Voting Age

DUMB IDEA!!!!!!! I don't even think they should be driving at 16, to be honest. Having a 15.5 y/o in the house is a real eye opener. I'm thinking she is keen on lowering the age because they will probably vote green....

my main concern here (and it would happen with the 18 year olds to a smaller extent, i guess) is that teenagers are such SHEEP! they have to do what the others are doing, regardless of weather its a good idea or not, and I think that would extend to voting... (the latest thing in this house is wanting to get inner lip tattooed cos 2 others have done it, so it must be "cool" )

IMHO Sue Bradford is a bit of a nutter - she pushed through the 'anti-smacking bill' on a private members ballot, and is going the same way for this one... wonder why? There was no way at 16 that I was even remotely interested in politics or voting.

I too dont think may 16yr olds would know enough about politics to make an informed decision, I mean they couldnt even answer simple questions like "what does MMP stand for"

They were talking about this on Breakfast when I switched it on just before 8am this morning... whoever they were talking to suggested that the vote be given to 8-10yos because they are quite responsible, then taken away and given back to women when they are about 22yo, and to men when they are 30-35yo!

Makes sense to me!

All joking aside, what do you think about the concept of a "universal" age where a child is accepted legally as an adult and can drink/vote/drive/marry etc?

yep, a "universal" age is a good idea, in my opinion, 18 is pretty good - although I still think lowering the drinking age was stupid. I defiantely think teenage BOYS in particular need to wait till at least 17 to get their drivers liscence.. Just my 2 cents,though..

Yeah I think that 16 is too young too! 16 year olds think more about clothes, boy/girls, parties etc to worry about politics. I also think the driving age should be increased, and even though I really don't like the 18year olds drinking (and I can't believe I am saying this as I used to work in a cafe/bar - and would get sooo annoyed with them) I do think that they should be allowed to drink, if you can go fight for your country - you should be allowed to have a beer before you head off - just my opinion. I do think though in relation to the drinking there should be more education to the 'way' we drink.

You see, people say it is part of growing up, but it wasn't for me - am I thiat old that I missed all that stuff? or was it that I was raised in such a way that it didn't appeal? I know people got hammered and stuff when i was at school, but I never got into that crowd - i wasn't a geek or anything either. Mind you , I always tell people that I don't understand teenagers because I never was one.

I was so excited that the year I turned 18 was an election year so I got to vote that year - lus it was an anniversary of some sort of womens voting, so I was extra excited. But we have always been a family into politics so it was part of my culture growing up. generally i believe it isn't something most teens care about.

I think its a ploy by the Greens to get more votes, as young voters usually vote Green. What i want to know is who voted for Sue Bradford? Here last change to legislation turned parents into criminals. grr!

Errrr Lizzle I presume you mean the driving age not the drinking age!

Personally I'd like to see them both raised!!!