Big Guy Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Most young people in Canada are well educated and understanding of our culture. Is it time to review the age at which a Canadian has the right to vote? Before the Second World War almost all countries had voting ages of 21 or higher. In 1970, that dropped to where it is currently – 18. http://www.torontosun.com/2014/06/16/newfoundland-and-labrador-liberals-want-to-lower-voting-age-to-16 Will allowing 16 year old students to, vote (encouraged by their teachers) help in creating a lifetime habit and a higher percentage of voters? Is it time to lower the voting age in Canada to 16? Quote Note - For those expecting a response from Big Guy: I generally do not read or respond to posts longer then 300 words nor to parsed comments.
cybercoma Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 What do you mean understanding of our culture? Quote
Boges Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 No. Some 16 year olds are, but most aren't. And they'll be heavily influenced by their teacher's politics. Quote
Shady Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 No, if anything, the voting age should be increased. I don't believe that a 16 year old should influence public policy. Quote
dre Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 No. Some 16 year olds are, but most aren't. And they'll be heavily influenced by their teacher's politics. Most adults arent either though. The majority of the electorate ideological voters that simply vote for the same party year after year and add nothing. Just hacks cancelling each other out. I would actually value the vote of a 16 yearold over that of an adult thats already been indoctrinated into the false left/right dichotomy. Not only that but as the quality of our political system, and our electorate continues to steadily decline, voter turnout is going down. At the very least allowing kids to start voting would be a good civics lesson and get them interested in the process. Quote I question things because I am human. And call no one my father who's no closer than a stranger
dre Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 No, if anything, the voting age should be increased. I don't believe that a 16 year old should influence public policy. Why? They are going to be SUBJECT to public policy. They can be tried as adults in prison, they pay taxes on labor and consumption, and they are going to be the ones that have to live with the results of these policies after you and I are long gone. Make it a civics lesson, and give them time to do some research into the issues that are front and center in the election... theyd make more informed choices than half the people here! Quote I question things because I am human. And call no one my father who's no closer than a stranger
Argus Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Judgement comes from experience. Almost all 16 year olds lack that experience. Most don't pay taxes. Most have only the simplest idea of how the country, how its politics, how its society and economics work. Their minds are not fully developed (which is why they can't sign contracts and why we don't generally hold them as responsible for crimes as we do adults). By and large, they think they are sophisticated. By and large, they are very unsophisticated. So clearly, the Liberals would like to add them to the voting rolls. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Keepitsimple Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Nope - too young. 18 is already pretty young. People should have a taste of the working world to at least catch a glimpse of how politics affects their world. Quote Back to Basics
Argus Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Nope - too young. 18 is already pretty young. People should have a taste of the working world to at least catch a glimpse of how politics affects their world. I'd like to see the voting age raised to 30, and restricted to property owners. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Moonlight Graham Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 No. At 16 you're too influenced by the views of your parents, peers, and others. Quote "All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain Partisanship is a disease of the intellect.
eyeball Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Yes I think we should let them vote however heartless it would be to expose them to so much cynicism at such a young age. Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
eyeball Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) Delete. Edited June 17, 2014 by eyeball Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
bush_cheney2004 Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Yes I think we should let them vote however heartless it would be to expose them to so much cynicism at such a young age. Surely if they can legally consent to have sex with such people, voting should be a piece of cake. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
On Guard for Thee Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 I think we could all see that one coming a mile away. Quote
GostHacked Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) No, voting age should actually be raised. Most people my age are are not well informed. I would suspect younger people are less informed, even with all the technology at their fingertips. Edited June 17, 2014 by GostHacked Quote
The_Squid Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 No. Some 16 year olds are, but most aren't. And they'll be heavily influenced by their teacher's politics. LOL Do you have a cite for this? Is there a study that shows teacher influence? Because I think this opinion is rather suspect... I didn't know my teachers politics when I was 16! Did you? More likely, they would be influenced by parents... teachers? Really??? Quote
The_Squid Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Surely if they can legally consent to have sex with such people, voting should be a piece of cake. You've almost got it right... But in Canada we use the age of anal sex consent to determine voting age. Quote
Keepitsimple Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) LOL Do you have a cite for this? Is there a study that shows teacher influence? Because I think this opinion is rather suspect... I didn't know my teachers politics when I was 16! Did you? More likely, they would be influenced by parents... teachers? Really??? LOL is right.....don't know about British Columbia - but here in Ontario, the greedy hands of Teacher's union politics reach right into the classrooms. Millions upon millions of anti-Conservative commercials and ads villifying Tim Hudak. Edited June 17, 2014 by Keepitsimple Quote Back to Basics
The_Squid Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 LOL is right.....don't know about British Columbia - but here in Ontario, the greedy hands of Teacher's union politics reach right into the classrooms. Millions upon millions of anti-Conservative commercials and ads villifying Tim Hudak. ummm... OK.... now, what would leave you to believe that a 16 year old student would be more influenced by a teacher's politics (as if they were all the same...) than they would be by their own parent's politics? You think a lot of 16 year olds watch political ads by a union and are swayed by them? What about political ads by other groups? Why wouldn't they be swayed by those? You really think a 16 year old cares about political ads by ANY particular union, business or political party??? Quote
Bob Macadoo Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 The arguments of immaturity and passiveness can easily be applied to 18, 28 or even 38 year olds.....kinda like sexual relations. Whether they are influenced by a teacher, priest, union rep, parent, etc. what difference does it make? Like other responsibilities/privileges (driving, drinking, relationships, etc.) the later it is introduced with little structure the larger the irresponsibility you will see. (eg. frat binge drinking, stunt driving, etc.) Rather than lower the voting age I think a better idea would be to require high school student's volunteer credit hours (Ontario) have a percentage dedicated for Elections Canada/Ontario at a polling stations, debates, etc. rather than the current "Whatever goes". You get the structure early without the election affect. Quote
Argus Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 The arguments of immaturity and passiveness can easily be applied to 18, 28 or even 38 year olds... There is no guarantee that at a given age one will approach things thoughtfully, knowledgeably and in a mature fashion with good judgement. But I feel confident the percentage of a given population who will do so rises as they age and gain experience in the world. Sixteen year old brains are not fully mature, physically speaking. Their thought processes quite literally have not matured. There is evidence to suggest it takes well into the twenties for that to happen, so even 18 is likely too young an age to allow certain responsbilities. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Bob Macadoo Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Their thought processes quite literally have not matured. There is evidence to suggest it takes well into the twenties for that to happen, so even 18 is likely too young an age to allow certain responsbilities. Kind of like the hormonal imbalance directed by sexual relations? Quote
WWWTT Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Looks like that everyone whom has contributed to this thread actually believes that voting makes a difference. If you think voting is the way to go, then lower the age, the more the merrier. If you think that lowering the voting age will usher in a new age of special interest control over government, then you're really brainwashed into thinking that voting makes a difference! WWWTT Quote Maple Leaf Web is now worth $720.00! Down over $1,500 in less than one year! Total fail of the moderation on this site! That reminds me, never ask Greg to be a business partner! NEVER!
On Guard for Thee Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Looks like that everyone whom has contributed to this thread actually believes that voting makes a difference. If you think voting is the way to go, then lower the age, the more the merrier. If you think that lowering the voting age will usher in a new age of special interest control over government, then you're really brainwashed into thinking that voting makes a difference! WWWTT Well let's not scrap voting at least until we get Harper tossed out OK? Quote
Remiel Posted June 17, 2014 Report Posted June 17, 2014 Thirty year old property owner is just trolling, Argus. And, actually, it would be massive interference in the property market as well. Quote
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