Voting Age
 

Is our esteemed member serious or is he trying to get himself noticed? It would seem 83% of Telegraph readers, including myself, disagree with him.

East Lancashire MP calls for voting age to be cut to 16 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Re: Voting Age
 

If the members of the house think x is for x-box then a hell of a lot of people are at it. Yes they are growing up fast and feel marginelised and want a say in what is happening. They are our future so maybe it is time we listened. Mind you the older members of the house may fear the younger the voter the more chance they have of losing their seat. It will be a bitter debate esp as you can die for your country but not be able to vote. Best bet would be to lower it to 17 and hope that is a happy balance.

Re: Voting Age
 

I was following the debate about this on line last week, Graham had quite a lot say about the subject, I also am against the idea, think 18 is the right age for voting

Re: Voting Age
 

I read Graham's contribution to the debate (Clause 2 — Entitlement to...: 18 Oct 2010: House of Commons debates (TheyWorkForYou.com)). He was asked how many 16 year olds had written to him asking to be given the vote, but didn't respond. Perhaps he would let us know?

I know some 16 and 17 year olds can be passionate about the issues, but they can be passionate and affect politics without having the vote. What do we say if a 15 or 14 year old becomes passionate about politics and wants the vote?

There has to be a limit somewhere and there doesn't seem to be any argument given as to why 16 and not 15 or 14.

Re: Voting Age
 

I believe this has been advocated by Labour, the Greens & the SNP in the past, plus other organisations have made mutterings in this direction, I personally think it's an idiotic suggestion, you can give it all the guff about marginalisation, maturity, expectations & more aware but it's all liberal fluffy thinking.

So we start by letting them vote, then you've given them that responsibility, are they then not deemed responsible enough to go & have a drink ? Pub at 16 ? that is the inference. Anyone wishing to join the military at 16 needs to have their papers signed by a Parent or Guardian & even then they can't serve in a Combat zone until 18, so this must also be waived, after all they're now "responsible enough" at 16 to decide the Countries future so by all accounts their own.

I still maintain the majority of 16 year olds are not fully cognisant or emotionally & mentally balanced enough to take on these responsibilities, so things are better left as they are. As it is in this modern world the Kids are getting no time to be Kids & are being rushed into Adulthood earlier & into a confrontation they're ill prepared to face !

Doesn't anyone else see the inherent pitfalls in this ludicrous suggestion ?

Re: Voting Age
 

I remember when the voting age was brought down to 18, it just so happened to be my age at the time, I was Chuffed as little buttons that I could vote, but had no idea at the time who I should or shouldn't vote for, I ended up relying on my Fathers prejudiced advice.
In actual fact, back then what he said is no way something that could be repeated because of the P.C. brigade! But it does turn out to be true.

The short & none racist version is, don't believe anyone they only want your money.

Hell, like any teenager I ignored him, is that why I'm skint?
:o

Re: Voting Age
 

This has always been a favourite of Labour politicians. Why? Because at 16 you can afford to have left wing leanings and many young people do. They tend to change as they get in the big, wide, wicked world.
So who would they vote for? Guess.
Having said that when you read some of the posts on Accyweb there are some people much older than 16 who STILL shouldn't be allowed to vote.

Re: Voting Age
 

I hope, to show equality you include yourself in that list?

After all it is easy for all of us to say what is wrong, but how many of us really know what is right?

:D

Re: Voting Age
 

Equality is a myth, Less. Quote-' All men are equal but some are more equal than others.'

Re: Voting Age
 

Ahh, rather than give a reason we get a proverb, 1 out of 10 for the site spelling your name right!

Equality is something we all deserve, no matter what excuse the superior give for denying it to the rest.
:)

Re: Voting Age
 

Buggar the voting age. Surely the first qualification should be that you can speak, write and read english; the second qualification should be that you are a British subject. There may well be an argument for a 17 year old to be enfranchaised, but I cannot see how we can give the vote to a citizen of Mozambique who may be resident in this country for a year or so - which is currently the case. the same goes for all our Commonwealth and EU friends.

Re: Voting Age
 

Sod it let it be that you have to be 45+ to vote.

Re: Voting Age
 

Bloody Hell, I've just reached an age where I'll have to be responsible!
No If I was old enough I'd vote against that one.
:mad:

Re: Voting Age
 

And there in lies the problem; How do you define the age of responsibility and how would it be judged as such.

Re: Voting Age
 

I only ever voted once.I soon realised that whatever colour jacket the organ grinders monkey wore the organ played the same tune.:confused::D:

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.

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

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

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Think its much more direct than that yerself:rolleyes:

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I agree with this, only fair in my opinion

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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

Re: Voting Age
 

it used to be 17 fer senior courts, if thats not now the case in the U.K. i aint aware.:confused:

Re: Voting Age
 

If you can get married at 16 with parents' written consent , you should be able to vote .

A signature on a marriage certificate is far more important than a cross on a ballot paper .

Re: Voting Age
 

Perhaps there should be a test, to see who is able to vote.

Scrap the 'X', placed in the box to indicate a choice, and see if they can write their own name.

(I can't, so I'll just have to abstain.)

:D