation. I think changing the Canadian system to fit these ideals could change society for the good.

 

[Reverend Blair]

How do we get the Liberals and Conservatives to agree to proportional representation though? The Conservatives used to be all for it until Harper started thinking he could actually win an election. The Liberals, well used to winning majorities with less than 40% of the popular vote, have always been against PR.

Layton was supposed to be pushing this as one of his main issues, but he's been pretty much silent on the whole issue.

 

[no1important]

You are correct Reverend Blair 100%.

It is all about power and none of the parties want miniority governments 99% of the time. It is unfortunate as it would be good to get some of the smaller parties into Ottawa.

 

[fubbleskag]

so far i only agree with one thing said in this entire thread:

Though, I think you shouldn't be able to drive at 16.

16's too young to drink, drive, fuck, die for your country and vote.

then again, if I had to grant them one of these, it'd be voting.

 

[Reverend Blair]

16's too young to drink, drive, *censored*, die for your country and vote.

I'd agree with the "die for your country part," Fubbleskag. I was doing everything else on the list except for voting well before I was sixteen though, sometimes all at once (including the censored part), and the only reason I wasn't voting is because the buggers wouldn't let me.

I did know the issues and have opinions on them when I was sixteen though. From what I've been able to see, today's youth are better informed than we were too.

 

[fubbleskag]

we must be seeing different youth. all i see are babies having babies.

 

[Reverend Blair]

We could well be seeing different youth. We could also be seeing the end results of not giving the youth a say, including in the way sex education is presented to them.

Babies have been having babies since before we invented politics.

 

[Ten Packs]

From what I've been able to see, today's youth are better informed than we were too.

That's a rather sweeping statement, Rev. You've been on enough forums, for a long enough time, to have witnessed many young people whom have trouble constructing a basic sentence.