Should Voting Age Be Lowered to 16?
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- Опубликовано: 22 янв 2019
- When you turn 18, our society generally considers you an adult. You can join the military. You're eligible for jury duty. And, of course, you gain the right to vote. However, you can get a job, pay taxes, and even be tried as an adult for some crimes at 16. Clearly, laws have an impact on nearly everyone well before they can cast their vote. Maybe we need to rethink the voting age. Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?
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OK, so voting may not SEEM like a big deal, especially since there's a ton of eligible voters out there that don't vote.
But it's kinda awesome that in America, voting is a right. I mean, 40% of the world doesn't even have the option to vote, which means they don't get a say in their government. HOWEVER, the laws governing who can vote and who can't have evolved over time. Regarding voting age, Some critics say that 16-year-olds aren't mature enough or have enough life experience to cast an informed vote. Others argue that 16 year-olds should have a stake in laws that affect them.
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* Can you vote anywhere if you're under 18? *
In some other countries, voting under the age of 18 isn't controversial. Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua all allow voting at 16. And, 3 cities in the U.S. allow 16 and 17 year-olds to vote in local elections.
* What's a major argument why 16-year-olds SHOULDN'T be allowed to vote? *
Some critics say that 16 year-olds aren't mature enough or have enough life experience. After all, most are high schoolers, legally required to attend school and generally dependent on their family for food, clothing, and shelter.
* What's a major argument why 16-year-olds SHOULD be allowed to vote? *
Many argue that 16-year-olds should have a stake in laws that affect them. They go to school, so why not let them vote on school policy? A lot of them also have jobs where they're taxed on their earnings without having any voting power to affect change in their government.
SOURCES:
Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?
www.pbs.org/newshour/politics...
The case for allowing 16-year-olds to vote
www.vox.com/policy-and-politi...
The surprising consequence of lowering the voting age
www.washingtonpost.com/news/m...
Nearly six-in-ten countries are now democratic
www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/...
Young People Dramatically Increase their Turnout to 31%, Shape 2018 Midterm Elections
civicyouth.org/young-people-d...
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Should the U.S. lower the voting age to 16? Tell us why or why not. Let us know in the comments below!
18 for voter registration. 18 for registration in Selective Service. No earthly reason to associate the two beyond 'civic service'. I may be sheeple.
Now I'm curious if Selective Service is needed. And if so, should it remain a requirement of only men.
The same people who want the 16-17 voting bloc also say let's increase the gun ownership age to 21 because people under that age can't make their own decisions.
@
AboveTheNoise - I really love you topics and the balanced way you present them.
Regarding voting at 16yo, I say a big NO. I have a 16yo and an 18yo. The 16yo thinks he is an independent thinker; but, he is heavily influenced by others (friends, teachers, etc.).
Also, several times I have seen groups of students protesting an issue; but, when you looked a little below the surface you see an adult that is really leading the pack.
We all know of the peer pressure of the teenage years; and, giving 16yo the vote would really amp this up and adult influence to get votes could easily be abused.
The best argument for allowing 16 to vote is that they will lead them to make it a habit. I say yes because increasing the number of people who vote in elections is extremely important in a democracy.
Just saying as a 15 year old I have many friends who would be glad to vote.
@@Nico-kf8wr Do you understand the long term effects of what u vote for... Can you tell if a politician is lying, Do you know when a politician is playing you for a fool...
I know 27-year-olds who aren’t old enough to vote yet!
Definitely ! I know People in my age Bracket who should NEVER Vote ! And I’m 70 !
Ok
@@stevesanzari7294 it’s not your job to determine who and who can’t vote regardless of age, that’d be tyranny. if 16 year olds are paying federal income tax, and have the potential to be tried as adults, etc they should have the right to vote
@@isaacmccall7162 , I along with 4 or more people agree with you completely because your comment is objectively truthful whenever it comes to the voting experiences entirely.
there are uninformed segments in every age group,
but the older that age group the smaller that segment is.
For me when I was 15 I felt I should be able to vote. My politics changed, but people who say the brain isn’t fully developed when younger are misleading. It isn’t done growing is different than it will result in poor political decisions. On the other hand I know of many adults who have the problem of their brain still isn’t growing.
The human brain doesn't stop developing and maturing until around the age of 25, the ability for abstract thought, which is usually needed to even begin to discuss moral issues and politics can start to occur at the age of 14, but usually doesn't fully manifest itself until 16 or older. The voting age used to be 21, but was changed to 18 in the twenty sixth amendment due to the backlash of boys being sent to fight in a war for politicians they couldn't vote for yet
I say if you are 16 you should be able to vote . If you are 18 9/10 you got other things to worry about. Like going to college or getting ready to . Like getting your house or apartment. Like you getting used to living on your own . When you are 16 you got all the time and the world..
That's right Karl they are the one's that think people that work hard should pay their bills for them. Deadbeat democrats.
This is not a clear statement. It seems you are contradicting yourself. Did you mean to say sixteen year olds should not be able to vote? @@presidentmeeks1656
Even at the age of 18 my way of thinking was all messed up, I truly regret my views on politics
My political views evolved significantly through the college years...definitely don't agree with what I thought at 18.
Thank you for your willingness to say this.
Thank you for sharing this. @@UnchainedEruption
So would you support repealing I believe the 26th amendment and raise the voting age to 25?
I have no views WHATSOEVER and it will stay that way .
I'm 16 years old, and I personally don't see myself as emotionally stable enough to vote. I prefer not to add to the stress of high school by researching politics and keeping tabs on the media. There are probably quite a few highschoolers mature enough to vote wisely, but personally I feel that most of us are still finding ourselves at this point and aren't ready for that responsibility.
That's a good point that we didn't include in the video-- would allowing 16 year olds to vote create additional stress at an already stressful time in life? Thanks for sharing!
On that idea, there is the choice not to vote since voting isn't mandatory. But I do see how some may force themselves to out of feeling like they have to for what they believe in.
Completely agree with you 👍
You are a smart Kid. I would approve YOU to vote , in theory. I am 57 and , like ,99% more informed , with a , like , 87% higher analytical ability , than the general population , and I believe I SHOULD NOT VOTE. OK , just joking. I definitely think I should vote. If I was Dictator , I would organise it to 30 Yr. Olds and above , with a literacy test and basic civic test , with retesting option. Then I would step down , please dont execute Me , My beloved subjects...!!! Just sayin'. Stay in School , or get a job. Peace....out...
Enjoy your youth while you can, you only get one chance.
I don’t think they should be able to vote. Even though I’m 14, I would absolutely love to vote, but I don’t trust my peers. Most people my age aren’t very informed and a little unstable. I wouldn’t trust to make informed decisions about the future of this country.
Enjoy your youth, you only get one chance.
Joe McNulty Thanks for the tip. I really do try, but it’s difficult. Hope you try to enjoy life too!
@@stephaniesummer2663 believe there are so many things I wish I could've done as a teenager that I didn't because I was too eager to grow up. Also the reason they lower was because at the time, Vietnam was still going on, and eighteen year old men fighting and dying and they weren't able to vote.
Joe McNulty Yeah I know. I try and enjoy the youth I have left. I know that in the future I will regret that I didn’t do more in these days, but it’s tough to internalize it.
Most americans watch fox news and cnn instead of doing their reaseach so yes we should be allowed to vote
Did 16 year olds suddenly become smarter and more mature? Oh no the exact opposite.
why should people like me who has researched and took a lot of time to see who is trying to run for ANY role not be able to vote. I have to wait a whole 2 years to vote. most 18-30 year olds don't even exercise their rights to.
sweetener you might have researched about it and know a lot about the subject not many 16 years old have the right knowledge
@@dylanturner289 trust me the people who don't care enough to research WON'T vote.
@@b3lla_919 you have to also take in account how impressionable they are to. Their parents and teachers can he bias and thus take the choice from her
well i mean there's more technology now to stay informed compared to way back when
then people will try to lower this even farther...
"Should 12 year old kids get the right to vote??" lol
If anything if they wanted to change the age it should be higher lol
Only demtards think this is a good idea. They have the teachers brainwashing them so they want to get em young...
Youngest dude to fight in the military was 12 years old and received a purple heart the youngest person to be executed in the United States was 14 years old. Why can’t someone be 16 and have a say
what makes people over 40 have say when their life is half over they don’t have to live with the consequences as much as younger individuals, and their brain is aged very hypocritical, because you want one way, but not the other with age restriction laws
My own personal politics have changed a lot since I was 16. I'm now 38. I look back and think ' Did I really used to think that way?'
Most peoples politics change as they get older. Personal experience changes you in ways your college tutor won't dare mention.
You mean trauma
My classmates definitely aren’t ready enough to vote 😂 you’d be putting the future of our country on 10th graders.
Alexander Shervanick no
I will never vote in any US elections
instead it's put in the hands of racists and qanoner. all arbitrary.
@@latinajoseph that’s why I’m never going to vote
@Alexander Shervanick i wouldn’t trust my 16 year old self to vote. i am not who i was when i was 16. if they wanna change the age, they should go higher not lower.
At the end, you used double the votes for ages 16 & 17 as an example against age 18, yet to be fair it is double between two years, so on average they are the same for each age group.
Hi there! The graph at the end uses percentage of eligible voters. So, 17% of eligible voters aged 16-17 actually voted, while only 8.5% of eligible voters aged 18 voted.
xisumavoid What is one of my childhood Minecraft memories doing in this comment section?
Xisuma, I didn't know you liked politics. That's cool!
XISUMAVOID???
what are you doing here go play hermitcraft xD
He knows this. He's just being intellectually dishonest
Hey man I'm a millennial and I voted. But I'm glad more than half my generation didn't vote if you were to meet my senior class you'd be saying the same thing.
Adults arnt nessicarily any better on average, that should be pretty apparent looking at how they vote
A millennial? When was your senior class? Anyone in high school now is Gen Z.
@@BadgerCheese94 anyone under 21 is gen z.
@@Am-wt3sm Anyone born after 1997 so they can be as old as 23.
@@BadgerCheese94 ok
I’m 18 you should be 21
pleb
I 100% agree. It used to be 21 until the 26th amendment was introduced to allow Vietnam War veterans the right to vote because many were under 21 at the time. However, we don't have many 18-20 year olds joining the military anymore, and a lot of schools and colleges are indoctrinating kids to vote for their leftist ideologies.
We should make a new amendment to abolish the 26th amendment!
Fuck the society this is so dissapointing and the ideology and cobcept where this comes up
Simp
I literally feel like it should be elevated to 21
Thank you !
Stop no its not fair i am 16 turning 17 i wanna vote and when I turn 18 i am not going to vote because to approve that its not fair stop please it should be 16 and older to vot for president
no shut up
No, that is not a good idea.
@@localwillow9948 for real one the worst decesions it should be 14 to vote in local elections and 16 to vote for president BTW
For the record I just turned 17 but if we are only allowing 16 year olds to vote based on lack of engagement with younger ,legal, voters I think realistic updates to voting accessibility,that could possibly incorporate technology would be a better solution. I feel like this changewould diminish the meaning of being legally recognized as an adult ,which is already being done with inconsistencies with drinking laws etc. I mean as it stands for most states a majority of ex- felons don't even have the rights to vote. To add on most 16 year olds wouldn't even be enrolled in any economics or a government courses yet so I just don't see the need for a change.
Puerto Ricans and people in other US Territories be like "what about us?"
They don't pay a federal income tax.
MasterFalkner they were all given the choice to become a state but all voted no because they don't want to pay taxes.
What about you ?
@damnfidum Nah, we need votes from them my dude.
They lucky they get automony and pay no federal income tax
I see pros and cons either way. I will say though as an 20yrd, when I was 16-17 I was angry that I wasn’t able to vote and thought it was ridiculous that I couldn’t. My opinion is that when looking at the facts and stuff I’m pretty on the fence, however when I look at it a bit more emotionally and thinking about how I felt as a 16yrd I think it should be changed. So I guess I lean towards yes 16yrds should have the right to vote, but I’m not still pretty hesitant about the idea
i bet if you ask any 16 year old to name at least 5 senators they couldnt. they know so little about politics and the personalities and the background of the people running their country, these aren't things you can learn in school or be able to point out in a few months. the frontal cortext isnt even that developed at this point, and some studies show that the brain doesnt fully develop until your late 20s, and im pretty sure even some 20 year olds arent too bright as well.
Yes we need to lower the voting age to 16 but first, Lower the age of consent to 16, and allow 16 year olds to buy and carry firearms. Hey, they are mature and Pelosi thinks they are capable of anything an adult can do so why not? Also why not try 16 year olds as adults when they commit crimes because they are just as mature and knowledgeable as any adult.
Age of consent is a state issue.
I mean I dont think thats a good idea. What if a 16 year old kid who gets bullied buys a gun and shoots up a school
Nah, if 16 year can only rely on media for info, regarding which party they choose, and not do reseach, then move it to 21 or leave it at age 18.
Sounds like you're into high school girls weirdo
No they aren't mature as adults
If the voting age was raised to 36, then that would be the death knell of the Green parties
Here in the UK it’s a bit strange as well, you have to be 18 to vote in national elections everywhere but in Scotland you can vote at 16 in local and Scottish Parliament elections (but not for the National UK parliament)
I was doing a 6 paragragh and I watched this video and it gave me so many resons and answers Thank you so much whoever did this video
If you don't trust someone to drink you shouldn't trust them to vote. The argument against allowing our youth to drink is that the brain is still developing, in which case, it seems the science is telling us they aren't quite ready. They say that happens in the 20s, but I'd say 18 is likely mature enough for both.
If you use the brain development argument, then we should raise the drinking age to 25
Dante Belcher maybe we should
HELL NO! Should be moved to 21.
II actually agree with you.
No the 26th Amendment of Constitution says you are wrong. We need to obey the Constitution
Oscar Goodwin23 the Constitution can be amended, which is what I think he is referring to.
The younger you are thought to vote, to know that your action have consequences, the better you will vote in the future. Also, the old people do not vote for the future because they have no future. Their future is 5 years tops.
I think we should raise it to 25
Why
agreed
Discriminatory to say the least
@@micahchaseabag5060 the brain isn't fully developed until the age of 25. I do believe thou that if we do this the drinking age should be raised to 25 as well as well the age of active combat soldiers. Technicians and trainees can still start at 18, but you shouldn't be at the front lines, if you can't influence politicians.
@@matttheradartechnician4308 bro you 3 months late i needed that for English class
If you can vote at 16 then youshould be able to drink at16 as well as be drafted at16 it's only fair
Donald Kasper ya im sure pedophiles would love to see that happen
@@tomg4685 They wouldn't even be considered pedophiles, the 16 year olds wouod be adults according to law, the same status as an 18 year old. Also, 16 is the age of consent in most states anyway.
Pillsbury Doughboy but in some of the most populated states it isnt. In California and Florida it is 18.
Donald Kasper yes, they are pedos. Doesnt matter if they think they are. Who cares what they think. Pedos are pedos.
Donald Kasper and no I dont really “fail to understand”. You said “full adulthood at 16”, therefore what I responded with works just fine.
Nah, I think it should be raised if anything
Who ever thinks this is a good idea wasn’t bullied in highschool
No
I didn't know there are only this few countries with a legal voting age of 16! I'm Austrian and for me it has always felt quite natural that people are able to make an at least somewhat informed decision at that age. We also do get a good bit of political education in schools, so by the time people turn 16, they definitely have more knowledge about current politics than many 60+ year olds, who are also allowed to vote.
And while, yes, some issues such as housing and taxes don't really affect them at this point, neither do all issues affect older people (see child support with elderly people or those who never even have children), so that's not a good argument either.
Awesome, thanks for sharing your view. Cool to hear first hand how it's done in Austria!
Johannes Ambrosch your argument/logic could be used to say 14 year olds should vote too. Do you think thats a good idea?
I wouldn't trust U.S. kids bud
Not sure where u got 16 know as much as 60 yr Olds. The dumbest thing I've ever heard.
Thank you for this comment. Yes, we have to pick an age for voting, but allowing people to vote who have not been out on their own, paying their bills, facing life's challenges, buying a car, negotiating relationships and putting the myriad, complicated aspects of real life into practice is not logical. Voting is serious and deserves to have standards met before being granted as a right. @@tomg4685
I really do think we should, just like the video mentioned "Taxation without Representation" is a major issue. However, I do believe parents may pressure an individual to vote in line with the parents beliefs. I am a 15 year old, and I believe what my parents believe, however that is because I myself have came to those political conclusions. In a time where the world is seeing change, we have to seriously consider the possibility of 16 year olds being given the right to vote. I really think this is something we do have to put more consideration into, and I myself would love to see 16 year olds voting. Do I think it will have flaws, yes. However, we need to figure out what the flaws may be, and evaluate them into more detail.
It's really great, coming from Austria. And it does not have any flaws in my opinion, if it's combined with great political education in class like we have: examples next to studying party programmes : doing "fake elections" in class and seeing which party would win and other fun activities like that to get a grasp of the different political views. We start learning about this at the age of 12 or so, and a lot more from 14 and onwards. By the age you're 16 you have a fairly good understanding of the system, thus being allowed to vote is perfectly understandable.
A seven year old buys a comic book and pays taxes. Should he vote? How about no representation without taxation? I doubt you pay much in taxes as you live at home. When you are paying 25 to 30 percent of your yearly, regular income, paying rent or mortgage, paying for you own clothes, transportation, food, furniture, entertainment and health costs, then you can claim taxation. The taxation argument is weak. Illegal immigrants and vacationers pay taxes while here. Should they vote?
Yeah, why stop there. Let's let the 7 year olds vote because there are things/topics that effect them too; especially when it comes to schools and school curriculum.
Based
There’s a huge difference between being 16 and being 7..... 16 year olds ain’t kids. Not saying they’re adults either, but they’re obviously much more matured and informed than 7 year olds, being only 2 years away from being 18...
If any kind of emotional stability or cognition level argument is made against a 16 year-old citizen, the logic could apply to any citizen, no? If we postulate we should not let a certain category of citizens vote because of cognitive challenges, there is very little conceptual difference in postulating we should test all citizen's cognitive abilities before letting them vote, as with a permit for example.
Nope, they dont have the experience a 30 year old would have. you cant really learn politics in class as well, you'd have to see it for yourself and that requires time unfortunately. i bet most kids cant even name 5 senators...
@@lapse4368 well if you put it take way then the age to vote should be higher then
@@lapse4368 and most people in the u.s can’t even name 5 senators lol
Raise it to 21
I think something extremely reasonable that needs to be done is to allow people who are old enough to vote in an election to also vote in the primaries. I say this because of what happened to me. I was 18 for the 2016 election, so I was able to vote in it. However, I was one month away from being 18 during the primaries. That was incredibly unfair because it basically meant that other people were choosing who I could vote for. This also had a major affect on my vote in the election because I would have voted for Bernie Sanders in the primaries. He lost and I was forced to vote for Hillary if I wanted to go against Trump. It makes absolutely no sense and is extremely unfair for me to not be allowed to vote in the primaries of an election that I'm eligible to vote in, especially when I was only ONE MONTH away. We need to change that.
Bernie Sanders was the most popular with younger people, but so many of them, like myself, were prevented from voting. We're the ones who have to live the longest with the decisions made by older people. The least older people, like government politicians, could do is let us have a say. And if someone wants to argue about maturity, just look at the reactions of old white men to the recent Gilette commercial to see how immature even older people are. The amount of immaturity I have had to face from people older than me is immense. COUNTLESS adults are uninformed and ignorant when they walk into the voting booth but we let them. If that's what you're worried about with younger people, maybe start with those ignorant and immature adults who already can vote. Wait, that's right. You're counting on them to make your party win. And you know I don't even have to say which party it is because we all know which party is counting on small voting numbers, minimal diversity, and uneducated voters.
Most states that I am aware of allow you to vote in a primary if you would be of legal voting age for the general. And I agree with you that that should be the standard everywhere.
@@derekkent Are you sure? It sounds like the most logical thing to do but I haven't heard of it being an actual thing before. Everyone told me and all I heard was that you had to be 18 to vote in the primaries. I'll be upset if I actually could have. They need to emphasize to younger and first time voters at that age that It's possible to vote in the primaries if that's the case in their state.
@@Mcwollybob See: www.usa.gov/voter-registration-age-requirements for the requirements in your state (and to compare to other states).
@@derekkent It doesn't mention anything about voting in primaries from what I can see. It only mentions when you're allowed to register.
@@Mcwollybob Click on your state and the FAQ will include details on primaries. In general though, if the state lets you register if you are 16, 17, 17.5, or will be 18 on the general, then you'll be able to vote in the primary too.
I think local elections may work, but I would take a look at the impact of historical elections in the example Nations you listed as allowing sixteen year olds the vote
No. Should make it higher if anything.
Your taken away are rights
The whole statement of "no taxation without representation" for minors is sorta idiotic. You will get all of your federal tax dollars back from the government as a minor because they understand this. And I know this for a fact because I've done my own taxes for two years and the math adds up. Now, state taxes, that's a different story
Thats even more idioitc than not taxing them in the first place. They shouldnt be taxed in the first place.
@@bvegannow1936 Hold on, you think the American Government was built to be efficient and to think logically? You're cute
@@damianburns2001 , either minors shouldn’t be taxed at all, or every “national born citizen” should be able to vote because the whole purpose of why the United States didn’t allow minors to vote in the first place was because they weren’t paying any taxes at all, but if minors are forced to pay taxes, and it being mandatory for minors to pay taxes then they should in fact be allowed to vote.
Absolutely not.
POV: your teacher sent you thic bc election is VERY soon
I have to write an essay about it today😪
lol the election is happening rn
POV: I hate it here
@@doceangie yo can you send me your essay pls. I got a paragraph to write PLSSSSSS
@@doceangie help me out
Kudos to comment below by junowatt, 25 for all citizens , 18 for those who put their lives on the line for the country
mazmonte77 not every soldier puts “their life” on the line. A lot of them have no actual combat training except the 3 days of UO that is delivered in basic. So basically they have civilian jobs except in the military, and get to be called soldiers. Yay!
Yeah, no. I don’t want to live in Starship Troopers. If you’re old enough to be considered for military service, you’re old enough to vote, drink, and buy/carry any firearm you wish.
09/13/20: San Francisco could be first major American city to let 16-year-olds vote. anyone surprised?
No lol voting age should be 21 at the very least.
I actually was in favor of voting with 16, but now I'm not sure anymore. Especially the "emotion vs rationality" argument I haven't really considered before; when I think about it, I see this all the time on twitter, at protests or when I just remember how I was thinking 15 years ago. The reasoning of younger people is indeed often very emotional.
I just know that I wasn't ready to vote with 16, but I wasn't really ready with 25. I can't project my own experience onto others though ...
Well-researched, well-presented, and a nice dose of humor. Good video on the debate.
What a hack piece
It should be 21
Fuck nah
I don't have a super strong position on this. I think that for school board and anything like that, it definitely makes sense to give students more of a say. And I think various arguments in favor of applying that more generally have merit that's worth considering. I also think the taxation factor is interesting... I did my first 1040 (or 1040A, maybe) when I was 14... and there was definitely an extent to which I was paying attention to politics, and had formed some opinions that I might have liked to have had the opportunity to express in the form of a vote. And I only got more educated and invested and whatnot since then...
And plenty of people don't make those investments of time and mental energy. And... I don't think it's actually reasonable to exclude them, much as I sometimes might want to, because I don't think there's a good way to draw the line that's not just... horrible. One way or another, any line drawn is (as far as I can imagine at the moment) arbitrary in its details, even if it can be based on some sound reasoning. Is 18 a good place to draw an arbitrary line? Meh, maybe, maybe not. Probably not, in ways. Age probably isn't even the best metric, in ways. But what is? Standardized testing tends to have significant biases, etc., etc.
Hmm. I should go read the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers (among many other historical sources... perhaps something from ancient Greece?), and see what others have come up with on this point... Not to mention modern neuroscience??? It's complicated!
I disagree David they don't understand tax implications yet so I don't believe their views should raise the working class Americans taxes.
@@raprock5000 source? Also, taxes are hardly the only policy that matters. Also, how do you know they’d want taxes on the working class?
David taxing the rich more and more all the time doesn't help us working class. They just hire less people give less raises and bonuses. Trump's term I had the best raises and bonuses ever in 25 years at the company I'm employed at. The CEO basically said at a company meeting you can thank president Trump for your raises and bonuses. Just to be clear the company is in liberal Boston so that had to be hard to say. We were already told this year there won't be any raises, it's not that we aren't busy either we are on overtime. You can see what Joe's effect is having gasoline is up $1 a gallon since he came in and f'd things up. Not to mention groceries and everything else you need to live. The Dems are excellent liars though no doubt about that...😆😃
@@DavidLindes oh I also agree it was nice with Trump not in any wars and several peace agreements. Low energy prices, low unemployment plus he stopped sending billions of dollars all over the world like the demtards do...
Honestly, put it back to 21.
Older Adults dont vote better than younger people on av. Then there is a whole group of younger people not being represented or having young peoples rights stood up for politically, and instead u get older adults voting to steal from and take away rights from the younger generation.
@@bvegannow1936 I was exaggerating a bit. But no younger than 18.
@@bvegannow1936 young people don’t work to survive, by law they have everything given to them.
What about support for younger individuals being able to earn a right to.vote early?
Todays 16 year old is a child, no business voting
The voting age should be increased to, at least, 21. 25 would be better.
No. Next question?...
It all depends on where we decide to draw the line as a country. If the United States government says that you’re an adult at 18 then you’re an adult for all purposes including the right to vote. Although 16 year olds are coming of age for certain things such as criminal prosecution, paying taxes, and driving they’re still not legally recognized as adults by the law. I say we draw the line when you’re an adult.
16 year olds are adults physically and biologically, people don't become adults at one single age just cause the law says so
I'm 16 and voting on the Welsh Senedd election on 6 May. I am well informed and perfectly capable of voting but many people my age are immature and wouldn't know the first thing about politics. However, they haven't registered to vote so for them it's just like if they weren't allowed to vote at all. Voting isn't a 'cool' thing so very few would do it unless they are not educated so there isn't really a risk of uninformed voting. I think peopley age should gain some basic knowledge on the country's politics and vote, enen if they don't know a lot, they should still be able to identify who serves their wants and needs.
No. Unless you are living in your own house and paying your own expenses for housing, cell phone bills, and so on
As a 16 yr no
I disagree with what I believed in when I was 16. However, i wouldn't use that as an argument for mot lowering the voting age. If I were to inform how I think our democracy should work just based off of whether i think it would end up supporting my views, that would be awfully undemocratic of me.
It is incredibly difficult to tell whether voters will actrationally before they have the right because of campaigning. No one campaigns to teenagers now, so theyll develop different viewpoints than when they are being appealed to, both with logic and with emotion.
Technically yes the voting age should be lowered or at least have acceptions. In 1765 “no taxation without representation” has been put into mind. As a 14 year old with a workers permit you can legally have a job and receive normal payment. As long as you have a job you legally pay taxes. So why shouldn’t we have a say in what happens to our money and how much we gat taxed. Think about how many 16 year olds also struggle with racial issues. They should also have a say in there community and culture. You can’t stereotype an entire age group based off of personal judgments or opinions on them ( such as 16 and 17 year olds being to immature).
No 16 year old works a full time job, lives in their own house and pays their own bills. Sure, some may work in Mc Donald’s as a part timer, that’s hardly real world experience
@@zachb1706 As long as the government wants to take a single penny in tax money, the citizen being taxed should have an absolute right to vote on. Either they cannot vote and don't collect tax from them, or let them vote and collect tax from them. Can't have it both ways. I personally favor the former, but the government would never give up that tax revenue, small as it is.
@@georgebrantley776 why? The government taxes non citizens abs they don’t get any say. Tax isn’t the definitive answer to who should it shouldn’t be able to vote.
The minimum voting age should represent when our society recognises individuals as...individuals capable of voting fairly in election.
I’m 16 right now, I do not believe that I or anyone I know has the experience or “maturity” to vote. No one I know has a full time job, no one I know lives by themselves. Heck only a couple people have even had to pay tax - and I wouldn’t deem them as people capable of a vote.
@@zachb1706 Non-citizens are of visitor status--they have not yet affirmed their long term intention to stay (i think it takes way to long for people to become naturlaized citizens btw) or are just here for various personal reasons and not actually intending to partake in American society. Meanwhile, citizens are full members of society an are presumed to intend to stay.
I would opine the majority of voters are not sufficiently well informed to vote on policy. However, if we are to indetify those who can "vote fairly," a 16 year old is entirely capable of holding reasonable debate (such as what you are doing right now) on policy matters that do not go into great technicality. Things that influence them and their lives intricately. You are entirely capable of arguing that 16 year olds should not be allowed to vote and have very rational reasons why. Yet, should it ever come to be voted upon, you are barred from voting. Is this not undemocratic?
I have a friend who was too young to vote in this last election. He manages a stock portfolio tens of thousands of dollars. The related tax is not huge compared to a salary, but also nontrivial. Biden's economic policy intricately impacts his financial status. As he is in college, he is very interested in the student debt crisis and how that will be handled. Yet, given the immense impact the president's actions have on his financial well-being, he is too young to have any say in the matter. Perhaps he is inexperienced in life. Still, he is mature enough to know that the economic decisions that will be made in this coming year over economic stimulus and debt relief will directly impact his life. Surely you can see why he feels like he should be allowed a say in things, given what he has on the line?
I do sincerely believe most 16 year olds are highly immature. But I also sincerely believe it is unjust to exclude those who can prove maturity, through their actions or their knowledge, from voting. I believe you are mature enough to vote--you have a rational argument for your view, which is more than what many adults have.
So they think the group eating tide-pods are a good representatives for tommorows future🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
I am teenager and I don't drinking or eat cleaning products. You adults are not just anybettter put duct tape on mouth, drinking Bleach , On capital riot on January 6, 2021 and those who participated on it have pooped and pee . My parents can seem to put together after dealing house arrangements for my brother, or Vacation while kids in my class were instructed to talk about political ideology of Democracy, Republic, Socialism, dictatorship ,Facisims, and Conusim. It did went to any difference of every people and we were able to led an argument slide easily . Social opportunities and Social outcomes . Social opportunities is when everyone get equal chance but have different incomes . Social outcomes are when different opportunities get the same amount of outcomes. You guys aslo need to stop drinking a gallon of clorox or any Bleach you.
@@mysterfan7649 😂😂👌🏽🇺🇲
The correct answer is, only those who own property and have proven a vested interest in our country should be granted the vote. They are the ones carrying the majority property tax burden for the services and infrastructure that renters take for free.
so poor people...? or unintelligent people...?
***"Wild In The Streets"*** a 1968 movie starring Shelley Winters, Christopher Jones, & Diane Varsi - A story about a twenty something young man who gains significant political influence as the leader of a counterculture rock band with his rallying cry of voting rights for teenagers. Convinced that taking voting rights down to 18 was not far enough and what happens when they take it all the way down to 14 years old. His band rises to power on the rallying cry "14 or Fight!" On his way to the Oval Office with his youth-controlled police state agenda.
I'd be fine with them voting if they were taught how to vote, how to choose candidates, and if they were informed on each candidate or at least informed how to do their own research on candidates. Also if kids that age would bully less. Kids will get bullied if they align themselves with the "wrong" political party, now imagine actually VOTING for the "wrong" political party.
No we know more then you think we pick candidates whay would be best for us and are kids unlike other gens baby boomers am looking at you
Please older gens dont do reaseach at all they look at cnn or fox news and go like this must be all the source
Meanwhile in a world where you can vote at 10
*IM VOTING NINJA FROM FORTNITE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!1!1!1!1*
Taxing minors should be illegal. Easy fix.
They tax for a reason so not taxing minors, (and there are a lot who work) would be like giving away money so the problem would not even be relevant to voting the economy would just fail, but what do I know I'm just a 12 yr old.
Marlee Rose The economy would not fail lmfao. The only minors who get taxed are workers. They aren’t giving away money whatsoever since you can’t even file a tax return if you are a dependent.
@@commanderkuplar3790 I said It would be like giving away money, like i said I'm just 12 i don't know a lot but i appreciate your feedback. I only said it would fail because that what I got from civics class lmao. Thank for informing me though.
People might think 16 year olds don't know much. Maybe if they could vote there'd be a decent education system. Here in Ireland you can go to jail at 17 but can't vote until 18 and that shows you how little this country cares about young people.
When I was in high school, I had a couple friends who had strong political opinions but most of the others couldn't name the prime minister and couldn't name three political parties let alone tell me what the parties stood for. How will a 16 year old vote if they can't even tell you what the NDP represent or what position the Conservative are taking. They vote for who their parents vote for. Bad idea to let 16 year olds vote.
im 20 and im glad i didnt vote at 16
I'm 17 and I say no I ain't going to care or give a shit about politics at a young age so nah I'm not gonna vote
Just cuz u dont care doesnt mean others shouldnt be allowed to. Plenty of kids have their rights violated based on age and they deserve to be able to vote to try to change laws to get their rights protected. Arnt there any laws u disagree with?
@@bvegannow1936 yes but that's why kids should wait when there older like is that big of a deal to change like 5 years. Yes it can be cool to know and learn about politics but there is a point we're it's to young.
@@loganholt3423 no. Quit being ageist. Many kids are smarter than many adults
@@bvegannow1936 your right but there still kids why now do we have to give us kids the right to vote after all these years suddenly. I do agree some kids are smarter than adults but you don't see a 16 year old as a judge?I know bad example. As a kid I don't think it's a good idea all this is are an excuse to get more voters to vote nothing more. Just wait 2 years it's not going to kill you.
@@loganholt3423 no. Kids need to be able to stand up for their rights.
great video
No!
I think we should lower it to whenever they get their first job. It would very per person.
Voting age should be capped at 70, anyone after that age has no concerns in politics.
no wtf. i don’t even want 16 year olds driving
What if 16 year olds take a test to determine if they are mature enough to vote? So the 16 year olds that are capable enough to vote can.
I don't know about that, 16 year old's should probably be able to vote either way.
at 16 you're able to work, at which point you pay Income tax, and america was built on the principal that citizens should not be taxed without representation.
While I think this would be fair, I also think It goes against what our country was founded on.
@@giz8527 I think that is correct, but as I live in Australia, we don’t have the same founding. So I think this would work, but maybe not in the US.
I dont think you should be able to vote at 16, but I think that if you will be at least 20 within that term, you should be able to vote. Because in my case, I turn 18 just a couple months after the election, so for most of that term I'll be an adult, with a president a didnt get to vote for. Or, what might be better, is allowing 16 year olds to vote if they can pass something like the citizenship test.
I think they should allow fetesus to vote. There are lots of laws (Roe v. Wade) that affect them and yet they dont get to vote. Their voices aren't heard. Last I checked, they had a lot more skin in the game regarding their future than a 17 year old who misses one election cycle.
At some point, you just have to trust the adults to make decisions that are best for the country as a whole and not the individuals interests.
While I'm against minors voting I do support tax exemption for working teenagers. Let them enjoy the extra money while they can.
Voting is habitual. Once you've developed a habit for voting, you are likely to continue voting. Once you've developed a habit for not voting, that will likely continue too. Lowering the voting age to 16 will only worsen the habit of not voting among the young, which was already made worse by the 26th Amendment. We should raise the voting age back to 21 (and of course also raise the age of selective-service to 21 at the same time).
Great, logical points. I don't entirely agree with you on service age, but could go along with it to keep people's "feelings" respected. However, this issue should be determined based on logic, not feelings. No reason why a person shouldn't support their country at war even if they can't vote. Kids have to go to school but don't get to vote. We don't argue that if we are going to send them to school, we should give them the vote. Yes, war is horrible. Giving someone the vote does not change the awfulness of it. It only makes some people feel less bad or guilty about the fact that war kills. Does the soldier on the battlefield as he is dying call out, "At least I could vote"? And can we assume that if an eighteen year old or sixteen year old could vote that he would vote against war? He would have to know what each person in Congress will vote and know all the circumstances involved. His vote, if he votes, would be meaningless if it turns on the voting inclinations of our elected officials.
At sixteen vote us into to power so we can determine that you have to be 18 to have sex and 21 to drink alcohol
At sixteen the government says that you are not mentally mature enough to have sex or to drink but if you commit a crime they charge you as an adult so the ? Is are you or aren't you old enough it seems to that the government is the one making that decision not us and they are creating a lot of confusion
My opinion it should be one age for everything
Makes no sense.
"Like, um like-" (I don't think so)
I would set the voting age as 16 years old for local votes and 18 years old for general votes
Anyone who considers themselves ready to vote at 16 prob aint to self-aware
When you go to work full time and you pay income tax... You should be allowed to vote... You in high school or college living off your mommy and daddy... You didn't put in on this man..... You're not funding this enterprise... Therefore you shouldn't be voting... Your a child... If you're 37 yrs old and you don't work and you live at home with mommy... You shouldn't be allowed to vote... Cuz you didn't put in on this man...
You can be 20 and not legally be allowed to drink a beer
This is a big debate in the uk especially as you pay tax at 16 so why can’t you vote
Because you are still in school. Your brain doesn’t develop completely until 18 years of age
Zach B so why should you pay tax then?? There shouldn’t be taxation without representation
Tobey Transport because if you work you should pay taxes. Just because you pay a bit of your income to the government doesn’t give you the right to vote, there are many immigrants that also pay taxes but can’t vote until they become a citizen - and rightly so.
I believe 18 is a great age because its when teenagers start to mature. It’s when the brain starts to fully mature and people can start to think more clearly.
This is backed by science, a adults brain is much more rational.
Zach B this isn’t really to do with the subject but are you british? Or Australian? Or other?
Tobey Transport Australian
I would prefer a tiered system. Local & school board elections at 16, State elections at 18, and federal elections at 21.
That's a good idea
I like the idea but will modify it.
School board : 14
Local : 16
States : 18
Federal: 20
I just want to keep an even number pattern.
no no no no and no
A big fucking 'No'.
Short answer: No
Long answer: *No what the fuck.*
I think you should fill out your taxes in order to vote.
Knowing how dumb I was 16 I know I shouldn’t have been allowed to vote at that time. I do think 18 is the straightforward answer due to the military connection. If you’re old enough to serve your country then you’re old enough to vote
Not everybody is your dumbass
@@catvapecult5876 your comment is ironic.
@@gabbeskillz6262 yup sure.
@@catvapecult5876 'Not everybody is your dumbass'. What's that even supposed to mean?
Conformation bias at its worst.
I actually like the idea of 16 and ups voting in local elections at the very least. It gives them more of a motivation to be involved in and aware of their community. And to learn how the democratic process works on a smaller scale. Politics can be a lot more nuanced in local elections where there is less pressure to fall exactly into party lines. It might be a good way to introduce them into politics without dropping them immediately into the big money, big spectacle elections.
So you're okay with military service then.
I would say no. The voting age should be 21 instead of 18 or 16.
Why? Ageism is no better than racism. Age doesnt determine anything other than how long a person has been alive since birth.
@@bvegannow1936 what
@@Rainjojo theres plenty of kids who are smarter and more moral than plenty of adults.
only if the 16 year old has 2 or more years experience filing a tax return, paying rent or a mortgage and they can be drafted.
Here's a reason not to: other than the fact that this idea originated in that Democratic Bastion of San Francisco (thus making this a shameless attempt to make up for the votes they lost earlier) - young people think too much with their emotions and are too easily influenced by their peers. They're not capable of thinking rationally and independently, and cannot see the long term effects of their actions - both personally and politically. This comes only with maturity.
If the voting age gets lowered to the age of 16 then they'll vote for a president that their friend asked. I'm saying this because my cousin is not sure who to vote for and he's 18 years old in high school and his friends are telling him to vote for Biden.
It happens with Adults too.
you forget the year native americans gained the right to vote
Me a 13 year old wanting to vote-
If 16 and 17 year olds can vote then they should lose their child status too and become adults at 16. Thus all child protection related legislation would cease to apply to them at 16 - they cannot expect to have it both ways.
So what will they do about weed/alcohol/tobacco/etc. being 21 now? Are they just gonna make it so you gotta wait a total of 5 years before you can do all that instead of 3 years like it is now?
@@aft5264 thats why the voting age needs to be raised back to 21. Time and again teenagers have shown they cant handle responsibilty.
Lol exactly. I think that too many 16 year olds are immature. Some aren’t but there most are lol.
No need to add more voters
There is more than enough people
Teens should graduate first.
Teens only act on impulse and emotions. They wouldn't vote for the person who is the best candidate. They just vote for who ever pisses their parents off.
Do you think there is any truth to the argument that starting teens off voting in local elections, or school board elections, can help build that skill and make them better voters later on?
@@AboveTheNoise Don’t adults react on impulse and emotions.