Friday, February 8, 2008

"Legal age requirements should never stand alone."

It has long been debated at what age are children, across the board, grown enough to make decisions that affect themselves as well as others. The judicial system weighs in often on legal cases ranging from emancipation to murder (the involuntary and premeditated kind). The legislative system has its own opinions, deciding at which age people are capable of making informed about issues with long term ramifications. But are any of them right?

Who's to say that a 23 year old is any more capable of making a informed decision that their 16 year old counter part? Here is something I can agree with. Phasing teenagers into adult life is one of the best ideas out there. Of course the idea is not perfect, but that is the beauty of democracy, we vote on ideas we believe would work, and then we vote to keep them, drop them or change them.

Even more interesting that the article are the comments. ( I apologize that there are so many comments, but you can skim them to get the gist) The multitude of people that are unwilling to open their minds to the possibility of change or that someone at 16 might be capable of handling the repercussions of their actions. A couple favorites are these two:

Are you mad? On one point only do I agree with this absurd essay. The drinking age should be lowered to 18. Beyond that I think the voting age should be raised back to 21 and the driving age raised to 18. Enumerable studies have conclusively shown that persons, especially males, are very poor drivers under the age of 18. The statistical incidence of serious and often fatal wrecks is a grim testament to this.

I also favor literacy tests for would be voters. How many sixteen year olds can place Iraq on a map? In my experience very few. Voting has consequences. I don't like the idea of allowing people who can't tell the difference between Afghanistan and Iraq casting a vote that could get me or someone else sent there. Voting is not some social test tube experiment. It is extremely serious business with very real consequences attached to it. Besides, haven't we done enough to cheapen the franchise without extending it to children?

— John Cheevers, Merced, California


Lowering the voting age will only flood the electorate with poorly informed voters. Even if a basic course in politics/government were required, who is to teach this? The public schools with their liberal bias cannot possibly give an even-handed approach. Neither can most private institutions with distinctly Christian-conservative perspectives give a clear picture of the development of political ideas and concepts of morality in society over time. Better to raise the voting age, if change it at all. I'm 21 and I still don't consider myself experienced enough in life to make a fully-informed vote. I do it of course, and hope I'm making the wisest choice. How many 16 year-olds would say the same?

— Patrick McWilliams, Savannah, GA


I love stupid people that speak up thinking they are making great points! To you

Mr. Cheevers -
  • How many people (regardless of age) can place Iraq on a map? Better yet, how many US citizens regardless of age could locate Wyoming or Kansas on a map?
  • The point of educating people is so they dont make dumb decisions
  • How would extending the vote to "children" "cheapen" the right? (I didnt say "franchise "cause I dont know what the hell you mean by that)
Mr. McWilliams -
  • Most people formulate their initial political views on those of their closest kin, the "liberal-biased" public schools, or "Christian-conservative perspective" private schools are teaching them who to vote for, but what the importance of their decision is in government not telling them for whom they should vote. There would be curriculum requirements.
  • Just cause you're a 21 year old idiot, please dont think its safe to assume 16 year olds arecnt capable of making better decisions that you. You are proof that "the electorate" is already flooded with poorly informed voters.
Nuff said!

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