Voting at 14?

[Strider]

http://www.vacavillenews.com/article...=182670&cp=116

Quite frankly, I'm stunned. I can't believe it. I don't want to believe it. If this eventually becomes a law, although I'm not holding my breath, I'm leaving California for good.

It begs a few questions, though. When you were 14 years old, did you care about anything concerning politics? Take a good long look into your own history and be honest about it. Would the average 14-year old be able to make informed decisions? No, wait, I can answer that, because most 18-year olds can't make informed political decisions.

Discuss.

[blue_midget192]

umm well i know for one i would have appreciated a vote when i was 14, however i see your point in that most of the people that were 14 when i was would not have made anything of having a vote, they would have just pissed about with it, hell most of the people i know now would do the same thing!

[Rye]

I'm turning 14 very soon and I think that voting at that age would be pretty cool but no one would do it. I mean, I know like maybe 3 people not including myself who might bother voting.

[blue_midget192]

exactly, i mean it would be prity good for interlectual people whoa ctually know whats going on but then u'd have all the others who....arn't.

[Shadow Nexus]

Well, I was informed at 14, but then again, I got interested in politics at that age, and it's not exactly something normal, most 14 year olds I knew did not know a thing about them.

So no, it's stupid.

[Peegee]

I've never voted ever since my 18th birthday voting time. I"ll vote when and if I see a candidate I actually trust.

Meaning this won't do much. Are you saying an 18 year old are more politically knowledgeable than four fourteen year olds or two sixteen year olds? I don't think so.

[The Captain]

As it has always been, voting IS for the elderly, who suddenly realize that politics plays a role in their life because of social security, and the like.

This is a move strictly to attempt to boost voter turnout, but I predict will backfire because either, everyone won't vote, or they'll just vote because they want to vote, not because they really do care about something.

As others have said, the VAST majority of teenagers, heck even up to mid 20's I'd warrant, have little interest in politics. Take a look at this forum for example. How many members here at EoFF actually post regularly at this World Events section? I'd say maybe a 10th of the total members.

For those younger folks who are indeed interested in politics, bravo I say, because you will definitely play a role in society as time goes by.

Take care all.

[Casey]

At 14 your a child and your opinions some what dont matter in elections, because either way your listening to your parents and you cant really vote. So yeah what others say, its stupid.

[War Angel]

I think voting should wait untill you're not an adolescent anymore - that is, 18, or higher. 14 year-olds cannot possibly comprehend everything that has to do with voting, let alone making a proper decision and voting for the canidate that REALLY matches their way of thinking. It's just a matter of intellectual and emotional maturity, that 14 year-olds don't have.

Also, young votes can be easily swayed, much more easily that you could change the mind of a 40 year-old man.

[Agent Proto]

I think this is the most ridiculous thing ever. What are they doing? Giving each 14 year old a quarter of a vote? What's this? Are we back to that time when black voters were given a third of a vote? And do most 14-year olds, or anyone 18 and younger care about voting? Well, I know that most don't give a hoot, so why is California considering allowing teens 14 and older to vote, giving them partial vote? Excuse me, but I think it's dumb. California is already crazy enough, but allowing kids to vote is just stupid. :rolleyes2

[Black Mage]

I don't post often here, but it's the forum I frequent most.

Anyway, I had heard about this some time ago, but had dismissed it.

Honestly, when I was fourteen, I had some interest in pollitics, but not nearly enough to form an opinion of both candidates based on their views and morals.

I may have voted, for the sake of voting, but I'm nearing 18 now, and I question the validity of my opinions. So, to answer your questions, I think it's a bad idea.

However, perhaps jealousy plays some sort of role in my current view. "Why should 14 year olds be able to vote, when I couldn't?" Keh, I'm not sure, but certainly wouldn't support it.

[Besimudo]

"Well, I was informed at 14, but then again, I got interested in politics at that age, and it's not exactly something normal, most 14 year olds I knew did not know a thing about them."

Shadow Nexus, I would say that you have a better understanding of politics than most adults and even those so called intelligent adults.
But as far as a population of 14 year olds, your peers probably struggled with the plot of "Power Rangers" or were too interested in the Spice Girls (Espanola translation of course!!!) to even be aware of obstacles to weekend leisure time known as 'books'.


"I've never voted ever since my 18th birthday voting time. I’ll vote when and if I see a candidate I actually trust."

The problem with this attitude is that your vote goes to the winner... Think about it. As an example, if there is a vote for abortion laws and you remain undecided - if abortion is implemented then your vote has effectively helped the winning policy. This is known as "Democratic truancy" and the Bush government relied on it to get into power last time. Everyone who did not vote effectively voted for Bush.

[The Captain]

"The problem with this attitude is that your vote goes to the winner... Think about it. As an example, if there is a vote for abortion laws and you remain undecided - if abortion is implemented then your vote has effectively helped the winning policy. This is known as "Democratic truancy" and the Bush government relied on it to get into power last time. Everyone who did not vote effectively voted for Bush."

Yes indeed, or even worse, people who were turned off by Bush and Gore voted Nader, which was still basically voting for Bush because Nader voters weren't Republicans anyway. I think the entire system needs to be overhauled, create a more free market place of politics instead of two major parties.

Take care all.

[Shadow Nexus]

Shadow Nexus, I would say that you have a better understanding of politics than most adults and even those so called intelligent adults.

Thanks

But as far as a population of 14 year olds, your peers probably struggled with the plot of "Power Rangers" or were too interested in the Spice Girls (Espanola translation of course!!!) to even be aware of obstacles to weekend leisure time known as 'books'.

No, no Spanish version of Spice Girls. We live in a globablized world, now crap is international. You got Enrique Iglesias who dares insult us calling his trout "latin music" and we got Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.

As for books, they read "Goosebumps". Well, I read Agatha Christie and "Sophie's World", not exactly the greatest exponent in literature...but it's better than nothing.

[The Captain]

Call me crazy, but I enjoyed reading philosophy when I was a wee youngster. I didn't get into fiction novels until my late teen years.

Now that I think about it, some states in America still have laws allowing 14 year olds to marry, so perhaps we should have seen this coming. Sad, really.

Take care all.