Comments on: If you’re going to give 16 year olds the vote, why not take it further

By: Tribal Tattoo Gallery

Tribal Tattoo Gallery — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:37:51 +0000

As the mother of three teens, I can think of nothing scarier than giving 16 year olds the right to vote. However, I can say the same thing about some of the adults I encounter on a daily basis. I love Cosgrove's idea of a short political basics test. That would weed out all those who pay absolutely no attention but insist on having a vote as to who would be in charge of running the govt.

By: Tribal Tattoo Gallery

Tribal Tattoo Gallery — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:37:51 +0000

By: Tribal Tattoo Gallery

Tribal Tattoo Gallery — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:37:51 +0000

By: Stancje

Stancje — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:01:32 +0000

The test might be a good idea but it'd only mean more costs in the name of what? Kids voting? That'd only mean that politicians would have another target group so they'd come up with silly promises that might appeal to the kids instead of adults.

By: Duncan Riley

Duncan Riley — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:51:18 +0000

Health has nothing to do with responsibility though. If you're not responsible enough to buy beer, why is voting different? Indeed, the effect of a vote could be far more detrimental to your health and well being

By: Duncan Riley

Duncan Riley — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:50:25 +0000

Certainly agree with you on point a.

By: Nieruchomosci Gryfino

Nieruchomosci Gryfino — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:43:43 +0000

@Nick “If they're old enough to work and pay taxes, why shouldn't they get to vote?”
because allowing them to work is just enabling them to do some simple stuff if they need some money. You don't need a real-world experience or maturity for working in retail. You do need it to vote.

By: Rowan

Rowan — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:44:41 +0000

Drinking (and smoking) as a teenager can do you harm because your brain and body are still growing, so it can't really be put in the same league as voting — which presumably, doesn't have any health side effects. As for driving, South Australia lets teens drive alone at 16 and in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia it's 18. Oh, and in New Zealand it's 15.

From the age at which you can work full-time and pay taxes, you should be able to vote.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:27:06 +0000

Without supporting this idea, I have to ask the question: If they're old enough to work and pay taxes, why shouldn't they get to vote?

By: Cosgrove

Cosgrove — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:22:25 +0000

The problem with this whole thing is assuming that political knowledge has anything to do with age.

At 16 I was more politically aware than a lot of 40 year olds I knew.

Why should the ability to vote be based on age? What's age really got to do with it?

Voting should be:

a. non-compulsory; and
b. based on a short political basics test - if you don't sit the test or if you don't pass the test, you don't earn the right to vote.