Sixteen ... Too Young To Vote

[Arthur Little]

16 ... currently the earliest school leaving age for UK pupils.

Yet somewhat "miraculously", Scotland's Nationalist Administration managed to pass legislation that would grant *kids in their mid teens (I use the *word loosely!) the privilege of being able to cast their votes. No prizes for guessing WHY - even if (as subsequently transpired) such a bold initiative failed to take root in its intended purpose.

It could only happen up here ... ... or could it?

... when folk of my generation were growing up you had to be 21 or over to be eligible - then, at a later stage (I forget which year it was exactly) the qualifying age became 18 - despite the fact you could legally marry at sweet sixteen.

It would be interesting to read members' general consensus of opinion on this issue.

[les_taxi]

Simple manipulation by Salmond. Easy to impress on young minds, flag-waving nationalism. Get 'Braveheart' on Scottish TV next wed night. Job done.

[Dedworth]

I'm totally against it along with allowing the EU & Warsaw Pact citizens to vote

[les_taxi]

I have given up on them now. It's like when a top player at your club states he wants a move. At first you're gutted, then as he demands this and that you think well, off you go then .... you are not bigger than my club.

You want to leave the club - then please go - we will manage perfectly well (and often better) without you!

[Arthur Little]

I have given up on them now. It's like when a top player at your club states he wants a move. At first you're gutted, then as he demands this and that you think well, off you go then .... you are not bigger than my club.

You want to leave the club - then please go - we will manage perfectly well (and often better) without you!

... wouldn't like to be forced to leave filipino/uk if Scotland opts to quit the Union.

[les_taxi]

Sorry Arthur, it's just that some Scots are coming across very Anti-English

[joebloggs]

Under UK law you're still a minor under 18, thou you can work at 16

[Ako Si Jamie]

Sorry Arthur, it's just that some Scots are coming across very Anti-English

Nothing new there!

[Ako Si Jamie]

Simple manipulation by Salmond. Easy to impress on young minds, flag-waving nationalism. Get 'Braveheart' on Scottish TV next wed night. Job done.

Exactly!

[grahamw48]

I really can't see the point of comparing minimum ages for this and that.

Voting at 16 ? Ridiculous.

Personally I'd make it 30 (again?) when hopefully people have at least a little sense and life experience.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Simple manipulation by Salmond. Easy to impress on young minds, flag-waving nationalism. Get 'Braveheart' on Scottish TV next wed night. Job done.

Otherwise known as Salmondella poisoning!

[Abigail]

Before I start, I will just say I do not mean to offend with this statement but, as someone who I think is a little closer to the age of 16 than most of you gents commenting here, I think you are completely underestimating the abilities and intelligence of the young people. I agree there are many who are too immature to really make an informed decision however there are a large number who have a genuine interest and understanding of politics so why should they not be allowed to have a say in a decision that they are going to have to live with and that will more likely have more of an impact on their lives than it will on us older ones as they will have to live with it for longer?

[les_taxi]

Well you said it yourself that many are too immature to vote at 16.myself at 16 I would have voted yes fuelled by nationalism. All I was into was women, cheap cider and motorcyclesI I look back and reckon by the age of 19 I would of had more maturity and would be much more informed.

[Abigail]

All I was into was women, cheap cider and motorcycles .

You mean this is different now? heehee

[grahamw48]

Before I start, I will just say I do not mean to offend with this statement but, as someone who I think is a little closer to the age of 16 than most of you gents commenting here, I think you are completely underestimating the abilities and intelligence of the young people. I agree there are many who are too immature to really make an informed decision however there are a large number who have a genuine interest and understanding of politics so why should they not be allowed to have a say in a decision that they are going to have to live with and that will more likely have more of an impact on their lives than it will on us older ones as they will have to live with it for longer?

If only wisdom had something to do with ability and intelligence.

Many of us are also mature enough to have reared able and intelligent youngsters. Great kids, but at 16, still kids nonetheless.

Let them enjoy their youth. There is little enough of it these days.

[les_taxi]

You mean this is different now? heehee

Ya got me I'm still the same!

[Arthur Little]

Hmm ... there, Abigail ... and, since I was the geezer responsible for initiating this thread, I'd better set the record straight.

Possibly - or, more than likely ... living in Aberdeen as you do - you tuned into the 'BIG, BIG Debate' televised live yesterday evening from the SSE Hydro in Glasgow ... where the Conference Hall was packed to capacity with an audience of several thousand schoolkids from all over Scotland, eager to quiz four key politicians picked to represent BOTH sides of the Campaign.

Having watched it myself, I was surprisingly impressed by how politically astute these youngsters actually were.

NOT for them, the prospect of being bitten by the 'Salmondella bug' (Jamie mentions in #11) with its vision of a 'Utopian Society' built on false ideologies ... they preferred to focus on the realities of how going it alone affected their hopes and aspirations for the future - rather than some unattainable pipe dream.

[Michael Parnham]

Also I would imagine lots of sixteen year olds would have to vote for whichever way their parents would tell them!

[Arthur Little]

Also I would imagine lots of sixteen year olds would have to vote for whichever way their parents would tell them!

Not necessarily, Michael ... from watching that programme, it seemed clear to
me, that those kids who took the opportunity to "grill" the panelists, already had their own, individual ideas on where they'd like their futures to lie - in say, ten, twenty or thirty years' time - without bowing to, or being influenced by parental pressure.

[grahamw48]

What sort of kids would one expect to turn up for a political panel show...ready with questions ?

[Dedworth]

What sort of kids would one expect to turn up for a political panel show...ready with questions ?

Miss Piggy ?

[grahamw48]

Exactly.

[Ako Si Jamie]

The PC Brigade has it's fair share of pontificating youngsters!

[Arthur Little]

The PC Brigade has it's fair share of pontificating youngsters!

Yeah, well ... Dedworth's marvellous portrayal of Alex Salmond as North Korean President, Kim Jong-un (see #75 of the thread, 'Scotland Decides') is certainly politically correct ... graphically, at least!

[bigmarco]

I believe Salmond will be putting forward his ideas for Scotlands defence policy in the event of a yes vote.

1959500_829319723766437_959788522942077507_n.jpg

[Arthur Little]

Now Salmond is a cocky wee shte
Thinking that he is always right!
But wait till Thursday comes along ...
When the Scots' Electorate proves 'im wrong!

[Abigail]

Arthur, I am not saying the question shouldn't be raised, and as I say there are certainly some teens who do not care about a sensible decision. However there are a large number of youngsters nowadays becoming more and more involved in politics and who have a good understanding of what is going on and I was simply saying is it not fair that they have the right to vote in what is such a huge debate.

Michael, I think your comment about them voting for what their parents want is not true either. I mean, really, how many 16 year olds do you know that do what they are told! lol

[Arthur Little]

Arthur, I am not saying the question shouldn't be raised, and as I say there are certainly some teens who do not care about a sensible decision. However there are a large number of youngsters nowadays becoming more and more involved in politics and who have a good understanding of what is going on

Oh, indeed, Abigail ... and, as you'll see from my response in #17 above, I gradually came round to the same line of thinking myself, after watching that programme I've mentioned.

[bigmarco]

I've been quite impressed by some of the youngsters from both sides of the debate. Personally it makes sense to me to involve them in the process as soon as possible. After all we're quick enough to put a gun in their hands and send them off to some hell hole in defence of democracy.

[les_taxi]

Yes but equally the ones who would not impress you do not get airplay. You only see the selected more articulate ones. At 16 myself and my mates were busy with other things lol