Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

Want to vote at 16 ? Get adult treatment in criminal justice

16th Jun 2015
Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

So the prospect of kids voting raises its ugly head again. It appears that at 16 children are mature enough to fully understand the ramifications of their ballot

Why do I not hear the corollary to this , namely that if they are mature enough forcsuch decisions then they are no longer children in the eyes of the law and must be properly punished to pay their debt to society ? 

Teenagers think that they know it all . I was no exception . But when they grow older and more experienced they realise they did not know it all , so why are politicians so stupid as to pander to such wishes ?

I hear the sound of the political correctness brigade approaching...uh oh 

Tags:

You might also be interested in

Replies (16)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

Francois
By Francois Badenhorst
16th Jun 2015 10:51

Giving 16 year olds the vote is an awful, terrible, no good idea. 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
17th Jun 2015 07:53

On the other hand ...

Rather agree with not lowering the age

However, maybe wrong - but from memory one can currently join the armed forces at 16 & possibly die for ones country - and yet not have a say (vote) about who is sending one to war

Although, generally the only reason that any political party tries to lower the voting age is to gain an electoral advantage - statistics have shown that the age group 16-20 is on average likely to vote in a certain way and if this suits ones political agenda then lowering the voting age works in their favour!

Just look at the recent case of the SNP lowering the voting age before the referendum - case in point

Thanks (0)
Replying to Wanderer:
Francois
By Francois Badenhorst
17th Jun 2015 09:10

Military age

No one should see combat ever -- let alone at age 16. Maybe when the stateless utopia I'm dreaming of finally takes hold all these questions will be moot. 

Thanks (0)
By mrme89
17th Jun 2015 10:23

To clarify, 16 and 17 year old cannot be placed in a combat role but they can join and serve the armed forces.

I don't think the voting age should be dropped to 16.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Alan Davies
17th Jun 2015 10:44

In the wise words of..

...Spiderman: 

"With great power comes great responsibility."

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By perry23
17th Jun 2015 13:39

other wise words

No taxation without representation

Thanks (0)
Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
17th Jun 2015 15:31

Tax and under 16s

I don't imagine too many of them pay much direct tax on earned income and they do have representation via their legal guardians 

Perhaps while we are at it , let them drive at 16 on a full car licence 

Thanks (0)
Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
17th Jun 2015 15:53

I agree with 16 to 18 year old voting sooner the better.

Hi 

After the Scottish Referendum .  I was inspired by the youngsters on both sides.  In fact so much so that I thought regardless of the outcome we had an extremely talented bunch of young adults coming up behind us.   It is great to be patronising to that age group.  I was extremely aware when I was 16 .  My son who is 11 is extremely aware is not very happy he cannot vote. 

  They became so politically aware it was brilliant to see.    How many adults have a vote that do not have a clue. ( Millions )  My family voted conservative , Labour all my life I will do the same.

And if you are saying that no one can vote if they are not paying tax.  Then are you saying that someone who loses their job is not entitled to vote, the disabled . Do we have a time frame on not paying tax.   What about those who put their money abroad to avoid paying tax.

So if they work for 1 week then they can vote?  Hardly a great contribution.  We now have 3 generations in some areas not working.   What great guidance and decisions adults have made in UK.   

I think now I would like to listen the younger generation in the UK.  Everyone complains about them and is never willing to give something new a try. 

I watch some of my nieces and nephews and their friends who were 17 at the Scottish election then 18 in the general they were so aware of what their candidates stood for.    They were not just listening to papers and media they were discussing it with adults and on social media.  You cannot hide on social media for example that is why Jim Murphy failed so badly. 

The turnout where I live was 82%  and Scotland 71% .  I cannot believe how much more interested the younger generation are then they used to be. 

In parts of the UK we have young generation who cannot be bothered to vote and if you do not vote at 18 the statistics show that trend continues.   So laugh at the idea you may but if you do not agree with it then we heading for a UK that will not have democracy.   Come up with another solution to get the younger generation interested as the rate we going now in 20 years time the turnout will be under 50% .

And before any one harps on about the SNP the youngsters in all the polls where 50: 50 .  One of best legacy of the referendum was seeing young people engaged.

I actually felt sad when it was all over as Scotland had a buzz from the young on both sides. 

          

 

 

 

Thanks (0)
Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
17th Jun 2015 16:13

Youth

I think that we need to have a mechanism for preparing youth so that when they get to 18 they understand how to analyse an issue and look to the longer term . They need to learn that passion is fine in politics if you truly beleive in an issue and are not simply jingoistic. Oil is a point in hand - how many people let alone teenagers have a grasp of world markets and long tail events 

 

 

Thanks (0)
Replying to fawltybasil2575:
Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
17th Jun 2015 18:37

Most of the Adults do not.

Flying Scotsman wrote:

I think that we need to have a mechanism for preparing youth so that when they get to 18 they understand how to analyse an issue and look to the longer term . They need to learn that passion is fine in politics if you truly beleive in an issue and are not simply jingoistic. Oil is a point in hand - how many people let alone teenagers have a grasp of world markets and long tail events 

 

 

 

On that basis then the majority of adults in the UK should not be allowed vote as they do not understand either . The youngsters were far better informed than a lot of adults.   They are not sheep. 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
17th Jun 2015 17:31

Social Media …

@sarah douglas

‘.. You cannot hide on social media for example that is why Jim Murphy failed so badly ..’

Surely that is the whole point – YOU CAN hide on social media by anonymity, whilst at the same time being extremely aggressive and bulling towards others – SNP CyberNats

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/582925/Charles-Kennedy-cybernat-troll-abuse

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3112992/Hounded-SNP-hate-mob-weeks-lonely-death-Charles-Kennedy-endured-vile-campaign-bullying-abuse-separatist-fanatics-deeply-wounded-vulnerable-man.html

How did matters get to this stage – very simple – because it suited the politicians not to rein in these people. At which stage one has to ask why anyone voted for politicians who did not condemn these thugs - unless of course they may have condoned their actions

Is it any wonder that Jim Murphy, like many others, did not wish to engage on social media, when to do so would have almost guaranteed a stream of abuse, threats and invective from people operating anonymously. Anyway recall that he was phsically abused on the hustings and the SNP did nothing about it

‘.. before any one harps on about the SNP the youngsters in all the polls where 50: 50 ..’

Again the issue here is not necessarily the result, which turned out to be very balanced, but more the underlying reason why Mr Salmond wanted to lower the voting age.

His motives revolved around a belief that by changing the dynamics of the electorate, the youngsters were going to have SNP fervour and side with him. Do you really think he would have done this for any reason other than being a canny politician - did he really give a stuff about the youngsters except a tool to achieve his goals?

But all credit to the youngsters who assessed the situation for themselves.

Nevertheless, agree with @FS about preparing people to vote and having a broader grasp of events on a wider scale

Thanks (0)
Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
18th Jun 2015 17:11

Every single party has cyberbullies

Every single party has cyber bullies and yes no matter what party they are in they should be outed.  As far as I am concerned they should be kicked out of all parties.   Labour party was hardly innocent in Glasgow over the years.  Just read up on the Glasgow City Chambers.

Jim Murphy ( I am not even going to go there. This is the guy who wanted to bring back sectarian songs back to football games. Don,t get me started on Jim Murphy or will be ranting all night.  I voted Labour the last election but as long as he was the Scottish leader no women in their right mind would vote for him.   I have had football up to here ruining Glasgow and disturbing people shopping in Glasgow.  It has been really pleasant the last few years.   

The thing is Jim Murphy could not escape, is the questions about his expenses.   Just because the media forgot about the expenses. This did not mean social media would.  As you know  I would prefer if people used their real name on all forms of social media as you know I am open on Accounting web who I am.  

However the Daily Mail is full of vile comments about Nicola Sturgeon and Mhairi Black everyday about their looks and many other things in the world. So it is hardly the newspaper of morals.  It is a comic and nothing better then chip paper.  They have a cheek to critise anyone of cyber bully.  It goes on in their paper everyday on various subjects.  They do not seem to have an issue that the South of England is practically a one party state .   However it is not good for the UK to have big blocks of parties taking over an area.

I was a big fan of Kennedy, .  What about what his own party did to him.   As far as I am concerned I was quite happy the troll was kicked out.  Just like in Edinburgh the seat they lost was because of the SNP candidates  tweets.  Every party has nasty members so I think they all need to look at themselves.  

 

JC you missing my point I don,t care what party you vote for.  I still want 16 to 18 to have the vote regardless who they vote for. 

 

Thanks (0)
Locutus of Borg
By Locutus
18th Jun 2015 00:29

Not sure how I feel about it

On the one hand, 16 year olds can legally leave school, get a job and pay income tax.  Also 17 year olds can legally control a large device that can kill themselves and others (i.e. a car).

On the other hand, 16 year olds can still be quite naive compared to their 18 year old counterparts.

I'm not sure what age you really become a "grown up".  Different people mature at different ages - whether it be 16, 18, 21, 25 or even 30.

It doesn't instinctively feel right to me that school children should be able to vote.  Albeit I quite accept that an intelligent and informed 16 year old is more worthy of casting a ballot than a layabout 30 year old, who probably can't even be bothered to vote in any case.

18 is generally accepted as the age of majority for most purposes, so I think I would stick with that for voting.  16 and 17 year olds will just have to carry on complaining to mum and dad how unfair life is.

Thanks (0)
By ShirleyM
18th Jun 2015 08:18

My thoughts ..

Maybe it's because I am old, but I think youngsters these days are far less mature than when I was young. They are so 'protected' these days. They are taxi'd around by their parents, and waited on hand and foot, and they know their 'rights', which means they generally think their rights are more important than anyone else's.

I know there is less trust in society, and this results in children being mollycoddled. Children took responsibility for getting themselves to school, and eventually getting themselves to their place of work (at 15 or 16) and they matured as a result of having to start chipping in to the family coffers as soon as possible.

Where parents are sensible, children can be taught about economy by getting them involved in household income and outgoings, but it so rarely happens these days.

So no, no voting at 16. I know there are some mature individuals, but the majority haven't a clue about the economy of the country, or even their own households.

Thanks (0)
Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
18th Jun 2015 12:12

When is an adult a child ?

We wrap them up in cotton wool with warnings such as "tick box that you are over 18 to continue watching" while they have unfettered access to a sewer of filth and violence on most of the internet / games

We then offer them the right to vote and decide the course of our country because they are adults but they are treated with kid gloves then they are naughty boys and girls .They want to grow up fast but sometimes you have to wait for things in life - instant gratification , but you simply cannot have it all as and when you want it.

Making them wait until 18 gives the vote some value , just like getting into a pub for a pint . I think everything should be aligned to 18 , which I think for the majority of people is a good starting point for adulthood.

 In terms of above comment about not letting adults vote either due to a lack of understanding , it is a choice for many of them. they have the maturity and experience to grasp issue better if they want to but many choose not to and vote a certain way "because the have always done so round here" . Having said that you can see clearly that many adults this time round voted differently to the past

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By justsotax
18th Jun 2015 12:25

the unfortunate reality

is that if they are allowed to vote at 16, it just brings forward the age at which they realise politicians are just a bunch of power mad ego's in it for their own short and long term gain with no interest of what the electorate want or need (with a few exceptions).  I suppose the SNP have just proved me wrong on this...but then it seems most of England are quite upset by that democratic outcome...  

Thanks (0)