Voting age may be reduced to 16 apparently. Good idea?

[Nanny0gg]

As it says in the title. Labour still seems keen on this idea. Personally I think it's bonkers - I look at my DGC and they are just not old enough yet.

AIBU?

I don’t see why you mock this POV. I actually think she has a very good point.

Most teens are more interested in environmental issues and issues of equality than much older people who make the decisions for them. More is riding in it for them as they have their whole lives ahead of them.

The idea that some 16 years are brighter and more politically switched on than adult voters does not mitigate the fact that the vast majority live at home and haven’t yet had the life experience of responsibility and having to fend for themselves in the world.

The outlook you have when you are paying bills, council tax, dealing as an independent adult with different types of agencies, employers, businesses etc. is much broader and plugged into wider society. Yes they might all want to be budding Greta Thunbergs and love a good Pride week but that doesn’t make 16 year olds competent to know what the rest of adult society is dealing with.

I am sure there are plenty of informed young people about, and I know there are plenty of ill- informed adults about.
People mention kids getting their info from America on line - its just as bad as older people quoting the daily mail.

I don't think it's the worst idea

The idea that some 16 years are brighter and more politically switched on than adult voters does not mitigate the fact that the vast majority live at home and haven’t yet had the life experience of responsibility and having to fend for themselves in the world

The current "climate" is meaning alot of peopleon their late twenties are still living at home - they cant get on the property ladder- they can still vote .

@kalokagathos

And many 16 year olds' opinions are so sound, they could dilute the stupidity and insular ideas of the old. If a 16 year old can be admitted to an army, they are good enough to vote. My daughter cares so much about sustainability and equal opportunity, she outwits many of the old who would seal her young fate.

@SofaThrow

Good grief! 😂

I know right. Some posters have such super-smart, clever, well-tuned in, politically aware children. I bow to their superiority. I bet these children are really tall too, (and athletic if they're boys, and very slim if they're girls.) Bet they eat massive salads.😂

@Screamingabdabz

The idea that some 16 years are brighter and more politically switched on than adult voters does not mitigate the fact that the vast majority live at home and haven’t yet had the life experience of responsibility and having to fend for themselves in the world.

The outlook you have when you are paying bills, council tax, dealing as an independent adult with different types of agencies, employers, businesses etc. is much broader and plugged into wider society. Yes they might all want to be budding Greta Thunbergs and love a good Pride week but that doesn’t make 16 year olds competent to know what the rest of adult society is dealing with.

100% this. ^ I think some posters on here have a massively over-egged version of their teenage children (in their head.) They are imagining them as super-smart, politically switched on, intelligent, savvy, world-leaders in the making. No love. Your teenager is just the same as every other one. 😎

I think it’s a good idea.
In fact I’d go as far to say that ALL children should have the vote if they want it.

Children are people

Oh please. That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.

Yes but they don't have the understanding that it's not as simple as 'ban oil and the planet will be happier and last longer.' Every inch closer to a net zero targets has a knock on effect on economies and livelihoods. Look at the damage that lithium mining is doing to poor communities in Africa, and enforced child labour, in the name of greener cars here.

What shoes would all the vegan teenagers wear if we banned oil? What would they do for their 'vegan leather' (what we used to call PVC back in the day) then? Solving one problem often creates another bigger one, if you are not very, very measured in how you do things.

Very young people understandably have a very simplistic and naive way of looking at things. They mean well, but they haven't got a clue. It's like when I used to ask my mum for something and she'd say 'Sorry, not this month, I don't have any spare money.' So I'd say 'but can't you just write a cheque?'

That is like most 16 year olds' understanding of politics and the economy.

With respect I don’t think most adults understand the ins and outs of most topics. Take Brexit for example, most voters has NO idea what they were voting for. They didn’t understand the ins and outs at all. Nor do they about environmental issues.

I beg to differ completely with you. I think young people know as much as older people who have the vote.

Why? Genuine question, why?

Massive generalisation. Plenty do have that understanding, whilst conversely you can certainly find people of all ages from 20 others completely lacking in basic knowledge about these issues. If you think so little of 16 year olds' knowledge, why do you believe that miraculously rectifies itself on their 18th birthdays?

I beg to differ completely with you. I think young people know as much as older people who have the vote

Sorry but this really is nonsense.

You genuinely think that ALL children should have the vote? And you cannot see an issue with this at all? 😂

Yes, so interested they want a load of imported plastic crap like trainers/phones/gadgets/disposable clothing every 2 minutes when the last lot got boring.

It doesnt, but there has to be an age at which we consider people adults, and we have largely taken that to be 18 in the UK

If we're moving it to 16 then fine but that will require a change in a lot of different legislation such as benefits, housing, employment, schooling etc etc

😂😂 I wonder should that poster be allowed to vote?? (Joke before anyone goes MN mental)

The killers of children and peadophile gangs never had GRC's e.g did Huntley? Moors Murderers?
Or any number of terrible child murderers?

But once again, you are scaremongering, its NOT labour policy, never has been and never will be.

You are just making things up and completely off topic.

A few days ago I would have said no, but now yes, reduce it to 16 why not!... Then at least they can vote for or against the latest bonkers policy that's not going to affect anyone old enough to vote.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · Yesterday 16:25
My daughter cares so much about sustainability and equal opportunity, she outwits many of the old who would seal her young fate

Is that you, Mrs Thunberg?”

Oh, you’re so terribly witty, @HeadDeskHeadDesk. Not.

The overwhelming majority of 16 year olds are vastly more knowledgeable than their parents are in respect of environmental matters. Stop embarrassing yourself.

The overwhelming majority of 16 year olds are vastly more knowledgeable than their parents are in respect of environmental matters.

I very much doubt that is true. They may be more engaged, but that is not the same thing as being more knowledgable.

I don't think anything miraculously changes once a person turns 18. I don't think much changes until you are 25 actually. But official adulthood has to start somewhere.

Why are 16 year olds being held to a higher standard than 18 year olds ?

... or any other adult?

I don't understand your question.

Oh, okay, I think i do understand. I mean over 18s in general, not just people of 18. Adults with more years and more life experience under their belts.

Well there is a lot of handwringing and wailing on this thread about all the reasons 16 year olds should not have the vote. But no real explanation of why we don't apply these criteria to the18s and over.

I don't care who thinks it's a stupid question - it still needs an answer beyond "...because..."

At the end of the day 18 is merely an arbitrary line in the sand that is generally - but by no means universally - supported. Like a lot of things in law and life it's madey-uppy not set out in the fabric of the universe. And what is made by humans can be remade by humans. Repeatedly.

I come from an age when you weren't an adult until you were 25, if you wanted to claim a grant for university (unless you had been living independently for 5 years). So you could vote and do all the adulty bollocks. But you had to get mummy and daddys income details if you wanted to go to university.

There was also the asymmetric age of consent for homosexual men - despite being "adults".