Dear Paul,

Please do not leave us in suspension - who was that other bear?

(perhaps this question is used to weed out those who grew up in different cultures, so they never heard English/European bed-time stories as they grew up?)

«find out if they are compos mentis and deserving of the vote.»

Some older people might not be capable of voting (or driving) responsibly, all right, but you also seem to consider them undeserving? Is this your private view or of the Greens party?

Another problem when you quiz people, presumably to find whether they are compos mentis, is the danger of politically directed questions, such as "what happens when carbon-dioxide molecules reach the atmosphere?"
(answer: they feed plants)

Rumpelstiltskin and Goldlock
Paul1405,
As in Bill & Tanya ?

Our current batch of youngsters are the dumbest, least educated, most parent-dependent lot ever. It's doubtful that they will ever be capable of making any sort of decision, including how to vote. When Mummy and Daddy die, they won't survive either.

As someone with 25 grandchildren I’m horrified by the idea of lowering the voting age. I think it should actually be increased. Teenagers are generally the most egocentric group in society and very bad at looking at long term consequences. At that age they think 30 is old and age 40 is beyond imagining in their ideas. At that age most are still totally dependent on their parents and have no experience or imagination to understand what is meant by self sufficiency in society. I’ve never known anyone of that age who truly understands that no government actually has any money of its own.

The other point to consider is that if 16 year olds are presumed to have the maturity to vote, then it follows that they have the maturity to understand right from wrong and should be tried as adults for any crimes they commit. Who wants to see 16 year olds locked up in an adult prison?

Big Nana,
When you pay taxes, you cease to own the money; the government owns it instead. Therefore the teenagers have a better understanding of the situation than you: the government does have money of its own.

The other thing to understand is that the vast majority of 16 year olds do have the maturity to know right from wrong. Most don't commit crimes. And most of the crimes that 16 year olds commit are contraventions of laws designed to protect them.

When do you get to voting age Aidan? I certainly hope it gives you time to grow up a bit.

Looking at your posts, if you are of voting age, sure explains the crazy results we get at our elections.