I chose not to respond to most of the comments posted, as the discussion has unfortunately tended away from the 'central thrust' of my piece to which you refer Mr Gump - which, despite your last comment, had very little to do at all with the lowering of the Voting age post Vietnam (You'll note I considered the point to be irrelevant from the outset and given that 18 year olds have always been allowed to fight...I see little reason why forced conscription should influence contemporary arguments).

However, as you insist on calling me out specifically (and as I'm looking for ways to procrastinate), I should note that the article's purpose was to demonstrate that age relativism and country relativism should matter little when making the case for opening optional voting to young adults while they're still in an educational setting - particularly if your goal is a better educated electorate.

As for your implication that Wiltshire and I are part of some major conspiracy to account for a discrepancy in voter enrollments...what can I say - you got me! - I have in fact spent the last 10 years of my 22 years on this planet as the head of the Illuminati in Australia and only now through your cunning research is my manipulation of Australian elections undone. How my conspiratorial house of cards has fallen...(NB. This is sarcasm).