I think that anyone who pays taxes should be allowed to vote. Even those who get a full refund due to low income pay medicare and social security tax, and therefore suppport the government.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Mr Mephisto
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.
|
I find the arbitrary decision to declare the age of 18 as the line for legal adulthood almost as absurd as the even higher drinking age that our country imposes on us.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by RangerDick
I think the following is a good idea, regardless of the age of the voter.......
Each person must pass a 10 question quiz (7 out of 10) comprised of questions similar to these....
1. Name the governor of your state
2. Name 1 of your state's current Senators
3. Name 3 sitting Supreme Court Justices
4. Name 3 countries that sit on the UN security council
5. Name the current Secretary of State
etc...etc...
Randomly choose 10 question from a bank of 100 or so. Then lower the voting age to 16. Votes only count if you qualify.
|
This will have little effect other than to disenfranchise those who are underpriveleged and unable to afford a reasonably high quality education. Basically, that means that racial minorities (who are unfortunately the majority of the lower economic class) would be denied even more rights than their position in society prevents them from enjoying. We might as well go back to the system in which minority voters are required to respond to absurd questions like "How many bubbles can be blown from a bar of ivory soap?"