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Would a lower voting age create more involvement

Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,279
edited September 2009 in A Moving Train
I remember almost 20 years ago I talked with people who seemed really with-it regarding news, and they both said that they could have voted at 15. They were ready for it then.

I don't have a problem with a lower voting age. I think 16 is good. I would hope it would create increased investment in the outcome by the newest voting generation. Any thoughts on this?
There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
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Comments

  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,499
    Nope, it will however give high school teachers about 30 more votes each. ;)
    hippiemom = goodness
  • ClaireackClaireack Posts: 13,561
    Between 15 & 16 my political opinions did a complete U turn, I think 18 was good for me as by then I was maybe settled down a bit. I also think by then I had got quite excited about voting.
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  • darthvedder81darthvedder81 Posts: 688
    16 year olds voting? Sorry, but the average 16 year old doesn't know jack shat. If anything we should RAISE the voting age. Same with drivers licenses. Damn kids.
    So this life is sacrifice...
    6/30/98 Minneapolis, 10/8/00 East Troy (Brrrr!), 6/16/03 St. Paul, 6/27/06 St. Paul
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    nah... 16 year olds don't have enough life experiences to make an informed decision (not that 18 year olds do either)... If they voted at all, it would be either along the lines of their parents or the exact 180 of that...


    Half joking, I think that there should be a simple civics test before you can vote, like what are the 3 branches of gov't., who are your state and local representatives, etc...
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,279
    Do US 16 year olds know less about politics as a whole than US 20 year olds or 30 year olds? I guess that's my angle. There is some investment from eligible-age voters, but there is still distrust of the benefit of voting. I think many 16 year olds, if given the chance to vote may vote like their parents, and I think many 30 year olds vote like their parents. Well, i didn't so maybe I'm wrong about that. When I was 16 I would have voted like one of my parents. If there was more talk of voting responsibility at a younger age, when it could be offered in a group discussion i.e., classroom, I'm wondering if there would be more personal investment in the outcome.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    no... topless poll both attendants would though.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    dunkman wrote:
    no... topless poll both attendants would though.

    This is true. You should write a letter to your local representative outlining this plan. And don't forget to include some photo's just in case he doesn't fully understand your meaning.
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    Byrnzie wrote:
    dunkman wrote:
    no... topless poll both attendants would though.

    This is true. You should write a letter to your local representative outlining this plan. And don't forget to include some photo's just in case he doesn't fully understand your meaning.


    I will... Just as soon as i get my topless photos done!!

    I suppose getting young uns involved would be easier if they had a fucking genuine reason to vote... what can be appealing about politics to an 18 year old who only wants to get fucked out of his face on a saturday night and try and have sex with things... nothing.. its men in suits... politics has no appeal to an 18 year old kid, its about as appealing as spending a night in an abattoir with a naked Mick Hucknall
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • ClaireackClaireack Posts: 13,561
    dunkman wrote:
    politics has no appeal to an 18 year old kid, its about as appealing as spending a night in an abattoir with a naked Mick Hucknall

    Don't you'll give me nightmares!! :D

    Seriously though, I feel I was quite political at 18, I'd already been an active member of a junior group of a political party, also Greenpeace and was very adamant in my views then. I've probably become lazier about politics with age and increasing cynicism. At 18 I thought I could change the world, at 42 I just do a bit of what I can. I guess it varies from person to person.
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  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    Claireack wrote:
    dunkman wrote:
    politics has no appeal to an 18 year old kid, its about as appealing as spending a night in an abattoir with a naked Mick Hucknall

    Don't you'll give me nightmares!! :D

    Seriously though, I feel I was quite political at 18, I'd already been an active member of a junior group of a political party, also Greenpeace and was very adamant in my views then. I've probably become lazier about politics with age and increasing cynicism. At 18 I thought I could change the world, at 42 I just do a bit of what I can. I guess it varies from person to person.


    you were in a minority... when i was 18 i might have joined greenpeace, but only in the hope that a hippy woman would do stuff to me... other than that, not a chance. I think back to when i was that age and i cant think of anyone in my year at school who was politicised in any way?!
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • Kel VarnsenKel Varnsen Posts: 1,952
    dunkman wrote:
    no... topless poll both attendants would though.


    You must live somewhere nice, since where I live, based on the people who voluenteer at polling stations, I would not want that at all.
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    What were the effects of lowering the age to 18 from 21 in the 1970s? I'm not sure if I have ever encountered the numbers from that change.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • WaveCameCrashinWaveCameCrashin Posts: 2,929
    No.... Just more uninformed voters.
  • FiveB247xFiveB247x Posts: 2,330
    The only thing that will seriously alter involvement in our society is if people put down their tv remotes and start educating themselves through books and other areas to learn about the world and what goes on within it. When that happens, people will look forward to vote, compared to now where people waste the opportunity or vote based on an ignorant basis (aesthetics).
    CONservative governMENt

    Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    Kel Varnsen wrote:
    dunkman wrote:
    no... topless poll both attendants would though.


    You must live somewhere nice, since where I live, based on the people who voluenteer at polling stations, I would not want that at all.
    Agreed...most of the poll workers around here voted for Roosevelt.......Teddy Roosevelt. :twisted:
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • ClaireackClaireack Posts: 13,561
    dunkman wrote:
    I think back to when i was that age and i cant think of anyone in my year at school who was politicised in any way?!

    It's funny most of the people I was friends with were the same as me. Maybe it was just our group, we were all kind of hippies, I guess. We listened to The Smiths, Billy Bragg, Bob Dylan and lots of other the same kind of thing. We also went out in pyjama bottoms and our grandads cardies - not an entirely good look.

    The thing is, if we were doing it then, there's bound to be kids doing it now. At the time we picked up knowledge from all over the place, school, music, books, the media etc and we talked about it. I'm not sure how much politics is in schools nowadays, my son is coming up 13 so I guess I'll be finding out soon, but I think that's the starting block. Education, Education, Education!!
    dunkman wrote:
    when i was 18 i might have joined greenpeace, but only in the hope that a hippy woman would do stuff to me

    If you had brought along beer and some pot - you would have been in there! :D
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  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    Kel Varnsen wrote:
    dunkman wrote:
    no... topless poll both attendants would though.


    You must live somewhere nice, since where I live, based on the people who voluenteer at polling stations, I would not want that at all.

    i live with this old guy, smokes a pipe, lives in a mansion and has lots of women dressed as bunnies roaming around.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    Kel Varnsen wrote:
    dunkman wrote:
    no... topless poll both attendants would though.


    You must live somewhere nice, since where I live, based on the people who voluenteer at polling stations, I would not want that at all.


    i've only read this far...and this seriously made me laugh out loud. given my state of exhaustion, that says a lot. ;) haha. most definitely NOT a pretty picture there! :shock:


    as to the OP, i honestly don't think it would make much difference, except yet another demographic for politicians to try to appeal, but i really don't believe it would raise voter turn-oyut, nor do much to improve politics/government at all. however, i am completely open to being convinced otherwise...
    Stay with me...
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