Why Generation Y Shouldn't Get to Vote

Do you feel chronically self-entitled? Do you find yourself Occupying this or that but you still haven't "found yourself" so you can't occupy your own life? Do you not have a job? You may be suffering from a premature frontal lobe. Don't worry. You're probably still covered under your parents' insurance!

See Adam Carolla shame our generation (maybe it'll motivate us to DO something): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq9zga4jcSM

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[starfleetofficer1]

@eltamin1966 Well, your English is remarkably good. My Spanish (my second language) is far worse than your English. Anyway, I don't think it violates the principle of equality. It simply shifts the judgment of "adult" from the arbitrary age of 18 to the criteria of what it really means to be an adult in this society. If that definition should change again, then the law should change again. The law must treat everyone equally provided they are adults.

[eltamin1966]

@starfleetofficer1 "Principle of equality" is meant in the sense of the Wikipedia entry 'Equality before the law': "Thus, the law...must treat everybody...regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status etc, without privilege." And in the sense of the German constitution stating that franchise is (among others) independent of income and property.

I'm a German, yes. My YouTube comments are a pastime to converse in English, some smartass-remarks can't be ruled out;-)

[starfleetofficer1]

@eltamin1966 Another problem with age limits being used to decide stages of life is seen in the Social Security/Medicare disaster. The reason why those programs are in the red is because they imposed an age limit that does not mean what it originally did. Society has changed, medicine has changed, and 65 is not 2 years past one's life expectancy anymore. In the same way, 18 is not an adult anymore. Now most people continue school instead of work after they finish K-12.

[starfleetofficer1]

@eltamin1966 What do you mean by the "principle of equality"? I don't live in Germany. Do you?

18 is not an adult. Paying your own way is criteria for an adult. Being a functional member of society and not a leech is an adult. Having experience in the world and not in the bubble of a university is criteria for an adult. Those who have not done anything but go to school their entire lives are not adults yet. I thought we already covered this?

[eltamin1966]

@starfleetofficer1 "2/3 of Congress is needed, something that is possible if we convince the general population that 18 is not 'adult'."

2/3 of Congress also for the differentiation within the same age-group, depending on earning your own money? In Germany it would most probably violate the "principle of equality", and would therefore not be possible.

[starfleetofficer1]

@eltamin1966 In countries like France or Germany, for years now, the people's ways to show their discontent is to get out in the streets and riot instead of civilly debating. We in this country have been so far a lot more sophisticated but unfortunately are starting to go that way too, in the form of Occupy Wall Street and other far-left-funded, pro-violence groups. 2/3 of Congress is needed, something that is possible if we convince the general population that 18 is not "adult".

[eltamin1966]

@starfleetofficer1 In countries like France or Germany your proposal would have no chance to be politically implemented, a storm of public protest would arise immediately. And I guess it would be similar in America, even if the Republicans held both the Presidency and a majority in Congress. Just assuming Gingrich would favor your position, if he advocated it openly he would probably be out of the race immediately. Btw what majority in Congress would be needed to implement your idea?

[starfleetofficer1]

@eltamin1966 I understand your position that a fixed age limit is a compromise that has proven successful in the past, but my position is that the age limit is wrong, and our society is not so black and white as it used to be that a certain age equals political maturity. Working and/or paying taxes (or at least counted independently when registering to pay taxes) does equal political maturity. It would actually be much easier to just say no 'dependents' can vote. Ever.

[eltamin1966]

@starfleetofficer1 I comprehend your position which is to reward self-responsibility, but I don't think it justifies such a "revolutionary" change to the electoral system, i.e. to deny a part within the same age-group the right to vote.

There is no absolute criterion for political maturity, being decent and hard-working does not immunize against political demagogues or weird conspiracy-theories. Democracy will always have flaws, but a fixed age-limit is a tested compromise accepted by most.

[starfleetofficer1]

@eltamin1966 And in the same sense I think we should extend Social Security to 79 or 80, because it was supposed to be several years older than the expected lifespan. You should have to work until you die--that is historically how it was, and retirement was invented in the past century (and obviously retirement is a failed concept, as social security is bankrupt because of it). Adjust age limits for reality. 65 is not past your lifespan. 18 is not an adult.