Misguided notion (From York Press)
Get in touch: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting YORK to 80360 or send an email»
Misguided notion
9:47am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter
THE notion that 16 to 17-year-olds should have a vote is, in my opinion, sadly misguided.
People of 16 or 17 cannot join the Army, they can only sign up to join at the age of 18.
Although legal, few people are married at 16. Even fewer are homeowners or parents.
Sadly, the vast majority of 16 to 24-year-olds have no interest in any form of politics.
Finally, by the very nature of age, most 16 to 17-year-olds do not have life experience. Lowering the voting age is an attempt to provide the Scottish National Party with a result it desires. Likewise, our own politicians think they see an advantage by inviting 16 to 17-year- olds to vote.
We are about to witness an object lesson in apathy with the Police Commissioner elections.
Apathy is the friend of politicians in our voting system. It means they do not need to try too hard and they can claim a majority vote.
Few elected politicians ever achieve more than 30 per cent of the total possible votes. Until we have compulsory voting we will continue to end up with what we deserve.
The argument that everyone has a right not to vote is ludicrous.
Charlie Stone, Southolme Drive, York.
Comments(9)
PinzaC55
says...
1:12pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Figures please, and source?
If this is correct, in about 20 years time Parliament will have been decimated because those young people will not be interested.
Ichabod76
says...
4:49pm Wed 24 Oct 12
PinzaC55 wrote:he said that this age group are not interested in politics at the moment,
Mr Stone's rational appears to be that "Sadly, the vast majority of 16 to 24-year-olds have no interest in any form of politics."
Figures please, and source?
If this is correct, in about 20 years time Parliament will have been decimated because those young people will not be interested.
not that they never would be !
PinzaC55
says...
5:45pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Ichabod76 wrote:I'm fascinated to know how he has such an in depth understanding of young people as to to be able to speak with such authority?
PinzaC55 wrote:he said that this age group are not interested in politics at the moment,
Mr Stone's rational appears to be that "Sadly, the vast majority of 16 to 24-year-olds have no interest in any form of politics."
Figures please, and source?
If this is correct, in about 20 years time Parliament will have been decimated because those young people will not be interested.
not that they never would be !
ColdAsChristmas
says...
8:44pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Most under 18's and indeed many over that age are simply not ready to make a reasoned political judgement and simply unable or unwilling to consider the other side of the argument. A party system of one size fits all only further confuses matters. And besides, on some big issues there is only a fag papers distance between the parties.
PinzaC55
says...
9:26pm Wed 24 Oct 12
sensible_cynic.
says...
11:57am Thu 25 Oct 12
Zetkin
says...
12:57pm Thu 25 Oct 12
If they're old enough to fund our rulers, theyre old enough to have a say in which bunch of crooks occupies Downing Street.
Matt_S
says...
3:47pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Zetkin wrote:Definitely agree with this.
16 & 17 year olds are forced to pay tax if they are earning enough, so the American revolutionary slogan "no taxation without representation" would seem apt.
If they're old enough to fund our rulers, theyre old enough to have a say in which bunch of crooks occupies Downing Street.
NoNewsIsGoodNews says...
11:47am Wed 24 Oct 12
I have not voted in 18 years of being eligible. If I was frog marched to the polling station at gunpoint, I still wouldn't vote under the current set up.
Politicians are out to line their own pockets, and this has been proven time and time again.
But give people the option to vote for "none of the above" and I will be first in line.