Lower voting age to 16?

[The Green Barbarian]

Right, see we let fake news sufferers vote already...
]

and in the case of Elizabeth May, we even let them form their own fake news/fairy-tale-based one-issue political parties.

[Frisk]

If I'm gonna be honest I knew absolutely nothing about politics when I was 16. If I was allowed to vote at that age I probably would've just voted the same as my parents. Teenagers are definitely very smart at 16 and can form the own opinions but they haven't really had the real world experience that often changes and shapes their political views as they get older.

So yeah I dunno, I can see it both ways. Personally I think 18 is fine but I'd still be open to 16 if we could get teenagers more interested in it.

[OKkayak]

Ok. If kids are smart enough and mature enough to vote at 16, then they should be smart enough and mature enough to drink at 16. Right?

[Frisk]

Ok. If kids are smart enough and mature enough to vote at 16, then they should be smart enough and mature enough to drink at 16. Right?

Kind of an apples and oranges statement. Alcohol is harmful to teenagers developing brains, voting is not.

[Bsuds]

Kind of an apples and oranges statement. Alcohol is harmful to teenagers developing brains, voting is not.

Are you absolutely sure of that?

[normaM]

I have no problem with lowering the voting age

[Frisk]

Are you absolutely sure of that?

Which part? The alcohol? Yes I'm absolutely sure of that. There's like a thousand studies on the topic. Here's one: https://alcoholthinkagain.com.au/Parents-Young-People/Alcohol-and-the-Developing-Brain/Impact-of-Alcohol-on-the-developing-brain

But yeah, sorry mods I'm getting off topic.

[Bsuds]

voting is not.

That part.

When you think of all the possibilities that need consideration for someone to vote it could be an undue strain on a young mind.

[JagXKR]

The young brain does not have the same abilities as the mature brain. As I stated before and as science proves. Over and over and over........

The part about consequences of actions is what the lunatic fringe left wing needs from the uncooked noggins. The only reason for allowing the young brains to vote is for the left to bolster their ranks. The little brains have no idea how bad left wing socialism can be to an economy. Care to take a trip into third world living?

Every election this topic pops up and it amazes me that after all the scientific research that has been done in understanding the adolescent brain there are still those that think it's a good idea to let the undeveloped minds have any real say in elections. Boggles the mind to see this kind of myopic absurdity.

voting age.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_age

Most organizations advocating for the lowering of voting age are left wing. Says something to me. That it's a bad idea...period.

[oldtrucker]

It also make a difference as to what country for maturity.
Scotland, for example, they start school at 3 and are done at 16. I know a person that joined the military right out of school and had 1 tour in Iraq, and 1 tour in Afghanistan by the time they were 18.( non combat role- physical fitness instructor and morale booster ) She was probably more mature at 16 than many Canadians are at 30. But that's there, not here.

[oldtrucker]

but they haven't really had the real world experience that often changes and shapes their political views as they get older.

As soon as something in their life goes south and they get their first taste of 'the system', then people tend to get interested in politics.

[gman313]

That part.

When you think of all the possibilities that need consideration for someone to vote it could be an undue strain on a young mind.

seriously. I can assure you most adults vote with only their priorities in mind, not "the full big picture"

[Bsuds]

That part.

When you think of all the possibilities that need consideration for someone to vote it could be an undue strain on a young mind.

seriously. I can assure you most adults vote with only their priorities in mind, not "the full big picture"

Do you think a 16 year old will do any different?

They can't see past their iPhone.

[OKkayak]

seriously. I can assure you most adults vote with only their priorities in mind, not "the full big picture"

I should hope people vote with their priorities in mind. Establish what one would like to see from their Government and base their vote on the best fit.

[Nedroj]

Lower the voting age to 16? No thanks. 16 year olds are not mature enough to form their OWN opinions on such complicated aspects like running the third largest country in the world. The majority of them would be influenced by their teachers, peers and parents, or vote completely uneducated on everything and just randomly pick someone becuase they think she/he is "cute" or has great hair.........

Look back to when you were 16. What were your priorities? You can rest assured 99% of 16 year olds are not thinking about which political party's platform will help them buy a house, ease the stress of raising a family, ensure they have access to medical facilities/care when needed, know the importance of balancing the budget and pay down debt, etc.
Remember a country has to be profitable or it wont have the means to do anything for their people. Hence why Socialist countries fail miserably and capitalist countries flourish. But as we've seen recently there still seems to be a big push for Socialism despite their horrible record and that push is from the younger generation wanting everything to be free and green.


Next time there is a "Friday Climate Strike" Id be interested to know the number of students not in class and compare it to the number of students actually at the protest. I can guarantee you those number wont match.