‘Temporary Democracy’ – an insult to those in Britain who wish to exercise their ‘fairy dust’ voting rights…
As you can probably tell… I am a passionate supporter for lowering
the voting age to sixteen, not just for the EU referendum, but across the
board. However, sticking to the pressing issue – it’s the hypocrisy that angers
me… why is it that sixteen and seventeen year olds were eligible to vote in the
2014 Scottish referendum however, those whom will be most greatly affected, the
next generation – will be denied a voice in the most significant constitutional
shake up since we entered the European Union in 1975? Don’t get me wrong – I am
a unionist… I believe in the integrity of the United Kingdom and support a
lasting relationship between: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland,
however we cannot be selective. We cannot simply allow those who do not have
the opportunity to vote three-hundred a sixty five days a year, the vote ‘when
our government feels like it’. Members of Parliament should either always deny
sixteen and seventeen year olds the vote or open them to complete voting
autonomy.
Returning to Scotland, those who exercised their new found
right to take an active part in what I’m calling ‘temporary democracy’, will
not, will not be permitted to vote in the Scottish Regional Parliament
elections in May. Why is this? It’s another sorry display by those who are attempting
to shape democracy into a form which will support their own ideological stance.
At sixteen and seventeen I can: have a sexual relationship,
drive a moped, hold a racing licence, smoke, deny medical treatment, chose my
doctor and with parental consent – enter a committed marriage and join HM Armed
Forces. At seventeen all of the above plus the ability to earn a driving
licence. Therefore, we cannot allow to be excluded from the EU fight –
regardless of your political orientation, whether we should stay, or whether we
should go… there are approximately one and a half million sixteen and seventeen
year olds in the UK – that’s one and a half million men and women who are
denied the vote. The simple fact remains… if you can legally have sex – you can
vote.
And the fact still remains… we are almost upon the most
significant constitutional shake up since we entered the European Union – with
a decision as big as this… we must ramp up the pressure, keep the heat on MP’s
and never take ‘no’ for an answer. Because with a potential exit looming, I do
not want us to be saying “what should have been”.
This article was written by a past writer and has been archived
‘Temporary Democracy’ – an insult to those in Britain who wish to exercise their ‘fairy dust’ voting rights…
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Reviewed by Admin
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You have to remember that not every 16/17 year old is like yourself. The vast majority are not. I remember what I was like at 16, and it is not someone I would want to give the vote to. Young people are impressionable, naive and introducing them as a new bloc of voters would create elections less focused on policy and more on wooing the new bloc of voters.
ReplyDeleteBut then again most of the adult electorate is 'impressionable' and 'naive'. But I believe your last point is invalid - the focus on 'wooing the new bloc of voters' might force the main parties to central some good policies around young people. Instead, they're generally just ignored.
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