To think parents should be given a proxy vote for their children

[OldLondonDad]

Bit of a random topic for AIBU, but since we've had a few threads recently on politics and taxes, why not?...

A decade or so ago I thought it seemed that those who will impacted most by today's policies have the least (no!) say in them. Our politics are largely shaped by the vote of the oldest section of society and the youngest just have to live with it.

Solution? Give parents an extra vote per child. They will be highly likely to use it in the way that benefits their child, so the country's policies will be more likely to favour the young (and the future of the country) rather than the old.

There's a name for the concept - demeny voting. It gets considered here and there in various countries, but what does mumsnet think?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeny_voting

(no I'm not a journalist / politician / think-tank analyst etc., just a regular dad)

no,
what about those with no children
why dont they get any spare votes,

Well mumsnet is made up of millions of individuals.

YABVU

You have no idea where your kids will stand politically. You just want extra votes for your own agenda.

How about higher taxes for parents who use more resources than the childfree?

No. I have 4 dc under 18, why should i get extra votes?

No but parents should be talking to their children about politics and be helping them get registered to vote, research different parties and candidates.

The number of young people not voting or don't know how to vote is very worrying.

No. The basis of democracy is that one person gets one vote. We can argue about where adulthood starts and adjust voting rights in accordance but that is about it.

Er, no! Those of us without children are already paying tax to support your children's health & education. Why should we be democratically disadvantaged as well?

But what if my 15 yo doesn't agree with my vote on their behalf?

I don't understand how I can think for what my DC wants ?

They may have different priorities to me.

Ridiculous.

No thanks. I don't want irresponsible folk with big families choosing who will be in charge.

No, they won’t use it to benefit their children - they’ll just use it for what they think is right - having children doenst give you more right

It could be open to anyone with caring responsibilities for someone without the capacity to vote for themself.

If you don’t do that caring work then yeah, you don’t get to vote for them. And I say that as someone with no kids.

This is a ridiculous idea.

Who even gets the vote, me or their dad? What if our votes differ? What if my 15yo has different beliefs than me but I get her vote and use it according to my beliefs?

even less likely though

What if the kids don't agree with their parents political beliefs?

i know what about only allowing those who have a degree to vote!
<<jokes>>

or those in employment

People who can’t physically get to a polling station can have a postal vote. Giving a proxy vote to the carer of someone without the mental capacity to vote is just giving the carer an extra vote.

Erm, no. I suggest you get out of the sun and into the shade.

And why shouldn't the people who pay taxes (ie, over 18s - not just "old" people), have a say in how their taxes are spent and how the country is run? It's called a democracy.

I think it's a good idea.

Nope. It wouldn't be fair for people with no kids, for a start. You'd effectively just be giving adults with kids more power, and let's be honest, they'd just use it to vote for what they want, not what they think their kids might want when they're old enough to understand it all.

How about childfree/childless people not being allowed to run for or hold public office? After all they have no stake in the future so can’t possibly have any idea how to run the country.

Why wouldn't you just change the law so kids can vote themselves? How would you know parents wouldn't mark a different box to what the child asked for? I know plenty of parents who are so openly dogmatic in their political views that I doubt they would be able to bring themselves to vote for a certain party even if that was their child's preference.

I mean I think it's a terrible idea full stop, but getting parents to vote on behalf of their children is a stage more nuts than just lowering the voting age!

Exactly. Besides, kids don't have to wait too long until they're old enough to vote. Getting the vote at 18 means they still have tons of time to influence their future.

Most of the parents I know are doing less to secure the future of the planet than the people I know who have no kids but who are very socially and environmentally conscious (and I have kids). So, it doesn't automatically stand that if someone has kids, they will do better for the future.

@WasThatACornersums it up nicely for me. Educate children about politics at home and at school. My parents made sure I understood the importance of voting, weighing up the rhetoric and of making my own mind up. I know the politics of my youth were very different to theirs but as I’ve got older and learnt more about life, I’ve changed opinions and positions .

all that will happen is that parents will vote for the party they want - very few will look to the future. Let’s face it, how many people do now? Most people vote for the party they’ve always voted for or the one that promises them the earth (and delivers nothing). If people were that bothered about building a better more inclusive society with a strong economy for their children then they’d vote that way already and the Green Party would be a lot more influential. Humans are selfish by nature - parental votes just causes more selfishness and inequality.

campaigning for better education around politics and critical thinking and looking at bringing the voting age down to 16 are much better options.