12-year-old begins political career - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

flamingdog · 01-07-2006, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Lib Dems get 'youngest' president

Oliver Smith

Oliver was voted into his new role by a unanimous decision

A 12-year-boy has made political history and become one of the youngest-ever local party presidents.

Oliver Smith joined Amber Valley Lib Dems in Derbyshire when he was eight. He became their president on New Year's Day after being elected in November.

He succeeds out-going president Keith Falconbridge, who being in his mid-50s, is more than four times his age.

He said he wanted to go straight into the adult section of the party in order to make a difference.

Oliver's mother Kate Smith, a Lib Dem member of Crich Parish Council, stressed there was no constitutional necessity for a local party president, but it was a good opportunity for her son.

"Ollie will shortly have to start GSCE coursework," she said. "The spark of the idea for him to become president from me and we discussed it at length. We decided that later on he'd be snowed under with GCSE work and sooner was better than later.

"He's very keen to get rid of Mr Blair and Mr Brown as soon as possible - this is one of his campaigning interests."

Campaign interests

But Oliver does not believe Charles Kennedy should go.

"I think he should stay until people definitely say they want him out. I think he's holding it together. I think he's good and I think he makes the right decisions," he said.

Other campaign interests include environment, energy and pollution issues, abolition of tuition fees and lowering the voting age to 16.

Oliver was voted into his presidential role by a unanimous decision at his local party's Annual General Meeting (AGM) last year.

It means he will be guardian of the local constitution for Amber Valley local party and there are rare instances in which the local executive would go to him for a casting decision - for example on arrangements regarding a change of venue for the local party's AGM.

His mother added: "I'm immensely proud. I don't know what's going to happen next and neither does he and we can only make sure that he has a secure family provision so that he can make good decisions for himself."

Something about this had me checking the calendar to make sure it's not April 1st. Assuming it is genuine, is this fucking insane or what? Admittedly, it's not the highest office in the land... but still. A 12-year-old president.

By the sounds of it, his mother is behind it. I imagine she's absolutely insufferable to talk to. I hate precocious kids at the best of times.

It makes me think of Robocop 2 with the kid gangster.

theguyondacouch · 01-07-2006, 09:13 AM

I somehow doubt that the kids views are not going to be influenced heavily by his mother.

flat5 · 01-07-2006, 09:37 AM

I like precocious kids. Motzart. Tesla.

Brain surgery, life or death desisions, no.

stevie667 · 01-07-2006, 10:11 AM

That made me giggle. It is so obvious that he's not the brains behind the matter, but then again, when is that ever true with political heads?

vermin · 01-07-2006, 05:30 PM

"...lowering the voting age to 16."

Because 16 year olds are known for their wise decision-making abilities.

WORST. IDEA. EVER.

dlish · 01-08-2006, 12:44 AM

i guess its better than letting your 12 year old wear a G-string

hehehe

msh58 · 01-08-2006, 02:56 AM

what the hell? lol

Misz · 01-08-2006, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quote

"Other campaign interests include environment, energy and pollution issues, abolition of tuition fees and lowering the voting age to 16."

Quote:

Originally Posted by vermin

"...lowering the voting age to 16."

Because 16 year olds are known for their wise decision-making abilities.

WORST. IDEA. EVER.

Totally agree.

flat5 · 01-08-2006, 02:04 PM

Then again he was elected. What lame group is he serving?
He's the best they have :-)

Gatorade Frost · 01-08-2006, 09:38 PM

In regards to the 16 year old voting age, as an 18 year old I am 100% against voting at 16. At 16 of course I would have been excited about the prospect of voting at 16, but now that I'm 2 years older it has made all the differences in how I view things, how I've matured and grown, etc. The idea of allowing 16 year olds to vote would be a horrible idea in retrospect.

art of leaving · 01-08-2006, 09:50 PM

Because *most* of the 16 year olds I know are interested in voting...

Or 18 year olds for that matter.
Maybe I need to meet new people...

FoolThemAll · 01-08-2006, 10:18 PM

Well, at least he'll raise the level of discourse. What's the point in using 'anti-american' and 'fascist' when 'poopyhead' and 'meanie' do the same job?

edit: whoops, England, my mistake. This should work fine - kids behave like finely trained diplomats over there. Haven't any of you seen Mary Poppins?

Pip · 01-09-2006, 04:19 AM

This is almost as good as that episode of Black Adder when Pitt the Younger was elected Prime Minister.

flamingdog · 01-09-2006, 10:57 AM

Ha ha, I forgot about that.

'I now call on the leader of the opposition to test me on my Latin vocab.'

01-07-2006, 09:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
theguyondacouch salmon? Location: Outside Providence	I somehow doubt that the kids views are not going to be influenced heavily by his mother. __________________ "Lick my frozen metal ass!"

01-07-2006, 10:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
stevie667 Too Awesome for Aardvarks Location: Angloland	That made me giggle. It is so obvious that he's not the brains behind the matter, but then again, when is that ever true with political heads? __________________ Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information.

01-07-2006, 05:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
vermin Indifferent to anti-matter Location: Tucson, AZ	"...lowering the voting age to 16." Because 16 year olds are known for their wise decision-making abilities. WORST. IDEA. EVER. __________________ If puns were sausages, this would be the wurst.

01-08-2006, 12:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	i guess its better than letting your 12 year old wear a G-string hehehe __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

01-08-2006, 09:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
Gatorade Frost Rookie	In regards to the 16 year old voting age, as an 18 year old I am 100% against voting at 16. At 16 of course I would have been excited about the prospect of voting at 16, but now that I'm 2 years older it has made all the differences in how I view things, how I've matured and grown, etc. The idea of allowing 16 year olds to vote would be a horrible idea in retrospect. __________________ I got in a fight one time with a really big guy, and he said, "I'm going to mop the floor with your face." I said, "You'll be sorry." He said, "Oh, yeah? Why?" I said, "Well, you won't be able to get into the corners very well." Emo Philips

01-07-2006, 09:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	I like precocious kids. Motzart. Tesla. Brain surgery, life or death desisions, no.

01-08-2006, 02:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
msh58 Crazy	what the hell? lol

01-08-2006, 02:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Then again he was elected. What lame group is he serving? He's the best they have :-)

01-08-2006, 09:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
art of leaving Upright	Because most of the 16 year olds I know are interested in voting... Or 18 year olds for that matter. Maybe I need to meet new people... __________________ "Sometimes it seems like we're all living in some kind of prison, and the crime is how much we all hate ourselves. It's good to get really dressed up once in a while and admit the truth -- that when you really look closely, people are so strange and so complicated that they're actually beautiful. Possibly even me."

01-08-2006, 10:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
FoolThemAll Walking is Still Honest Location: Seattle, WA	Well, at least he'll raise the level of discourse. What's the point in using 'anti-american' and 'fascist' when 'poopyhead' and 'meanie' do the same job? edit: whoops, England, my mistake. This should work fine - kids behave like finely trained diplomats over there. Haven't any of you seen Mary Poppins? __________________ I wonder if we're stuck in Rome. Last edited by FoolThemAll; 01-08-2006 at 10:20 PM..

01-09-2006, 04:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
Pip Likes Hats Location: Stockholm, Sweden	This is almost as good as that episode of Black Adder when Pitt the Younger was elected Prime Minister.

01-09-2006, 10:57 AM	#14 (permalink)
flamingdog Still fighting it.	Ha ha, I forgot about that. 'I now call on the leader of the opposition to test me on my Latin vocab.'