Juvenile Suffrage (votes for kids)

[The Holy Twig]

Well there we go. You're in the British system, aren't you?

Irish.

Off by one island~
But yeah, British and Irish schools are much more intensive (and all around better) than American schools.
(This is speaking as someone who has been to both, mind you)


Also, I'd like to point out that while we're having this debate, if we were to ask most people up to the age of - say - 12 whether or not they'd like to vote, They would be more likely to say "Vroom vroom, I am a car" than to say "Yes, I would like to vote." Between the ages of 13-16, their response would likely be "OH GOD SO MUCH ANGST NOBODY UNDERSTANDS POLITICIANS ARE LIARS WE SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE PRESIDENT," and at the age of 17 the likely response would be "Of course, I know everything about everything and am probably the most intelligent being in the universe."

[Chetssaland]

No, kids are too easily influenced. And they're stupid and gullible. I remember during the Bush-Kerry election most of my grade believed Kerry was going to make kids live at school and have class every day with no summer. Which, in 2nd grade, is the biggest atrocity someone could commit.

Plus parents would just use the votes.

[L Ron Cupboard]

If you can be charged with a crime, you should be able to vote as far as I am concerned.

I wouldn't go quite that far. Under that model, a person could, with ill-intent, sneak into a neighboring country with a dirty bomb, and make that whole country dirty and be free from criminal responsibility.

Have you been at the horse tranquilisers?

[Ovisterra]

Also, I'd like to point out that while we're having this debate, if we were to ask most people up to the age of - say - 12 whether or not they'd like to vote, They would be more likely to say "Vroom vroom, I am a car" than to say "Yes, I would like to vote." Between the ages of 13-16, their response would likely be "OH GOD SO MUCH ANGST NOBODY UNDERSTANDS POLITICIANS ARE LIARS WE SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE PRESIDENT," and at the age of 17 the likely response would be "Of course, I know everything about everything and am probably the most intelligent being in the universe."

I'm 15.

But I'm still in favour of a non-age based system.

[AiliailiA]

I acknowledge that young children will probably vote exactly as their parents tell them to. Is that such a bad thing? Parents get to make a lot of other decisions on behalf of their children.

So in other words, breeding machines ...

Needless insult.

become the most powerful voting bloc, and single adults or couples without children pay what is essentially a penalty that will adjust their vote for worth less than one, when weighted against the children's vote.

Basically, the USA would turn into Bible Belt 1950. Great plan, bro.

Note that I'm not from nor living in the USA.

If you're letting the Bible Belt 1950 raise the majority of children in your country then you're fucked every which way, bro. Emigrate now.

[Lancaster of Wessex]

Kids (the majority of them anyway) do not have the experience or exposure to the complexities of modern societies and political situations to be able to cast a vote efficiently.

Neither do most adults.

I would wager that far more adults are capable of making a responsible voting decision than children; care to disagree?

[Risottia]

I propose that children should be allowed to vote.
I acknowledge that young children will probably vote exactly as their parents tell them to.

Hence, families with a number of children far exceeding their economical possibilities would have more political weight than families of people who try to procreate responsibily.

A greay way to better decision-making.

Is that such a bad thing? Parents get to make a lot of other decisions on behalf of their children.

Yes, because voters are supposed to decide their vote autonomously. Kids aren't even remotely autonomous.

What say you?

Nay.

[AiliailiA]

I wouldn't go quite that far. Under that model, a person could, with ill-intent, sneak into a neighboring country with a dirty bomb, and make that whole country dirty and be free from criminal responsibility.

Have you been at the horse tranquilisers?

I tried them. Got kicked by the horse.

[The Holy Twig]

Also, I'd like to point out that while we're having this debate, if we were to ask most people up to the age of - say - 12 whether or not they'd like to vote, They would be more likely to say "Vroom vroom, I am a car" than to say "Yes, I would like to vote." Between the ages of 13-16, their response would likely be "OH GOD SO MUCH ANGST NOBODY UNDERSTANDS POLITICIANS ARE LIARS WE SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE PRESIDENT," and at the age of 17 the likely response would be "Of course, I know everything about everything and am probably the most intelligent being in the universe."

I'm 15.

But I'm still in favour of a non-age based system.

I said most. (I'm 17 myself)
Anyway, the kind of people who are actually interested in long-term Nationstates playing and political discussion and evaluation are hardly cut and dry age stereotypes, are they?

[Ovisterra]

And they're stupid and gullible.

I resent that.

[Wamitoria]

Neither do most adults.

I would wager that far more adults are capable of making a responsible voting decision than children; care to disagree?

I'd wager that adults are just as easily prone to manipulated information as children would be.

But, I'll concede, as a larger proportion of adults aren't idiots compared to teenagers.

[Warhosta]

And they're stupid and gullible.

I resent that.

Have you reported him to the mods yet?

[Ovisterra]

I'm 15.

But I'm still in favour of a non-age based system.

I said most. (I'm 17 myself)
Anyway, the kind of people who are actually interested in long-term Nationstates playing and political discussion and evaluation are hardly cut and dry age stereotypes, are they?

Plus I'm a brony. I'm about as far from the norm as it is possible to be.

[Wamitoria]

And they're stupid and gullible.

I resent that.

Ovi, you're honestly an exception.

[Ovisterra]

I resent that.

Ovi, you're honestly an exception.

But If I can't use anger as a pastime, what do I have?

Also, thanks.

[Big Jim P]

Have you been at the horse tranquilisers?

I tried them. Got kicked by the horse.

Tranq in HORSE not Alia. Duh.

[Vitaphone Racing]

I would wager that far more adults are capable of making a responsible voting decision than children; care to disagree?

I'd wager that adults are just as easily prone to manipulated information as children would be.

But, I'll concede, as a larger proportion of adults aren't idiots compared to teenagers.

And you'd lose that wager.

[The Holy Twig]

I said most. (I'm 17 myself)
Anyway, the kind of people who are actually interested in long-term Nationstates playing and political discussion and evaluation are hardly cut and dry age stereotypes, are they?

Plus I'm a brony. I'm about as far from the norm as it is possible to be.

[Ruridova]

I'd wager that adults are just as easily prone to manipulated information as children would be.

But, I'll concede, as a larger proportion of adults aren't idiots compared to teenagers.

And you'd lose that wager.

Thats unnerving.

[Page]

So in other words, breeding machines ...

Needless insult.

become the most powerful voting bloc, and single adults or couples without children pay what is essentially a penalty that will adjust their vote for worth less than one, when weighted against the children's vote.

Basically, the USA would turn into Bible Belt 1950. Great plan, bro.

Note that I'm not from nor living in the USA.

If you're letting the Bible Belt 1950 raise the majority of children in your country then you're fucked every which way, bro. Emigrate now.

Accurate description. You're the one saying that childfree couples and single adults should have less influence despite the fact that statistically, they are more likely to have a higher education, and statistically, the more children a family has, the less likely the parents are to be educated.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/97facts/edu2birt.htm

I could scarcely think of a country on Earth that wouldn't be fucked if huge families became a supermajority voting bloc, the USA is not unique in this case, there was already another person who cited how many 11- 12 year olds are infatuated with the BNP.

[Ovisterra]

Plus I'm a brony. I'm about as far from the norm as it is possible to be.

http://chzbronies.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-brony-brohoof.jpg

/)^3^(\

[Silent Majority]

Yes, lest make generalizations about millions of people based solely on their age.

I've been through high school. It's true.

I've met some intelligent high schoolers.

It seems to me that political apathy would be a bigger problem than reasoning skills. Of course apathy is a problem with adults too...

[Oceanic Vakiadia]

While giving parents two votes for having a child is an awful and easily abused idea, I would be in favour on a non-age based system for decided who can and can't vote.

[Lancaster of Wessex]

I would wager that far more adults are capable of making a responsible voting decision than children; care to disagree?

I'd wager that adults are just as easily prone to manipulated information as children would be.

But, I'll concede, as a larger proportion of adults aren't idiots compared to teenagers.

I disagree re: your former point, to an extent; adults are prone to it, certainly, but far less so than kids.

I don't understand where this mentality comes from that kids can be every bit as mental/mature as adults: it's utter rubbish.

[Ovisterra]

I'd wager that adults are just as easily prone to manipulated information as children would be.

But, I'll concede, as a larger proportion of adults aren't idiots compared to teenagers.

I disagree re: your former point, to an extent; adults are prone to it, certainly, but far less so than kids.

I don't understand where this mentality comes from that kids can be every bit as mental/mature as adults: it's utter rubbish.

It's utter truth. There are very smart kids and very stupid adults. Vice versa as well.