My fellow Americans

[DoubleM]

http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/20...o-vote/?hpt=T2

I would be up for this idea. Would you go along with this idea or appeal against it?

[Reasoner]

I'm against it, I think the vote can be corrupted too easily, when we vote it seems like we dont know what we are voting for, and we are just getting all of our opinions and perspectives from our parents, and not developing our own. In other words, its like parents getting another vote. And I think we are still to young to have such a big say...imo.

And what is the proposed age can anyone tell me?

But hey, doesn't this classify as politics?

[Conrad_Jalowski]

I vehemently oppose the idea of allowing children to cast their votes in elections for children are ignorant and are not emotionally capable of making such important decisions. Children cannot be expected to vote intelligently as they would be greatly influenced by their school administrators and/or teachers to vote for their particular political agendas.

Children are malleable and are easily influenced or molded by older individuals. In this particular case, if children were eligible to vote a large cluster of votes would be casted by individuals totally ignorant of politics and whose votes would be controlled or greatly influenced by school personnel.

In my opinion, the voting age should be increased to the age of twenty-one due to the general ignorance of the 18-20 year old voting age group.

[Rodri]

Children have the right to be children.

Complex social and political issues require informed discussion (which we don't get) and a mature awareness of responsibilities and repercussions (which is often lacking).
Lowering the voting age won't help anything.

[Boleslav]

Absolutely 16 year olds should have the vote. I'd be happy allowing kids as young as 12 to vote. I also think that the higher apes held in zoos should have votes that transfer in a block to be cast by their primary caretaker.

[Arathorn136]

I vehemently oppose the idea of allowing children to cast their votes in elections for children are ignorant and are not emotionally capable of making such important decisions. Children cannot be expected to vote intelligently as they would be greatly influenced by their school administrators and/or teachers to vote for their particular political agendas.

Children are malleable and are easily influenced or molded by older individuals. In this particular case, if children were eligible to vote a large cluster of votes would be casted by individuals totally ignorant of politics and whose votes would be controlled or greatly influenced by school personnel.

In my opinion, the voting age should be increased to the age of twenty-one due to the general ignorance of the 18-20 year old voting age group.

I both agree and disagree with you.
On one hand, I agree with the following:
-that voting age should be increased to age 21
-that parents influence their children, influencing their views of politics and the world around them
I disagree with the following:
-that teachers influence their pupils in the matter of politics (yes there are some scenarios where this may occur, but I don't believe it's as common as influence from other areas)
-that all children are emotionally incapable of being able to decide what is best for them and their country
-that children are ignorant (some are, yes, but that's because they choose to be)

Now to discuss. Technically, I am not of legal age to vote yet, but when I do get my chance, I won't cast my vote for the party that advertises most, or whose colour is blue, or whose name I like best. I will vote for he party that I believe will do my country best, but I will only vote after I have done my research. Not all children are ignorant and not emotionally prepared to vote. There are 16 and 17 year olds out there, heck, even 14 or 15 years olds, that probably have more knowledge and are more prepared to vote that a 35 year old that doesn't give a flying flamingo about who governs them. Although, I suppose if we were going for a statistic of how many children between, say, 12 and 17 are ready to vote, I'd say maybe 5-7% are. Not encouraging statistics, but that's my opinion.
Now for the influence part. Maybe it's different in America, but in Canada, teachers don't so much influence their students, but that's only my perspective. I believe that parents and other family members influence children more. For the longest time I used to think that the best party for me to vote for was the one my mother thought best, since she was the most vocal about what she thought was best. Only now since I have started reading newspapers, listening to the radio, and reading articles online have I formed my own opinions about who I want to lead my country and why.
Despite this, I do believe that voting age should stay the same or even be raised, as I know many of my peers are not ready for this responsibility.

[jorbaud]

I think it depends on the class. In history/government classes teachers can influence their students way more then say a math class. While taking my history and government classes I know the political views of my teachers. Most of them were pretty much unbiased but all still had opinions which they shared with us.

Apparently, the most influential factor when deciding political views is family and friends.

[Boleslav]

Teachers don't brainwash anyone, give the kids some credit for having independence. Some teachers may put their own beliefs out there, and in my opinion that is fine so long as the teacher encourages debate around them, but the teachers who actively are trying to influence the opinions of their kids are going to meet with resistance and the opposite result that they want. Trust me on this, I'm a professional.

[Gnerphk]

Sorry, Bole; you convinced me of the exact opposite thing. Years of practice influencing the weak-minded children in their care gives teachers an almost supernatural ability to dominate the minds of others through the mere exercise of will. They learn to direct conversations (and the thoughts behind them) in such a manner that the very truths they champion are passionately communicated to the listener.

It's fortunate that this is writing and that I'm particularly strong-minded, or I'd... I'd... do something or other, I'm sure. Sorry, lost my train of thought there. It's fortunate... err... yes, fortunate - fortunate indeed, yes, that there are people here with near-Boleslav levels of intellect to guide us in these matters, for otherwise we'd be helpless as small children. Who are... err... not at all helpless. That's right, yes.

Pardon me. I think it's nap time. I'll be back when the bell rings.

[WarSimi]

Sorry guys, politics is a naughty topic even here.