Do You Support Lowering The Federal Election Age to 16?

[Father Heathen]

I would contend that it's sufficient for the purpose of voting.

America's voters are already ignorant and naive as it is. Giving access to kiddies would only make it worse.

 

[Stevicus]

America's voters are already ignorant and naive as it is. Giving access to kiddies would only make it worse.

When you say "kiddies," it makes me think of young children in kindergarten or first grade. 16-year-olds aren't that young. And not all of them are necessarily ignorant or naive.

 

[Curious George]

Liberals have told me otherwise regarding my vote for Trump.

People like to condemn. While I would not have supported Trump's presidential run, you did. I certainly don't hold that against you, and I can only really speak for myself here. And while Trump won with your support, it was the support of a country and the location of that support which got him elected. Now he is our president regardless. Not seeing how your voting was dangerous or risky. You lent your support where you believed it was necessary, just as we all do.

What I'll actually tell you is that young'ns have not matured regarding
the connection between today's actions & tomorrow's consequences.
Life experience & brain development improve that situation.
So 21 years old strikes me as much more reasonable than 16.

Let us nail this down. What positions do you think 16 year olds have that are unreasonable, and ill-thought?

 

[Revoltingest]

People like to condemn. While I would not have supported Trump's presidential run, you did.

I never supported his run.
I'd have preferred someone else.
But looking at my ballot, he was just the lesser
of the 2 evils with a possibility of winning.

If a robber says....
"Your money or your life!"
Handing over your money doesn't mean that
you support giving money away to crooks.
It means you support not dying over money.

 

[Curious George]

I never supported his run.
I'd have preferred someone else.
But looking at my ballot, he was just the lesser
of the 2 evils with a possibility of winning.

If a robber says....
"Your money or your life!"
Handing over your money doesn't mean that
you support giving money away to crooks.
It means you support not dying over money.

You and these high risk situations. Voting is not a high risk dangerous activity. You had no gun pointed at you. You were not in fear for your life. Voting is by definition support.

16 year olds can make a choice to support something they believe in or not.

 

[Revoltingest]

You and these high risk situations. Voting is not a high risk dangerous activity. You had no gun pointed at you. You were not in fear for your life. Voting is by definition support.

The emotion of fear in one individual is not a good measure of danger.

16 year olds can make a choice to support something they believe in or not.

So can 14 year olds.
Would you let them vote?
12 year olds?

 

[Curious George]

The emotion of fear in one individual is not a good measure of danger.

It is a good measure for duress.

So can 14 year olds.
Would you let them vote?
12 year olds?

I have already addressed this argument in my back and forth with @Shadow Wolf, feel free to read that exchange.

But if you are just looking for short answers, probably yes to 14, no to 12. Though that is not to say some 12 year olds would not be able such an independent choice. But you are definitely pushing the bounds of what is statistically age appropriate as you decrease in age.