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Originally Posted by willravel
If you mean mentally, I'd say that there are plenty of adults who are totally immature when it comes to politics and right and wrong who are allowed to vote. If the adults who are imature are allowed to vote, why can't the children vote? It's a double standard, and a way to keep certian americans from their rights. Children don't have freedom of speech, press, religion, as we've seen. The parent is heald responsible and the child is brushed aside. Seems like a double standard.
I make this argument because there are no minors on TFP to defend themselves.
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Because, by definition, you need to have a point in time when voting is permitted.
Are you seriously suggesting, for example, that infants be given the right to vote? No, I don't think so.
If not 18, then when?
OK, 16? Why not younger?
OK, 14? Why not younger?
OK, 10? Why not younger?
OK, 7? Why not younger?
You get the point. There HAS to be a line. And 18 is that line. Moving it somewhere else doesn't do anything but move the "problem" (not that I think there's a problem at all).
Modern society generally accepts 18 as the "age of maturity"; at least in the West. As such it is an entirely appropriate age to welcome children into adulthood.
Are there people who are immature even though they are over 18? Yes. Yes there are.
Furthermore, are there people who are mature even though they are under 18? Yes. Yes there are also.
But generally speaking, statiscally (and even from an ontogenic point of view), humans develop over time. Whilst physically mature at the early teens, pyschologically they are not. Therefore sociey has adopted 18 as the point at which they are considered adult. Therefore they should be permitted to vote at 18.
Quid Erat Demonstratum
Mr Mephisto