Re: Voting Age
 

Up until 1969 in the UK 21 was deemed to be the "age" & in some western cultures still, namely the USA 21 is the benchmark. I think in UK you still have to be 21 to hold a HGV/PSV, should you apply the same logic as to that referring to the voting age ... HGV/PSV for 16 year olds ?

Re: Voting Age
 

The voting age should be whatever is the age you can enlist in the armed forces to my thinking, if yer old enough to die fer yer country, yer old enough to vote, simple as.

Re: Voting Age
 

The only age restriction I know of here in the US is the legal drinking age , you have to be 21 to purchase or consume alcohol in a bar or store, everything else including voting is 18 . It was made nationwide a few years back , kind of makes 'some' sense when you consider the high death toll of young drivers in road accidents.
On the other hand , in my mind it discriminates against the young folks who are in the military, unfortunatly they can't go out for a legal pint with the old man when home on leave, which seems a bit unfair to me , think they are allowed to use the clubs on Base though .

Re: Voting Age
 

I wouldnt trust some 16 year olds with a bicycle let alone anything with a motor. Yet that is tarring them all with the same brush. Some will be more mature some less mature than 16 but then that can be applied over all age groups. There are some 18+ that are worse than 13 year old kids never mind 16 year old ones yet they have the vote if they can be arsed using it.. Dosnt mater what happens or what is chosen it will be done when the time is deemed right

Re: Voting Age
 

It does seem odd you can go to war, drive a car, have sex, vote, get married, all at different ages.

They should be unified.

To twenty five.

:D

Re: Voting Age
 

twenty five!!!!! yah will be giving women a vote next.:hidewall:

Re: Voting Age
 

Don't be daft that would be bloody stupid:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::D

Re: Voting Age
 

I remember when I first took an interest in politics I was sixteen, in those days the voting age was 21, I think it was right that the age was dropped to 18 but any lower would be a big mistake

Re: Voting Age
 

Granted Spuggs there will always be some more or less mature in any age bracket, but at 16 the kids are still developing themselves. They're just about starting to see adult concepts & it's a whole world away from whatever they've experienced previously.

Classic cases, look at the threads on here, how cynical, jaded & disillusioned are some of the points in reference to Politicians & Politics ? Then there are those who are adamant that whatever their Party does is right irrespective of the fallout ! The Majority of these views are put forward by folk in what ? 20+ & upwards to our Old Codgers !

At least these people have had a vast wealth of life experiences so can better judge a situation & the likely outcome, with age comes wisdom & admittedly cynicism. But the fact is it's age that gives folk this insight & intuition, so with that in mind surely for the age to be older rather than younger is the best course ?

Re: Voting Age
 

Fully in agreement Jay - what I have seen and heard of today's younger teens i.e. 16/17 year olds - they need guidance on where to apply the toilet paper - trust them with the vote? No way. Even 18 is dubious but as said earlier - if they can die for the country then they should be allowed the vote.

Re: Voting Age
 

Is that the polite way of saying 'they don't know their arse from their elbow'?

Re: Voting Age
 

Well theres one working down london sure as hell don't.:D;)

Re: Voting Age
 

Think its much more direct than that yerself:rolleyes:

Re: Voting Age
 

I agree with this, only fair in my opinion

Re: Voting Age
 

Not sure if this is part of Graham Jones intention, but it seems to be good way of cracking down on juvenile crime (being tough on Law and Order is allways good for a few votes), If 16 year olds are considered to be adults it also follows that they will also be liable to be treated as adults by the Courts and if neccesary serve time in adult jails , and only 15 year olds and younger go in front of the juvenile courts. Sounds a bit Taliban like to me but if it works thats fine ;) :D