Would It Be A Good Idea Now Or In The Future

[emmie]

to let 16, 17 year old have the vote, this was from a
Debate on Matthew Wright show this morning.

[Garaman]

//How so?...//

How strange more like, NJ, as everything you go on to say was the responsibility of our generation. Politicians were our generation representing us. We could have changed things if we had wanted, but we didn't because it suited us.

[vulcan42]

What I find strange is people on this site who often complain about our MP's and the 'fact' they haven't had the experiences of ordinary people yet seem to be quite happy that another group of people who also haven't had a lot of worldly experience to vote for them.

[ichkeria]

Yes a good idea: 16. It will happen eventually.

[New Judge]

"We could have changed things if we had wanted, but we didn't because it suited us."

Mass immigration didn't suit me. But I and people like me were called racist bigots (and worse) for suggesting it wasn't such a good idea. One of the reasons I thought such a sustained mass influx of people was undesirable was because I believed it was not feasible to build seemingly endless numbers of homes to accommodate the seemingly endless number of people arriving to settle here.

I certainly didn't have anybody to vote for who stood a realistic chance of changing that. No politicians capable of changing the country's immigration policy took any different view. I suppose I could have started my own movement but I was too busy working for a living.

So I'll take no blame for the current housing crisis in the UK. It was obvious it would happen but nobody wanted to know. I suppose I could decamp to live in a shed at the bottom of my garden, leaving my main premises to be occupied by a "more needy" incomer. Unfortunately I'm too selfish for that. The newcomers can live in a shed (so long as it's not at the bottom of my garden).

[Deskdiary]

No.

This is a spectacularly bad idea.

I see the hackneyed arguments about being able to join the army at 16 and get married at 16 are being trotted out again, but that doesn't mean it is right.

I find it an absurdity that you can join the army at 16 but you can't buy a packet of fags or go into a pub and buy a pint of beer at 16.

With the exception of necessities, children under 18 are not allowed to enter into contracts.

What we should strive for is a uniform age for things like joining the army or getting married, or buying a packet of fags - and that age should be 18.

For every 16 year old who is politically aware, I reckon I could show you 20 who are not.

What happens if 16 year olds are given the vote? Will we be debating in a few years time whether 14 years should be allowed? or 12 year olds?

It is a breathtakingly stupid idea.

I note in the past it has been Labour that has suggested this. Could that be, perchance, because kids tend to be more left-leaning? I certainly was when I was in the 6th form.

[Garaman]

Well, you personally might be guilt free, NJ, but you shouldn't apply that to all our generation because somebody made it happen. The simple fact is that we have left the housing situation worse than we found it - OK we minus you.

In any case immigration is not the sole reason why youngsters today can't afford to buy.

[Togo]

A young man who isn't a socialist hasn't got a heart. An older one who is hasn't got a head.
Anon.

[Garaman]

Who is the socialist you are referring to, Togo?

[Togo]

Meanwhile.

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/britons-abroad-for-longer-than-15-years-denied-vote-in-general-election/ar-BBA7Bjv?li=BBoPRmx

[Togo]

I wonder if immigrants who have been here less than 15years are denied a vote?

[Mamyalynne]

//Another broken promise// - no wonder people are angry.

[Togo]

For Garaman's edification

anon. definition
An abbreviation for anonymous, used to indicate unknown or unacknowledged authorship.

[New Judge]

Politicians made it happen. I agree that immigration is not the sole reason for the problems. But some four million (net) people have arrived to settle here in the last fifteen years. There would certainly be less of a problem if that was not the case.

Most people (not only me) have not left the housing situation worse than they found it. Many people occupy one house for three or four people - just like their parents did. Population growth (caused both by increasing numbers among those already here and immigration) is the reason why demand exceeds supply. And many people - those with two children or fewer - play no part in exacerbating that problem.

[Garaman]

Togo, you are making no sense, is it 'late' for you again?

[Togo]

Here you go precious. I found the original source for you. I know how difficult it can be for you when you are in a "mood". :))

A young man who isn't a socialist hasn't got a heart; an old man who is a socialist hasn't got a head. David Lloyd George.

[Garaman]

Blimey, NJ, this is hard work. It is harder now for a youngster to buy a place than it was forty years ago. That isn't the youngster's fault, and it isn't all down to immigration, but if it was it still wouldn't be the youngster's fault. We have established that it isn't your fault, but it must be somebodies fault of our generation.

[Garaman]

Togo, I think you should stop for the night as I think you have lost the plot. I am, and always have been, a Tory voter.

[sp1814]

NJ

You wrote:

I certainly didn't have anybody to vote for who stood a realistic chance of changing that.

That's a cop out.

You could've voted for the National Front.

The only reason parties remain small is because people who believe in their cause don't vote for them because they 'don't stand a chance'.

But they don't stand a chance because their natural consistency won't vote for them.

That's a tautological argument.

[Togo]

//Who is the socialist you are referring to, Togo? //

Any particular reason for the immediate question then. Perhaps you should stop for the night, if you are beyond comprehension point or "tired". :))