Voting Age

yerself · 24-10-2010, 17:51

Is our esteemed member serious or is he trying to get himself noticed? It would seem 83% of Telegraph readers, including myself, disagree with him.

East Lancashire MP calls for voting age to be cut to 16 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

SPUGGIE J · 24-10-2010, 18:04

If the members of the house think x is for x-box then a hell of a lot of people are at it. Yes they are growing up fast and feel marginelised and want a say in what is happening. They are our future so maybe it is time we listened. Mind you the older members of the house may fear the younger the voter the more chance they have of losing their seat. It will be a bitter debate esp as you can die for your country but not be able to vote. Best bet would be to lower it to 17 and hope that is a happy balance.

jaysay · 24-10-2010, 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by yerself

Is our esteemed member serious or is he trying to get himself noticed? It would seem 83% of Telegraph readers, including myself, disagree with him.

East Lancashire MP calls for voting age to be cut to 16 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

I was following the debate about this on line last week, Graham had quite a lot say about the subject, I also am against the idea, think 18 is the right age for voting

andrewb · 24-10-2010, 18:20

I read Graham's contribution to the debate (Clause 2 — Entitlement to...: 18 Oct 2010: House of Commons debates (TheyWorkForYou.com)). He was asked how many 16 year olds had written to him asking to be given the vote, but didn't respond. Perhaps he would let us know?

I know some 16 and 17 year olds can be passionate about the issues, but they can be passionate and affect politics without having the vote. What do we say if a 15 or 14 year old becomes passionate about politics and wants the vote?

There has to be a limit somewhere and there doesn't seem to be any argument given as to why 16 and not 15 or 14.

DaveinGermany · 24-10-2010, 18:26

I believe this has been advocated by Labour, the Greens & the SNP in the past, plus other organisations have made mutterings in this direction, I personally think it's an idiotic suggestion, you can give it all the guff about marginalisation, maturity, expectations & more aware but it's all liberal fluffy thinking.

So we start by letting them vote, then you've given them that responsibility, are they then not deemed responsible enough to go & have a drink ? Pub at 16 ? that is the inference. Anyone wishing to join the military at 16 needs to have their papers signed by a Parent or Guardian & even then they can't serve in a Combat zone until 18, so this must also be waived, after all they're now "responsible enough" at 16 to decide the Countries future so by all accounts their own.

I still maintain the majority of 16 year olds are not fully cognisant or emotionally & mentally balanced enough to take on these responsibilities, so things are better left as they are. As it is in this modern world the Kids are getting no time to be Kids & are being rushed into Adulthood earlier & into a confrontation they're ill prepared to face !

Doesn't anyone else see the inherent pitfalls in this ludicrous suggestion ?

Less · 24-10-2010, 18:40

I remember when the voting age was brought down to 18, it just so happened to be my age at the time, I was Chuffed as little buttons that I could vote, but had no idea at the time who I should or shouldn't vote for, I ended up relying on my Fathers prejudiced advice.
In actual fact, back then what he said is no way something that could be repeated because of the P.C. brigade! But it does turn out to be true.

The short & none racist version is, don't believe anyone they only want your money.

Hell, like any teenager I ignored him, is that why I'm skint?

Gordon Booth · 24-10-2010, 18:41

This has always been a favourite of Labour politicians. Why? Because at 16 you can afford to have left wing leanings and many young people do. They tend to change as they get in the big, wide, wicked world.
So who would they vote for? Guess.
Having said that when you read some of the posts on Accyweb there are some people much older than 16 who STILL shouldn't be allowed to vote.

Less · 24-10-2010, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

Having said that when you read some of the posts on Accyweb there are some people much older than 16 who STILL shouldn't be allowed to vote.

I hope, to show equality you include yourself in that list?

After all it is easy for all of us to say what is wrong, but how many of us really know what is right?

Gordon Booth · 24-10-2010, 18:52

Equality is a myth, Less. Quote-' All men are equal but some are more equal than others.'

Less · 24-10-2010, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

Equality is a myth, Less. All men are equal but some are more equal than others.

Ahh, rather than give a reason we get a proverb, 1 out of 10 for the site spelling your name right!

Equality is something we all deserve, no matter what excuse the superior give for denying it to the rest.

Tealeaf · 24-10-2010, 19:20

Buggar the voting age. Surely the first qualification should be that you can speak, write and read english; the second qualification should be that you are a British subject. There may well be an argument for a 17 year old to be enfranchaised, but I cannot see how we can give the vote to a citizen of Mozambique who may be resident in this country for a year or so - which is currently the case. the same goes for all our Commonwealth and EU friends.