We should raise the voting age to 21

[steveox]

Why you may ask? Cause Kids are too immature to vote.If they think handling a fast car is cool then play around in voting boxes is cool too. Thats why raise the voting age to 21.

[9sublime]

There's already one or two threads at least on this topic. You don't need to start one all the time.

[JavaBlack]

So while we're at it are we going to raise the age at which someone is tried as an adult? After all if they're too immature to vote, they're probably too immature to know what they're doing when they commit a crime.

[r0beph]

I only agree with you if you are under 21, maybe that'll be one vote less for morbid insanity. I've seen you in a few other threads and I find you a bit; well just to say, I don't think I'd like you much. You are a biased racist bigot. I'll find it very difficult to respond to any of your posts without a bit of ire. But 21? That's ridiculous. Age doesn't mean a thing. I know plenty of quite intelligent and reasonable 16 year olds as well as some idiots well into their 40s and beyond. Thread over.

[r0beph]

So while we're at it are we going to raise the age at which someone is tried as an adult? After all if they're too immature to vote, they're probably too immature to know what they're doing when they commit a crime.


no they'd rather lower it. http://stories.baytownsun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=6ba275da839eb7f9

The justice system is ridiculous. why do we even delineate?

[steveox]

Look at MTV slogan ROCK THE VOTE. Now who watches MTV? KIDS!!!! Raise the damn voting age to 21.

[Justinian]

I understand your logic but I disagree it is age that is the problem. In much of today's America, it takes longer for people to mature internally as well as financially and responsibly. If people were once again taught virtue, responsibility, discipline, etc. then more people would understand their nation and people would understand it earlier.

[ilikeboobs]

I agree.
why should home owners have to pay more of their paychecks (for example) to fund crap that youngsters use? Heck, if i was 18 and knew that i'd never have my paycheck affected by what i vote for (because i make, like, ya know...like a whole, like, $800 a month?) then i'd be voting for every tax increase in the world.

at 18 you're an imbecile as to how the world really works. you emote at that age - you don't think. emoting is no way to run a government. hear that hippies?



While you're at it, only allow property owners to vote. :mad:

[ArmChair General]

Why you may ask? Cause Kids are too immature to vote.If they think handling a fast car is cool then play around in voting boxes is cool too. Thats why raise the voting age to 21.

I think we should limit voting to anyone who isn't a Christian.


Look at the Bush's approval rating (about 30%), and then look at how many Americans beileve that Jesus will be returning to Earth in the next 50 years (about 30%), how much you wanna bet those are the same people?

[TruthAboveAll]

... But 21? That's ridiculous. Age doesn't mean a thing. I know plenty of quite intelligent and reasonable 16 year olds as well as some idiots well into their 40s and beyond. Thread over.

I'm not sure who the first part of this post was directed at. But while the prosecution of crimes and teenage driving are stickier issues, I really feel that anyone who can go into the military should have the right (and privilege!) to vote. So 18 is a reasonable age, one which the majority of young adults have graduated from high school.

There are a few things I'd like to see, though. A requirement before being able to register to vote 1) of passing a rudimentary writing and reading test, 2) a simplified test of what voting in this country represents 3) a basic knowledge of the structure of our government and 4) the acknowledgment that our elected officials are responsible to answer to US and not the other way around.

Personally, I think it would be a good and reasonable way to promote some accountability into a process that should require a minimum of critical thinking. It's scary to think what is entrusted into the hands of some absolute, blithering idiots.

[steveox]

I think we should limit voting to anyone who isn't a Christian.


Look at the Bush's approval rating (about 30%), and then look at how many Americans beileve that Jesus will be returning to Earth in the next 50 years (about 30%), how much you wanna bet those are the same people?

Jews arent Christians so youre gonna denie then to vote? Thats Anti-semitist.

[ChairmanMeow]

Why you may ask? Cause Kids are too immature to vote.If they think handling a fast car is cool then play around in voting boxes is cool too. Thats why raise the voting age to 21.

The solution to this problem is not with age of voting, raising the voting age will not do anything, there are still 21 year-olds who think “handling fast cars” is cool. On you 21st birthday, you don’t all of the sudden become a responsible adult. Changing the voting age would merely change the populous of voting citizens, nothing more. And as an 18 year old, I find it shocking that someone as responsible and deserving of the right to vote as you (as I assume you are over 21) would think that every person under 21 is a mindless idiot who cares only about “handling fast cars.” Well, I do not; in fact I have no interest in “handling fast cars.” So proposing that we raise the voting age 21 rather than 18 and deprive me of the right to vote until then, is a slap in the face.

[Dr.Who]

Why you may ask? Cause Kids are too immature to vote.If they think handling a fast car is cool then play around in voting boxes is cool too. Thats why raise the voting age to 21.

We vote so that our politicians can represent us. Even immature people deserve to be represented. The question shouldn't be how old one should be to vote but how young one can be to vote.

I would say that if your parents claimed you as a dependent on their taxes then you don't vote as your parents are responsible for you and your vote was made on your behalf.

[steveox]

That is why we need to adopt laws like other countries have for kids when they get out of high school. Like in Israel for example after you graduate from high school you must serve 4 years in the military before you can go into college or society.Cause in the military they turn kids into men and women.Its called disapline like boot camp for example.And Boot camp is pretty hellish and very harsh. So that takes the immaturity out of you.

[r0beph]

That is why we need to adopt laws like other countries have for kids when they get out of high school. Like in Israel for example after you graduate from high school you must serve 4 years in the military before you can go into college or society.Cause in the military they turn kids into men and women.Its called disapline like boot camp for example.And Boot camp is pretty hellish and very harsh. So that takes the immaturity out of you.

Perhaps it'd teach people to spell (which is linked to reading comprehension and thus allows for better understanding of that which they'd be voting on).... Just saying.

But all jokes aside, this is stupid. I for one cannot join the military in any function since I'm diabetic, secondly my religious beliefs, which I'll not go into, advocate a strict adherence to a life of nonviolence, and being a member of the armed forces, or even a corporation that assists directly violence (weapons engineering, development, etc) is something I'd not do. Does this make me unreliable in my voting choice? No, nor will I argue that my vote is any more righteous than that of someone who has served in the military. Each person is going to vote based on their beliefs, forced servitude in the military to obtain education or voting rights is a violation of that which this country is based on. Your statement and suggestion in action would be a gross violation of the constitution.

[9sublime]

Steveox, you don't know what the hell you are talking about. Boot camp? National service? Apart from the fact that you are obviously too young to be out of High School, if you are middle aged etc. you would also never have served in Military service because during your lifetime it was never compulsory. You've also admited your a fat diabetic, so I can't see you doing very well in the military Steve (not you R0beph). You also try and get military discounts when you are not in the military, somehow I just don't think you would fit.

[r0beph]

Steveox, you don't know what the hell you are talking about. Boot camp? National service? Apart from the fact that you are obviously too young to be out of High School, if you are middle aged etc. you would also never have served in Military service because during your lifetime it was never compulsory. You've also admited your a fat diabetic, so I can't see you doing very well in the military Steve (not you R0beph). You also try and get military discounts when you are not in the military, somehow I just don't think you would fit.

Well well, I'm a skinny diabetic...>:O.... i digress..


I don't like the idea of compulsory military, however lets shift this idealism, TO voting. Compulsory voting. Many countries do it. No longer will just the extreme groups have the major say, you know, large congregations of sheep (not any particular brand of sheep, just any) who are following the same ideals and feel so strongly that they all vote, where as those who may disagree don't vote as they don't really feel their vote matters or they just don't feel like they have the time, screw them, they need to vote EVERYONE needs to vote it should be a REQUIREMENT BY LAW TO VOTE. Brasil does it, many countries do it, and I think it makes the most sense. I see other people talking bout how kids shouldn't cos they don't understand for example taxation on their checks and how it effects them blah blah blah, but then what you're saying is that only like minded people such as yourself (to whomever said this) should be able to vote, it's not truly directed at younger voters, but just those who'd be pro taxation in general, though obviously such a statement as this would be met with fierce ridicule, and you'll make do with the younger voters don't understand spiel. Everyone, 100% should vote, I don't think the ability to understand the issues at hand matter much, cos from what I can tell at the past view votes I've observed, a lot of people don't seem to understand **** or their understanding is of ignorance....(recently a nearby city voted NO to new taxes, which is fine, the school needs the money, but hey the schools are also funded by alcohol taxation, but wait....the ballot also included banning alcohol in the county, they voted yes to the ban....so these schools in one of the poorer counties here is now going to be in some serious **** cos of this, and that's no hype, they're already running red... economics are gonna go down, business closing, workers losing jobs, chain resturaunts won't open cos they have a couple beer taps in every store, and so on...its gonna be a mess, would youngsters not being able to vote change this? No in all likelyhood it'd actually have skewed more in the favor of the ban/no taxes, most the kids I saw on tv about the vote were all on and on bout how their schools can't afford new books and this and that using 8 yr old text books that batrely hold together and such) So I think 100% vote compulsion is necessary that way you can drown out the ignorance with your own vote and not rely on others to do it when you simply don't have time....that's my say.

[vyo476]

Compulsory military service takes it a bit far. Compulsory public service...well, there may be something there.

Has anyone here read Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers? If not, pick it up. It's nothing like the movie. It's more about Heinlein's political ideology, which is worth taking a look at.

It's also a pretty entertaining book, even for people who aren't into science fiction.

[9sublime]

But compulsory voting goes against the basic principle of voting, giving people a choice. If they want to be moronic enough as not to vote for any party, then so be it.

[steveox]

Steveox, you don't know what the hell you are talking about. Boot camp? National service? Apart from the fact that you are obviously too young to be out of High School, if you are middle aged etc. you would also never have served in Military service because during your lifetime it was never compulsory. You've also admited your a fat diabetic, so I can't see you doing very well in the military Steve (not you R0beph). You also try and get military discounts when you are not in the military, somehow I just don't think you would fit.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d192/DLRobertson/R_LEE_ERMY.jpg
JUST FOR THAT REMARK , DROP EM AND GIMME 20!!

[USMC the Almighty]

But compulsory voting goes against the basic principle of voting, giving people a choice. If they want to be moronic enough as not to vote for any party, then so be it.

Yeah, I'm with 9sub here. If we force people to vote then there is no hope that our political system would get any better because it would be the same "lesser evil" philosophy in every election. But when you give people a choice, as in 2006 where you have conservatives who were upset with the sitting Republicans about spending and the border -- they stayed home and as a result, every Republican incumbent in a close race lost. Hopefully, this sent a message to the Republicans who will be forced to return to their core doctrine of true conservatism or continue being voted out of office.

[r0beph]

Yeah, I'm with 9sub here. If we force people to vote then there is no hope that our political system would get any better because it would be the same "lesser evil" philosophy in every election. But when you give people a choice, as in 2006 where you have conservatives who were upset with the sitting Republicans about spending and the border -- they stayed home and as a result, every Republican incumbent in a close race lost. Hopefully, this sent a message to the Republicans who will be forced to return to their core doctrine of true conservatism or continue being voted out of office.


I don't mean they must vote for SOMEONE, but rather, always include an opt out option. Getting them to the polls would be the only compulsory ruling.

[r0beph]

Compulsory military service takes it a bit far. Compulsory public service...well, there may be something there.

Has anyone here read Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers? If not, pick it up. It's nothing like the movie. It's more about Heinlein's political ideology, which is worth taking a look at.

It's also a pretty entertaining book, even for people who aren't into science fiction.

I thought the same thing when I first read his post...lol would you like to more?

[vyo476]

I thought the same thing when I first read his post...lol would you like to more?

I'm not sure what you're saying.

[steveox]

What you think MTV puts ads calling "" ROCK THE VOTE"" Now who watches MTV? KIDS!!! Thats why we should raise the voting age to 21. Cause if you remember when MTV interviewed Bill Clinton they asked him "" If you inhaled again would you do it?"" He said Oh Yeah id do it again. See just how immature that question was? Cause Kids think its pretty cool to ask the president if he would do drugs again? :rolleyes:

[9sublime]

If you are going to tax, jail etc. an 18 year old, you have to give him the vote.

[vyo476]

If you are going to tax, jail etc. an 18 year old, you have to give him the vote.

If you're going to draft an 18 year old, you have to give him the vote.

[9sublime]

If you argue they aren't mature enough to vote, then they certainly are not mature enough to go out on the field of battle to protect their country.

[r0beph]

I'm not sure what you're saying.

starship troopers.

http://www.reverseshot.com/system/files/images/SS3_0.img_assist_custom.jpg

Welcome aboard citizen.