Rudd plans to lower voting age to 16 (1 Viewer)

[katie tully]

Sure, don't benefit from the government or receive any youth allowance, use the roads, put out ur garbage or watch free tv then.

Actually, our council rates pay for garbage pick up

At least out here they do.

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Is there any problem with the current system? I'm not seeing many 16yr olds that passionate about voting that they'd actually do something about it.

im not entirely sure that's a valid argument for disqualifying politically engaged 16 year olds from voting if they want. just make it voluntary.

 

[dieburndie]

You sure do, once you hit 18.

Way to miss the point entirely.

If you admittedly aren't well informed about political matters, why do you keep posting your stupid views in NCAP?

 

[John McCain]

Why should the voting age be 16?

What is the justification for arbitrarily setting it at 16?

Abolish age requirements for voting entirely. Make voting voluntary for all.

There would need to be some sort of photo ID system introduced for children, but this is a mere formality.

If a five year old wishes to vote, they should be entitled. Any citizen, of any age, has the possibility of being influenced by an authority figure, but we still allow them to vote. Being politically informed has never been a requirement for voting, many five years olds would know who the prime minister is, something my grandfather, a registered voter, does not know.

Earning an income and paying tax has never been a requirement for voting. Tens of thousands of people who pay no income tax, vote at each election. Regardless, 5 years olds do pay consumption based taxes, like the GST.

 

[Cowbell]

It's going to make no difference because 16 year olds don't even know how to write their own name let alone follow ballot instructions.

And all you have to do is remind them that their vodka cruisers cost 3 times as much now because of Labor.

Play them by their heart strings.

Throw in internet censorship of their porn and other nanny state threats.

OK...
you realize that there are probably as many 16 yr olds smarter than you as there are people your own age smarter than you right?
any 16 yr old that volunteers to vote isn't going to vote for alcohol and porn...

i'm guessing i'm talking to one of the people who only started thinking beyond the most basic level of shit after they left school.

 

[loquasagacious]

If they lower the voting age, they must lower other things, like taxation etc.

16 year olds already pay tax, receive welfare (mostly their parents do on their behalf), attend school, etc etc. In short by 16 an individual is already the victim and/or beneficiary of the state and so should have a say in how it is run.

This is going to end up with over 9,000 years of Labor. When I was 16 I'd have gladly voted Labor, now I realise they don't give a flying fuck about anyone, so fuck them.

I hate what you say but defend your right to say*..... if we aren't letting 16 year olds vote because they might vote in a way we don't agree with then we may as well restrict adult voting in the same manner....

You are right though that the youth vote will likely go to labor and more alarmingly the greens and other fringe parties and so will be an electoral advantage to them... something about people who aren't socialists as teenagers having no heart and people who aren't capitalists by their thirties having no brain*....

My confession is that in my first election (can't remember which election it was) I voted ALP in the lower house and Greens in the upper house. I did however get in a heated argument with one of the Green spruikers... a sign of things to come...

*to lazy to check exact quotes

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

What is the justification for arbitrarily setting it at 16?

I'd say it's not arbitrary, but a misguided attempt to find an age where the smarts are developed enough to make an informed decision.

and for that purpose, 16 is much better than 18.

 

[Aldehyde]

What would be the advantages of lowering the voting age to 16? Do the potential benefits outweigh the problems? Can someone identify any real issues with the current system as it stands?

 

[katie tully]

OK...
you realize that there are probably as many 16 yr olds smarter than you as there are people your own age smarter than you right?
any 16 yr old that volunteers to vote isn't going to vote for alcohol and porn...

i'm guessing i'm talking to one of the people who only started thinking beyond the most basic level of shit after they left school.

oh SNAP

 

[Cowbell]

oh SNAP

thanks for that input, katie.

 

[John McCain]

What would be the advantages of lowering the voting age to 16? Do the potential benefits outweigh the problems? Can someone identify any real issues with the current system as it stands?

The benefits are that younger people will receive political representation.

Teenagers and youth issues see a lot of hot air thrown around by politicians, but very little legislation or funding. It is a glaring problem when any minority is denied suffrage, because inevitably other interest groups will receive proportionally better representation at their expense.. Elderly voices and interests receive disproportionately more funding and attention, which has a lot to with their capacity to influence elections.

My area has 40% youth unemployment and no affordable rental accommodation, but no one gives a fuck because it's youth unemployment.

 

[katie tully]

thanks for that input, katie.

you're welcome man

 

[Aldehyde]

The benefits are that younger people will receive political representation.

Teenagers and youth issues see a lot of hot air thrown around by politicians, but very little legislation or funding. It is a glaring problem when any minority is denied suffrage, because inevitably other interest groups will receive proportionally better representation at their expense.. Elderly voices and interests receive disproportionately more funding and attention, which has a lot to with their capacity to influence elections.

My area has 40% youth unemployment and no affordable rental accommodation, but no one gives a fuck because it's youth unemployment.

Okay. fair enough. But perhaps those issues could be better tackled by youth in relation to policy and legislation, rather than by voting. As I said earlier, I'm not seeing many 16 year olds making much noise about the issues your mentioning. I'm not saying they don't exist, but there is nothing stopping teenagers from asking questions.

 

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

My area has 40% youth unemployment and no affordable rental accommodation, but no one gives a fuck because it's youth unemployment.

Youth unemployment is always far higher than adult unemployment in general, though. It's usually due to lifestyle choice.

Not to justify a level of 40%, but just pointing out it's a different thing to normal unemployment.

 

[katie tully]

Okay. fair enough. But perhaps those issues could be better tackled by youth in relation to policy and legislation, rather than by voting. As I said earlier, I'm not seeing many 16 year olds making much noise about the issues your mentioning. I'm not saying they don't exist, but there is nothing stopping teenagers from asking questions.

Dude did you miss the part where he said

no one gives a fuck because it's youth unemployment.

Perhaps those issues could be tackled by youth in relation to policy and legislation, or perhaps it won't, because if 16 year olds aren't given the right to vote who is going to listen to any policy or legislation ideas put forward by them?

If they find a political group serious enough about addressing those issues, given that they're pertinent issues to young people and not the dwindling, aging population, they should have the right to vote to take action against those issues.

 

[loquasagacious]

Okay. fair enough. But perhaps those issues could be better tackled by youth in relation to policy and legislation, rather than by voting. As I said earlier, I'm not seeing many 16 year olds making much noise about the issues your mentioning. I'm not saying they don't exist, but there is nothing stopping teenagers from asking questions.

This misses Graney's point.... considering a disenfranchised youth when drafting legislation/policy is akin to saying that blacks or women would have been adequately served by white men considering their interests when drafting legislation/policy...

 

[Aldehyde]

If the issues are so pertinent, why haven't teenagers done anything yet? Now that the voting age debate comes around, suddenly the issues seem to become important. Just saying.

 

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

If the issues are so pertinent, why haven't teenagers done anything yet? Now that the voting age debate comes around, suddenly the issues seem to become important. Just saying.

That makes no sense. Seriously, wtf are you smoking.

Edit: The single most powerful way for citizens to influence government policy is to vote. Since teenagers can't vote, what the fuck do you expect them to do? Post about it on an internet forum?

 

[ashie0]

If the issues are so pertinent, why haven't teenagers done anything yet? Now that the voting age debate comes around, suddenly the issues seem to become important. Just saying.

Perhaps voting would give teenagers an avenue to have their voices heard. It's kind of difficult to do anything about when people don't consider your opinions valid and dismiss you before you've even said anything.

 

[katie tully]

If the issues are so pertinent, why haven't teenagers done anything yet? Now that the voting age debate comes around, suddenly the issues seem to become important. Just saying.

gnash gnash gnash