Should we lower the voting age to 16?

[rucky]

[tyedyeto]

1. Why? n/t

[rucky]

3. DK just brought it up at the debate. n/t

[tyedyeto]

9. What was his reason behind the statement?

I voted for the first time in 1972 when I was 20. At the time, the issue was..... drafting 18 year olds who had no say so about the Vietnam War. What is the rationale today to lower voting age again?


Edit cuz my fingers and brain and keyboard have a disconnect. LOL

[rucky]

12. He just threw it out there...

at the end of a drinking age question. He didn't elaborate, but it sure got some (negative) reaction.

[tyedyeto]

13. Now I'm totally confused....

the question was about drinking age (a subject left to states) but he answered it about voting age?

What did other debaters say about the question or was he they only one questioned about it?

I got home too late from work to see that portion of the debate.

[rucky]

2. Why not?

Because we say so?

[-..__...]

4. Only if Ozzy is on the ballot!

:headbang:

[wuushew]

5. I am not opposed per say

I think it makes more sense to harmonzine drinking, voting and driving at the same age. 18 would be the best common age.

[-..__...]

11. I believe the defining factor is the eligible age for performing military service.

If you're young enough to serve and fight in any war (just or unjust), you're young enough to have a say in the matter and have the same rights/privileges as any other citizen... be it drinking, driving or having
wild unbridled monkey sex.

[juajen]

6. Get real!

I've raised five children, all of whom were absolutely incompetent at that age. My God, let them grow up; I also do not believe in sending our children to war at eighteen. Twenty-one is still too young, but, at least, that's a few more years for them to grow up

[TheUniverse]

7. Sure.

We charge minors as young as 13 as adults when they commit crimes, so why not give them the rights adults have also?

[loser_user]

8. They won't vote

Lower the voting age to 18, they didn't vote anyways. But as lowering the drinking age back to 18...

[stevedeshazer]

10. Hell yes!

Why not?

[Digit]

14. I am appalled how uniformed the general public is enough

Neighbor kid (16)was remarking to me just before the 2004 fiasco that he thought Nader should get it since he "had been trying for a long time". That was the ONLY reason.
Of course his parents were * supporters.
I hate to paint all kids with the same broad brush, but what can I say?

[Kelly Rupert]

15. No, not at all.

Voting age ought be the age of legal adulthood, and I frankly think 16-year-olds are, as a whole, too immature to be able to sign binding contracts.

[Zookeeper]

16. No, but we should raise the driving age to 18. n/t

[Flabbergasted]

17. Agreed

[minkyboodle]

19. absolutely

[Richard Steele]

26. I'd have more enthusiasm for that idea. nm

[minkyboodle]

18. No and I love the Kooch

[Catchawave]

20. Absolutely ! I've always advocated lowering the age to vote

to make kids more interested in the process. I think they'd have to earn the right at 16 by maintaining a 3.0 average and volunteering with the local political races. Many already do.

I put many hours in for JFK in high school, I was more than ready to vote, but couldn't til I was 21 at the time.

[fujiyama]

21. No

Let 18 year olds actually take advantage of it in the first place.

But if we have 18 as the legal age of adulthood for most things (including dying at war), I say consider lower the drinking age to 18 though and raising the driving age likewise.

[emilyg]

22. No.

[Laurier]

23. No.

[Bluebear]

24. No, then they'll make 16 the age to draft our children. nt

[ellisonz]

25. YES!