Voting Age
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Topic: Voting Age
Posted By: mummy_becks
Subject: Voting Age
Date Posted: 21 June 2007 at 7:35pm
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I saw on the news Sue Bradford's new thing she wants to do. Lower the voting age to 16. I don't think it'll get passed as a few MP's from both sides weren't keen on it. All I can say is when I was 16 I didn't give two hoots about parliment, and the reporter asking the teenagers questions about mp's was just funny. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Replies:
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 21 June 2007 at 8:04pm
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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.... ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 21 June 2007 at 8:12pm
I don't think most 16 year olds know enough about politics to make an informed decision (and nor should they - plenty of time for boring crap when you're older! ) but then I guess there are plenty of 18 year olds, and even 40 year olds, who either don't bother to vote, or just pick a person, any person and tick the box.-------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 21 June 2007 at 8:16pm
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" )------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 21 June 2007 at 8:22pm
I was in the minority, that I was a committed economics student who followed the elections, and still do very closely, so I would have loved to vote. But honestly, most people when I was 18 voted green so that they couldn't get the decriminalisation of cannabis passed (they thought it was cool). People at 16 (and yes, like Maya said, even 40 year olds) don't think of the wider effects of their vote and political party's actions to make the right decision - I know that's a generalisation, but its true. |
Maya wrote:Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 21 June 2007 at 8:23pm
| 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. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 21 June 2007 at 9:12pm
It's weird. At 16yo I would have been mature enough to make an informed vote, but I so didn't care! Except for the status  But if a 16yo can't enter into a contract and can't drink and all that stuff, then they should have no say in politics.... voting needs to be from a 'full picture' perspective.
IMO ------------- |
Posted By: Leelee
Date Posted: 21 June 2007 at 10:01pm
| 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" |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 21 June 2007 at 10:14pm
| I have been teaching bunches of 16 year olds, if they get together and vote the "legalise marijuana" party is getting in, |
Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 8:23am
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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? ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 10:28am
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.. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 10:28am
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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.. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 10:33am
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I like the general idea of that Becca but I do like the current driving age (or 16 at the oldest) where teens can basically learn while they are at home but realistically most of them can't get their full licence until about 17-18 anyway. ------------- |
Posted By: hailstones
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 10:39am
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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. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 10:52am
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Yep, you are sooo right, the booze culture here seems to be that you can't have fun unless you are absolutely wasted. I read in the paper yesterday I think about an out of control formal at a hotel somewhere in the north island, where there was drunken vomiting revolting teens...I know its part of growing up, but the message definately seems to be that you can't have fun unless you are off your face. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 11:34am
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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. -------------  
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 11:55am
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The year I turned 18 was local body elections about 1 week after I turned 18, so I got a "special" vote cos I really really wanted to vote for Tim Shadbolt.
I didn't get hammered as a teen either, but I did go wild from about 19...
Sending labour vibes yur way, byt he way, Miss! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 12:41pm
| 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! |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 4:03pm
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in terms of the drving age, i did a lot of research on this recently for a class i was teaching. the reason it is so low is becuase as a rural country we need the rural kids to be able to get around. However, NZ is one of the only countries that doesn't have professional lessons compulsory and lets anyone teach the kids how to drive. Drivers ed. should be a compulsory subject in schools.
eta nothing...nothing at all. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 4:09pm
Errrr Lizzle I presume you mean the driving age not the drinking age! 
Personally I'd like to see them both raised!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 22 June 2007 at 5:14pm
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Oh I agree Liz. I think NZ should do practical driving lessons to reduce time on licences, instead of the defensive driving course. ------------- |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 23 June 2007 at 10:19am
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In NSW you have to keep a driving log while you are on your L plates, and you have to clock up a certain number of accompanied/supervised hours before you can sit for your P plates (restricted). I think that's a good idea coz it means young people have to get experience before they get let loose on the roads by themselves. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: hailstones
Date Posted: 23 June 2007 at 12:41pm
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I agree as well on the driving lessons, I did a defensive driving course - but it was all theory - it would be far more beneficial to be practical rather than theory! I did all my driving lessons through instructors - my parents aren't the most patient people in the world so it was best for all involved. I think that doing the driving lessons did decrease the time on my learners - I could be wrong as it was a wee while ago that I sat my licence.
------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 23 June 2007 at 4:19pm
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I agree ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 23 June 2007 at 10:31pm
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When you do a defensive driving course now you have a practical test. My sister did one a couple of months ago and had to do a driving test in Wellington during peek time traffic but she said it was probably the best time to do it as it showed the tester that she could drive. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |