Current Event #9: Legal Age To Vote
Due: Friday, November 9th, 2012
The right to vote is one of the most important liberties that can be accorded to the individual in a democratic country. In the history of the world there have been many stories about the sacrifices made by our ancestors in order for them to give us the liberty of speaking our minds through a vote.
After many years of struggle voting has become a right that can be exerted by every man and woman that has reached the right age. There is such a thing as a right age for voting because it must be done by an individual that holds the intellectual capability of understanding the consequences of the vote he or she casts. An individual must be able to make a decision that is right on which the future of a country could depend on.
The legal age for voting differs in some countries, but the majority agrees with young men and women who reach the age of 18 to be allowed to vote. In the past the right to vote was granted at the age of 21 but the limit was lowered to 18 and some countries are even debating lowering it even more.
In the United States of America the legal age is 18. But there is an exception to this rule that allows persons who have 17 years old to vote if they are to turn 18 on or before the general election day. This however is only applicable in some states.
Most countries around the world maintain the 18 year old rule. Cuba, Brazil, Nicaragua and Austria allow voting at 16. In the Seychelles and Sudan 17 is the legal age. South Korea has a legal voting age of 19 and Japan of 20. Bolivia, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Dominica, Djibouti, Fiji, Kuwait and Lebanon allow their citizen to vote at the age of 21.
Source:www.righttovote.org
What You Will Do:
1) Read the CNN article entitled Argentina drops its voter age to 16 found at the following link: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/31/world/americas/argentina-youth-vote/index.html?hpt=ila_c2 .
2) Based on your reading of the information regarding the official voting ages around the world and the content found in the CNN article, you will formulate your thoughts and opinions on the age parameters set for voting in the United States.
3) Do you agree or disagree with the current voting age set for citizens in the United States? Should the age criteria remain the same or should they change based upon the intellectual attributes that you and your peer group could bring to the table? Explain in detail.
4) The Argentina voting article made mention of the fact that, "the worst social problem in Argentina is the youth. Education is worse. The consumption of drugs is worse. Employment is worse. Things like teen pregnancy, they are much worse than they were at the beginning of this government, and now the government has discovered them and they say, we are going to vote". If you were granted the opportunity today to vote based on political campaign debate speeches and other media driven plows to capture voter's action at the ballots, would you vote to solve issues such as the ones listed in this quote? Why or why not?
***Remember to answer all of your questions in complete, detailed sentences/paragraphs.***
18 is the age that citizens of the U.S. have to be to vote. I think that this age is appropriate because I feel like that is the age where teens are matured and can make wise decisions regarding the future of their country. However, what factors a lot is the maturity and intellectual level of a person. Someone who is 14 might have the same maturity/intellectual level of an 18 year old, or higher. So why would the more able person not be able to vote? That's the reason why the voting age is 18: because the government hopes that we've matured by then. Even so, I believe that 18 is a good age because a majority of the age group are able to make a decision based on their own opinion rather than their parents, and vote for someone who they know can help them in the future as well as America.
ReplyDeleteIf I could vote, I would definitely vote to help the youth and the struggles that they face, such as bad education, drugs, employment, teen pregnancy, etc. The youth is the future of the country so we should make sure they are being raised right and living well. Voting on someone who could help the youth succeed would help the country move forward and be set for the future. Therefore, we should be set on getting rid of bad things that influence the youth and damage them.
I agree with the set age for voting in America because usually people don't really know details about politics until they are 18. I would think that younger people you vote on just who they thought was the "coolest", no the person who is going to run our country the best. In my opinion, the voting age for the United States is perfect. I honestly wouldn't even trust myself to vote for someone. I don't know who would be the best person to keep our country up and running.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely vote to solve issues such as the ones listed in the quote. Unemployment is terrible in my eyes, and it should be solved because employment is one of many thing that make up a country that prospers.It's terrible that the worst problem is youth, the youth is the future of our country and they should be getting a good, quality education. If the youth didn't get a good education, when they were grown up as adults, how would that effect our country? It would definitely make us a less educated country and that is not good. Also, it's bad that the youth is having drug problems, that should be solved right away. They probably have this drug problem because they don't have a strong parental control and they probably not receiving an education that tells them how bad drugs are to the youth.
7th period World History ^
DeleteKatherine Yang
ReplyDelete11/06/2012
5th Period
2) I believe that 18 is an appropriate age for people to be voting. I, like many teenagers, think that there are some younger people who have better judgement than some older people, and some younger children should be allowed to vote instead of some eighteen-year olds. Even though there are definitely people with better judgement and more intelligence that should get to vote earlier on, but that would be seen as unfair by many Americans.
3) I agree with the current age parameters, as it would be extremely inconvenient for there to be a government process of testing children in high school to see which ones can and cannot, or should and should not vote. That would take too much effort, and many parents or guardians, or teenagers themselves, might protest their and other peer’s being allowed or not allowed to vote.
4) Yes, I would try to vote to help solve these issues, especially since many of them apply to people in my age group, my peers as well as people whom I've never met. I would vote to improve education, and crack down on drug usage, and help teen moms who need assistance with their unfortunate circumstances.
Abby Kameny
ReplyDelete5th period
11/6/2012
The United States of America’s voting age is eighteen, and that is definitely old enough. Argentina has recently changed its voting age to sixteen, and I believe that is too young. Two years can make a major impact on the knowledge and awareness of politics when it comes to teenagers in the Unites States. These young citizens may have their opinion on a president or topic, but I think many of them are not knowledgeable enough to make a decision of their own. Although there are certainly some sixteen-year-olds who are educated enough to vote, I believe the majority of them are not ready yet.
I definitely agree with the voting age for the United States of America. Eighteen years old is considered an adult. One circumstance that irritates me is when citizens don’t research the law or person they are voting for and aren’t educated enough on the topic. Those people usually end up randomly choosing someone to vote for, which can throw off the whole results. An example of this was Amendment I. Many people barely knew what the law stated and just decided to vote for it. These kinds of people can lead to all sorts of catastrophes. It would be extremely inconvenient to test every citizen before voting, but persuading them to learn more about the topic would be beneficial. And although I still believe the voting age is good at eighteen years old, citizens, especially teenagers, need to realize how important it is to research and educate themselves before voting.
Considering these situations focus on our peers, I would vote for laws pertaining to teen pregnancy or drug use. These days, they are involved in drugs, violence, and other dangerous situations. Adolescents voting on problems like this may actually help solve them. I’m fine with leaving the political voting to the adults, but these kinds of situations are significant to our lives as teenagers.
Paige Haskins
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
11/6/12
I would agree with the age restrictionof 18 on voters for the United States because at that age most 18 year olds have obtained an education that allows them to have a well thought out opinoin. Also, teens would have hopefully matured by then and are capable of having an opinion regardless of what their parents think. I think if the age limit was younger like in Argentina, then many voters who are 16 would vote as their parents do because they havent been exposed to what their parents have dealt with.
If I personally could vote I would vote for laws that help with teens and peers such as educations,drug use and teen pregnancy. I feel as if drug use and teen pregnancy can especially effect the future of the youth. However, if we were to improve education by voting for laws that would do such, we can prevent drug use and teen pregnancy if the teens have the information about these topics. Improve education, improves the other situations.
Jessi Szymczak
ReplyDeleteper. 2
11/6/12
Voting is a big part in America, something that happens and gets people excited about every 4 years. People enjoy voting because they feel empowered to be able to take part in something huge for our country as a whole. The voting age restriction for the United States of America is 18 years or older. I personally believe with this age limit because when you are that age you do have more of opinion on topics like health care, foreign policy, economic, social and environmental issues. Right now in the election that we are having I would love to take part in voting to be able to vote for President Barack Obama, however I do agree with the age restriction we have in the United States of America. The only bad part to this is that someone who is 14 might know a lot about these issues then maybe say a 26 year old because they have more maturity and knowledge about these things which is a negative factor with the age restriction limit. Although, there is no way to really say that some people can vote and others can't based on their level on knowledge, maturity, and age, so 18 years of age is a good age to be able have the ability to start voting.
If I had the ability to vote right now I would vote for issues that focus on solving problems. Since I am around the age that most of these things are happening I would have a stronger connection with the topics and have a better sense of what I think would be the right choice for social issues then maybe someone who was 60 would think. However in all cases that is not true. Helping vote for someone who would help improve issues that have things to do with the youth would be a great idea since we are the people that will be the future for the United States of America . So if we can help improve these bad issues that are occurring at the time right now then we will have a better future as a whole.
I think 18 is a good age for people to vote. The people that vote need to have their own opinions and not be influenced by their families and need to be mature enough to pick the proper choice. The choice of a president is important and people's lives can potentially be changed by it. When people are 16 they are still learning about the country's history and most do not have enough knowledge of what the candidates are aiming to do to make a good decision. It would be hard to sort between those that can make the decision and those that can't, so the US should just keep the limit at 18.
ReplyDeleteI think I would vote. I feel like though I'm not as able as an older adult to make good decisions, I have a vague idea of what I'm looking for in a good president and in laws. Some of the things listed may have a direct influence on our lives and we should get a chance to influence them. Especially with things like education and drugs, we could help make good decisions.
Avery Acierno
ReplyDelete11/6/12
Period 5
2. I agree that the age of 18 is the correct voting age. I think that any age below that would be inappropriate. Teenagers are still developing, and are likely to make rash or immature moves when it comes to voting. Teens would be too easily swayed by popularity, peer pressure, and first impressions to vote effectively and responsibly. Also, they might cast a vote as a joke without realizing the consequences (bad or good) their vote can have. Still, I don’t think the age should be older than 18 either. It is important to let young but mature adults form and express their political opinions.
3. As I said before, I believe 18 is the most appropriate voting age for US citizens. People under this age may act rash, while at 18 most people have matured enough to cast an honest vote based on their political opinions. The age requirement should be kept the same. Also, I dislike the idea of the right to vote being given to younger people with higher intellects. While this could provide teens with the smarts to vote the opportunity to, it would create conflict and inequality. It wouldn’t be right if two people of the same age wanted to vote, but only one of them could because they are “smarter”. Equality is too important to the US to allow that.
4. If I could vote, I would definitely address the issues of youth in the US. Drugs, pregnancy, employment, and education of youth are big problems facing our country. These problems also have close ties to me and my peers, because we are teens and may be exposed to these things. I would want to vote for someone who could work to fix those problems, and give the youth a better environment to thrive in.
Avery Acierno
ReplyDelete11/6/12
Period 5
2. I agree that the age of 18 is the correct voting age. I think that any age below that would be inappropriate. Teenagers are still developing, and are likely to make rash or immature moves when it comes to voting. Teens would be too easily swayed by popularity, peer pressure, and first impressions to vote effectively and responsibly. Also, they might cast a vote as a joke without realizing the consequences (bad or good) their vote can have. Still, I don’t think the age should be older than 18 either. It is important to let young but mature adults form and express their political opinions.
3. As I said before, I believe 18 is the most appropriate voting age for US citizens. People under this age may act rash, while at 18 most people have matured enough to cast an honest vote based on their political opinions. The age requirement should be kept the same. Also, I dislike the idea of the right to vote being given to younger people with higher intellects. While this could provide teens with the smarts to vote the opportunity to, it would create conflict and inequality. It wouldn’t be right if two people of the same age wanted to vote, but only one of them could because they are “smarter”. Equality is too important to the US to allow that.
4. If I could vote, I would definitely address the issues of youth in the US. Drugs, pregnancy, employment, and education of youth are big problems facing our country. These problems also have close ties to me and my peers, because we are teens and may be exposed to these things. I would want to vote for someone who could work to fix those problems, and give the youth a better environment to thrive in.
Francis Wemmenhove
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
The age at which you are allowed to vote in the United States is 18. This is a good age because at this point you have probably matured quite a bit. This also is the age that, hopefully, you are starting to understand politics better, and you are starting to know what voting for a certain person will mean for the future of the United States. Of course their could always be a 15 year old that has a strong grasp on politics and a 32 year old that does not understand politics at all. However, those people are most likely exceptions. Most of the time the voting age of 18 is the right age for people to start voting.
If I could vote today, I would probably vote to help the youth and their problems. The reason I would vote for that, is that the youth are going to be adults one day, and if they do not get help now, then bad things could happen later. So, voting to solve problems for the youth would help lead the country to a better future. For those reasons I would vote to help the youth and their problems.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKelly Zhang
ReplyDelete2nd Period
Different countries have different voting ages depending on how old people think young adults are ready or mature enough to make thoughtful decisions. In some countries, this is a low age. This can be due to the country wanting a bigger input from the young people who will soon be running the country. In other countries, this is a high age. Making sure that the young are ready to make decisions on who to vote for, and so that voting and politics will not distract them from their education. The age parameter set for voting in the U.S. is 18, which I believe is a good number.
I believe that the U.S. voting age is a good age. 18 year olds are mature enough to make smart decisions about who they want to vote for. I think if the age was any younger, people would not make good decisions about who they really want to vote for and the polls would be drastically influenced. If the age was any older, then young mature people would not get a say and that would not be fair.
I would vote for the campaign that solved those issues. Those issues all affect the young who will grow and run our country in the future, and they should have a bright future. So by eliminating those issues, the young can grow up and run our country to the best of their ability. A good foundation is the key and then the government can build up, so the new generation must be prepared educationally. They must not be drawn into gangs and drugs. There must be good employment. Teen pregnancy must stop. With all these problems solved, the country can be better and grow.
Nick Agusta
ReplyDelete1st period
1) I believe that 18 is the right age to grant people of America the right to vote. Based on the fact hat once people are 18 they are generally out of High school into college starting to live on their own. And are well enough educated to cast their vote on who they think will better serve them as president.
2) If i was granted the right to vote today i would vote on all of those problems to be solved. Drug use and teen pregnancy are some of the most impacting choices young people make and i believe that education can help inform these people and maybe help them make the right choices.
Sydney B
ReplyDelete5th period
I think that the voting age of 16 is a good idea because people have opinions and are mature at the age of 16. Even 14 year old have good strong opinions on who to vote for. That's one thing that I think should change about America. The rule that says you have to be 18 to vote is really stupid and I think it's just a formality. Argentina has a good idea of letting 16 year olds vote.
I disagree with the voting age because everyone is entitled to their own opinion, especially the youth of today. I personally think you should be allowed to vote at 16 because everyone deserves a fair chance. The president and the governor and the senator affect people younger than 18 also. Why shouldn't we get a say in who comes to office? Most teens form opinions off of good information that they have and they should be able to put them into action through voting.
I think I would vote for the candidate that has the most realistic way of solving these issues. If one candidate has unrealistic ideas such as passing a law against teen pregnancy, then I obviously wouldn't vote for them. That law would be unrealistic and it wouldn't solve anything except a lot more teens being arrested. It's everyone's choice to do drugs or drop out of school so why elect candidate who says they will change the laws when realistically they won't? I would vote on the one that I thought was the best, not just the popular choice.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCurrent Event 9
ReplyDeleteShomya Mitra
Honors World History, 5th Period
I think the voting age in the US is fine right now and there shouldn’t be any change to it. It is true that more kids are getting involved in politics than before, but still many young people are not informed well enough to be able to make an educated vote for our government. Democracy depends on citizens voting for their real opinions, and without this authentic say from citizens, the government won’t reflect the views of the people. So if young people (who aren’t informed well enough and who may change their opinions if they were exposed to more information) try to vote for someone, it may mess up the representation of these people in the government.
If I could vote today, I would vote on these important issues. I think it is important for people to voice their opinions if they are educated opinions. I would first research the issues and what party in the government represents my opinion on the problems. Then I would vote for them after making sure that they represented my views. So I would vote on these issues, but only after doing research into what the options on the ballot mean and which option I would choose.
Danielle Reviere
ReplyDelete5th
I think that eighteen is a great age to vote. When you are eighteen you are less likely to let your parents influence your decisions on something like voting. When you are sixteen you do have your own opinion, but I think subconsciously you let your parents’ opinions influence your own opinion. Also I think when you are eighteen people have a better idea of politics, and can make a more informed vote than some sixteen year-olds can.
If I could vote I would vote to solve these issues. Issues like drug abuse, teen pregnancy, unemployment, etc. are growing problems that need to be solved. As a nation you want what is best for your people, I hope, and growing unemployment is not what is best for Argentina. That being said not all of these problems can be completely fixed. In issues like teen pregnancy and drug abuse there are people who will keep doing drugs even after all the anti-drug campaigns and laws against it , the only thing that will help is making sure that from a young age they know what can happen if they follow that path.
Paige Jones
ReplyDelete2nd period
11/7/12
1) I think eighteen is a reasonable age to start voting. Because you're most likely not living with your parents and on your own, I think you should have a voice in who you want running the country. I don't think it would be okay for anyone under eighteen to be able to vote, because they most likely wouldn't make a thought out decision. Overall, I think eighteen is a perfect age to vote, and I think everyone that's eighteen should vote.
2) If I could vote, I would vote to solve the problems. I would obviously vote to solve it if I thought the problem was bad, but if I thought it was okay, then I would vote to keep it the same. Either way I'd be voting for what I believed in so I could have a voice in the overall decision.
Claire Lancaster
ReplyDelete1st period
11/7/12
For America most kids, including me wait a long time to finally be able to speak our mind for America and vote. The current legal age for voting is 18, which I believe is an appropriate age to be able to vote. Not only can you vote at the age of 18, but also that is when you legally become an adult. Anyone younger is just a child. Should we let the children of America decide who are next president is? Probably not the best idea. And it’s not fair to those older generations who had to wait longer. As for if I did get to vote I would of course vote for someone who I think would solve the typical problems of American teenagers (teen pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, etc.). I would vote for that person to become president because those problems would be the problems of the people my age. Therefore, those problems concern me too. Why wouldn’t you want the right person to solve your problems? Again, as I said before, I really hope the law doesn’t get changed in America, because I don’t want kids who barely even know anything about politics, or even have the time to know for that matter, making decisions for America.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think that the voting age should not be lowered. The youth is not responsible to chose decisions like this. I personally as a single person want to vote but don't trust others to make this kind of decision. The youth can be manipulated to believe not true facts. This kind of set back can be dangerous. They can choose and decide things without knowing all of the facts. I think that no matter your intellectual value you still do not need to be voting. No matter how smart you are, you are still just kids who can be biased and ignorant.
ReplyDeleteI think that I would vote to give people the choice to do what they want. If they want to get pregnant let them and if they want an abortion give it to them. If they want to drop out of school only give them the facts of what could happen if they did, not stop them. It is their choice. I do find that more serious things such as drugs and alcohol is more strict. To put out strict rules and laws to stop the creation and consumption of drugs and alcohol.
Mimi Kramer,
ReplyDeletePeriod 5
11/7/12
I think that the current age for voting in America is good. It is not too old or too young in my opinion. I do think that it may be a good idea to test and see if certain groups are worthy of voting. Because if people are immature, and do not look into politics and are voting randomly that could affect the outcome of voting. But to me it seems that today lots of people are very involved in politics, young and old. So the test may be good for other parts of the country, but based on my peer group I am familiar with I do not think that it is necessary.
Yes I would vote to solve any of the issues listed in the article. I think that they are all very bad and can affect the whole country in negative ways if there was nothing done about them. I think it would be good to let young people vote, so they can know that they make a difference. Personally I would like to know if I was helping solve a big problem like those listed in the article. It could also help young people realize all of the corruption that there is in the world and how it is effecting people.
Albert Yam
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
11/7/12
I think that eighteen is a reasonable voting age and the US should not change it. If the voting age were dropped, many young people would make uninformed votes that could skew the election. Democracy mostly depends on the people, so if you have a lot of younger voters that are not as educated voting, then it will not properly represent what the people want. People's opinions should be heard, but not uninformed ones. I think you should have a voice in who you want governing the country and 18 is a fine age to do so and that it would not be beneficial to lower the voting age.
If I could vote, I would vote on these issues. It is important for people to voice their opinions by voting. In order for me to make an educated vote, I would have to know a little more about the topic before I was sure if I cared about the issue or not. I would vote for these issues only after I learned more about them and the options that are on the ballot, then I could decide how and what to vote for. I feel that voting helps people feel that their opinions are heard.
Olivia Wander
ReplyDeleteperiod 2
This is a tricky question. I feel that many of my peers are intelligent, capable people who have valid thoughts and opinions on the political candidates. On the other hand, It would be easy for children to be influenced by their parents. Since children depend on their parents, at least at first, for their opinions on important issues and their values, it might cause parents to tell children who to vote for. Not to be cruel, but because they believe that they know best. As children get older, they get harder to influence. I think that the current voting age is fairly accurate, however, it could be lowered by a year or two.
I believe that the voting age in America should emulate Argentina's voting age, in that we should lower the voting age to sixteen or seventeen. By then, kids are old enough to stick up for themselves and are capable of making an informed decision. We see so many political ads on TV, we have enough information to make a decision. I know my friends are smart enough to fill about a ballot. Also, the choice of president affects us too. Especially the matter of education. We are the ones in school. WE should be able to at least help decide how on funding for teachers.
If I could vote today, I would. I believe that I have enough information to make a decision on candidates. I know I am smart enough. Many of my peers feel the same way. We all have opinions of the candidates and their various policies, and I think that the opinions are valid. I would vote for politicians whose beliefs allied with my own and who supported the youth of America.
AlexParks
ReplyDeleteHonors World History
1st Period
I think the voting age in the US is fine right now and there shouldn’t be any change to it. It is true that more kids are getting involved in politics than before, but still many young people are not informed well enough to be able to make an educated vote for our government. Democracy depends on citizens voting for their real opinions, and without this authentic say from citizens, the government won’t reflect the views of the people. So if young people (who aren’t informed well enough and who may change their opinions if they were exposed to more information) try to vote for someone, it may mess up the representation of these people in the government.
If I could vote today, I would vote on these important issues. I think it is important for people to voice their opinions if they are educated opinions. I would first research the issues and what party in the government represents my opinion on the problems. Then I would vote for them after making sure that they represented my views. So I would vote on these issues, but only after doing research into what the options on the ballot mean and which option I would choose.
Anna Castellano
ReplyDeletePeriod 5
I agree with the current voting age set for citizens in the United States. I think that the age criteria should remain the same based upon the intellectual attributes that me and my peer group could bring to the table. People under the age of 18 are still in school and don’t have as many life experiences yet to help formulate strong opinions that should drive the countries decisions. This age group’s brains are still developing and are impulsive which often doesn’t lead to the smartest decision making.
I would vote to solve the issues listed which include: youth, education, drugs, pregnancy, and employment. These issues affect people like me and people around me. These are common problems that need attention because it is our youth that eventually will become our future leaders and professionals.
Ari Horwitz
ReplyDelete7th Period
In my strong opinion I think the voting age in the United States is perfect where it is at right now. When you are below the age of 18 there are several influences that can affect your opinion on politics. The most influential in my life would definitely be my parents because I look to them as role models and ever since I was little I agreed with there political views. Also peer opinions and more can affect your views towards politics. When an individual turns 18 I think it is the beginning of individuality. I feel like once you turn 18 you develop your strong opinion and stop relying on your parents and more for similar views. You have to realize that your vote is completely based on your thoughts and opinions and you cant let people around you influence your decisions. I know it would be nice for younger people to get a say in how our country is run but I think to be 100% far we have to wait till we mature enough to understand what is at stake.
If I had the chance to vote to solve these issues I would obviously vote. Education makes up a functioning and safe country and if a vote can help obtain that than it is well worth it. Unemployment is a major problem that must be fixed every citizen can help contribute to the well being of our nation. If we can tackle unemployment it would start a great recovery over other problems. Youth consumption and usage of drugs is a terrible thing and if a vote can help stop it then I would most definitely contribute. Although I do think there is a certain age voting should be allowed, in Argentina’s case the country is so corrupt however they can contribute the progression of recovery it is a necessary step to take.
Julianna Turner
ReplyDeleteNovember 7, 2012
2nd
I think that the current voting age limitations in the United States are reasonable. When you turn eighteen, you are a legal adult. Therefore you should be responsible for making important decisions. I think that children could be easily influenced by their parents or their peers simply because they have a biased view or don’t understand fully what they are voting for. In order to take full advantage of our rights to vote, we must completely comprehend what the outcome of our decision could be. By eighteen, people have matured and are being held at higher performance standards. More is expected of an adult both intellectually and behavior-wise. I think eighteen is the appropriate voting age to ensure wise decisions are being made regarding our future.
I would definitely vote on those issues. The youth is the future of any country, they must be held to the highest standards and failure must not be an option. As soon as these obstacles are overcome, the country is able to seize the opportunity to move forward as a nation to enhance not only their reputation, but their society. Success awakens the souls of people who thought they had nowhere to go in life; people who thought they had hit a dead end. It will bring people away from risky behaviors and put their energy into positive interests. These issues are very important, because if not solved they could lead to the downfall of a nation.
Gabi Brenman
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
I believe the current voting age, eighteen, in the United States of America is a reasonable age. At eighteen, you have finished (or almost finished) 12 years of school. People that are eighteen have spent time getting a quality education and can form decisions on their own. People who are eighteen generally understand the importance of choosing trustworthy political leaders. People younger than eighteen are still learning crucial information that could affect their decision-making. Most people throughout the United States of America are mature and responsible enough to deserve their vote at eighteen.
If I had the right to vote, I would closely analyze the views of the candidates. I believe education is something that a president must find a priority. Drugs and teen pregnancy are things that I think a president should encourage spreading awareness. However the most important things I would look for in a president is that they care about education, his or her view of the future of the United States of America, and his or her views on wars. These are things I feel would more directly have an effect on me, therefore I find them most important.
Jacob Engel
ReplyDelete7th
I think that the voting age should be nineteen because that is usually the age people are when they are freshman in college. When you are in college, you are not exposed to your parent's opinions, and you can form your own. If you live with your parents, your political views are most likely the same. Once you are off in college you have more and better opportunities to explore and experience different political views. Also, I feel like at age nineteen, you are mature enough to vote, because your brain has almost finished with developing its decision making part.
If I could vote, than I would place the things in the quote at the top of the list for what I was looking for. I think that the leader of the country should look to the future, and help bring about long-term stability and successfulness. Solving short term problems might help the country to the end of the leader's term, but after that, the country might be back to square one. If every single leader looked to the future, everybody would be fine, because they were already taken care of by someone in the past.
Lillian Menkens-Weiler
ReplyDeleteHonors World History Period 5
11/7/12
I have mixed feelings about the current voting age in U.S. On one hand, I think that 18 is a good age because this allows young people to participate, although they are still nearly adults at this age, and are learning to be independent and form their own opinions. I also see the side that argues that having more young voters gives us a better sample of where the country is going politically. I’m 15, and though my political views are very similar to those of my parents, I pay very close attention to politics and have very strong opinions about various political issues and candidates. It is clear, especially with these last two elections, that our country is changing, and that is partly due to the younger voters in the country. I do feel that younger voters are underestimated, and that 16-year-olds could offer a lot to any election. However, I do not object to leaving the voting age at 18, because I think that this is ultimately a reasonable age to begin voting.
If I could vote, I would certainly take advantage of this right, but I would make sure to be well informed on what I was voting for. If I understood the issue and had a firm opinion of it, I would definitely vote on it. I think that teenagers voting to help other teenagers could be very effective, because other teens may understand the predicaments of their peers, more so than some adults. I think that this could be a good opportunity for teens to vote on the changes that they would like to see in the world and especially within the lives of teens.
Connor Korfas
ReplyDelete1st Period World History
11/7/12
I personally agree with the current voting age. I believe that those who have the right to vote should be well educated and fully matured. The decisions that we decide as a country through voting really affect our nations. I would want people who are well informed and versed in these issues to vote on them. Not some sophomore or junior in highschool. I feel that anyone less than 18 is just too young and not mature enough to fully handle the huge responsibility that comes with voting. If anything I would increase the voting age if possible. If it was up to me I would also instate a short quiz that was mandatory to take before voting. This quiz would be on general information on the candidates and their stances on certain issues. This would ensure that only educated voters would participate in the voting.
When it comes to voting for candidates I don’t think that I would want to. But if I were able to vote on issues that directly relate to me I think I would be more keen to vote. Issues like ones that relate to my education or to my rights. So I would vote on issues that directly relate to me but not on issues relating to candidates for positions in the government.
Joy Stouffer
ReplyDelete7 period
1) I think that 18 is the right age to vote. Not everybody under 18 is interested in politics. Some are, but not the majority. The people who vote for the person who will run our country should be well informed on the candidates. Also, since 18 year olds are considered adults, part of being an adult is taking interest in the country’s affairs.
2) As I explained in the paragraph above, I think that 18 is the perfect age to start voting. For one thing, the brain develops more as you get older, meaning you have a bigger brain then when you were younger. Also, 18 year olds are more exposed to politics and have a better ability to determine who would be the best president.
3) If I were allowed to vote at an earlier age, I would definitely vote to solve the issues listed. The only way to make certain things better is to make sure everyone is onboard with it. Conditions will not change if people do not try to make them change.
Anna Grace Kelley
ReplyDelete11/6/12
Period 7
Personally, I think that the voting age is good right where it is. When you turn 18 years old in the United States of America, you are considered an adult, and voting is one of those privileges that comes along with being one. As a nation, who we decide to vote for an elect to Capitol Hill not only affects the United States but also affects the world. When you are 18 years old, you should have enough education and information to make the best decision for whom you are going to vote. But, if you are any younger than that you will most likely be too inexperienced and naïve to make the best decision for yourself and your country. I also would not increase the age when you are able to vote because by age 18, you are willing to voice your opinion and make a change. 18 years old is a good age to vote and I believe that the United States of America should keep it that way.
If I were 18 year old and were able to vote, I would definitely take advantage of that. Another thing that I would be sure to do is research the candidates running for President or Congress or whatever. That way, I would not be persuaded by other people’s opinion, but would be able to vote for the person I believe is best for that position. Obviously, big topics like education, health care, drugs, and more are criteria we look for in a president. If we are well educated and informed about many of these topics, voting would be a lot easier.
Ian Hufford
ReplyDeleteP.1
11-8-12
1) I have mixed feelings about the current voting age. On one hand, I think that the majority of young adults myself included, are not all that interested in politics and may not be able to make a good, informed decision about what is the best party to represent their country or whatever they are voting about. However, I think that if the voting age is lowered, it may help young people to feel encouraged to vote and follow politics more. So, I am fine with the voting age as it is now, at 18.
2) As I said before, I agree with the current voting age, but see why other countries would want to change theirs. I think that if the voting age was lowered, we would be able to vote competently, if we took an interest in politics.
3) If I were allowed to vote, I would vote to help to make the conditions better for everyone who is suffering from poverty, crime, and the issues that were talked about in the article on cnn. It is important that we don’t take the things that we have in America for granted and at least try to improve the lives of others that need it.
McKenna Willoughby
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
11/8/12
2) In my opinion, I think that the age limit for voting in the United States is appropriate. When you turn 18, you are considered an adult. Voting is a serious subject and right. You make decisions that will affect your future. Teenagers may abuse that right if they are allowed to participate in it.
3) As I stated before, 18 is the right age to start voting. Most teens are not interested in politics and government. If they do not take the subject of voting seriously, then they should not be allowed to vote. Also, teenagers do not have the best decision making skills. As they grow older though, those skills increase.
4) If I were allowed to vote today, I would definitely want to participate in voting on these issues. Given the opportunity, I would want to help fix theses issues in any way that I could. Before I vote though, I would make sure to know all of the facts. Voting without knowing about what you’re voting for is pointless.
Sydney Jones-Period 7
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion America has a reasonable voting age. When you turn eighteen you are considered an adult, you have completed twelve years of school and are ready to begin and lead a more adult life, part of this adult life is being incharge of yourself and your own decisions, like voting. I feel that if a younger generation started voting then their votes would be more influenced by many things, such as their friends, parents and the media, than if they waited until they were a little older to vote. Also many teens of sixteen or seventeen are too busy with school and school work to take part in politics, and also it isn’t fair to give them even more to do or research. An election with a lot of teens would probably also be biased. I feel like a lot of teens would be good voters, watch debates, and do their best to understand who they’re voting for and why. Although some voters would take a lazy way out by not voting at all or voting with what their family or friends think and not what they think. If my generation, or one a little older, were allowed to currently vote I think that campaigns would be very different and would consist of very different (and not so truthful) persuasive ads and political messages geared toward teens. The campaigns would include fixing problems among teens, such as some listed in the article about voting in Argentina. Which would persuade more teens to vote. I feel that a lot of teens would step up and help campaign for who they will vote for and try and persuade and educate other voters, some even do now. Also I think that teens would be most willing to vote for the candidate that promises the best improvement in their lives.
Claire Kern: PD.7
ReplyDeleteI mostly agree with the current voting age in the United States. I agree with the age because most people younger than 18 cannot deeply look into politics like adults do, and they don’t see the consequences in their vote. Also because most people less than 18 yrs old are still living with their parents and haven’t really made their own opinion about who they support. They just agree with their parent’s opinion, or don’t really care. I kind of disagree with the age because some young people have better political opinions about topics like education, and they can relate to those topics because they hopefully, are still in school themselves. But, if I were to choose one, I would say that the age is appropriate because at 18 teens reach a higher level of maturity that young people don’t have, and this helps them make the right decision on who to vote for. It is very important for people to really formulate their own opinions and chose who they believe would be the right president. And most people are unable to achieve this before age 18. I would definitely vote to try and solve problems such as education problems, drugs, pregnancy, etc. These problems are important to solve because the youth is the future, they deserve a chance to make the life they want, and not be stopped by drugs, or bad education. We should make sure that they are in the right living situations, health situations, and that they will have a good future.
Kurt Gee Pd 7 11/8/12
ReplyDelete1) I have mixed feelings about the current voting age. On one hand, I think that the majority of young adults myself included, are not all that interested in politics and may not be able to make a good, informed decision about what is the best party to represent their country or whatever they are voting about. However, I think that if the voting age is lowered, it may help young people to feel encouraged to vote and follow politics more. So, I am fine with the voting age as it is now, at 18.
2) I agree with the current age parameters, as it would be extremely inconvenient for there to be a government process of testing children in high school to see which ones can and cannot, or should and should not vote. That would take too much effort, and many parents or guardians, or teenagers themselves, might protest their and other peer’s being allowed or not allowed to vote.
3) If I could vote, I would vote to solve the problems. I would obviously vote to solve it if I thought the problem was bad, but if I thought it was okay, then I would vote to keep it the same. Either way I'd be voting for what I believed in so I could have a voice in the overall decision.
Different countries have different legal ages at which every man and woman can exercise their right to vote. However, most of them, including our country have decided that 18 is the optimum age at which a person can vote. In my opinion the age parameters set for voting in United States is appropriate. I think that by this age we have the maturity and experience to formulate wise and informed decisions, not only regarding our own lives, but also about our government, and who we should choose to represent us in it. By this age we would have already studied about how our government works, and are aware of all the important political, economic and social issues pertaining to our country, as well as most of the foreign issues that may affect us. I also believe that by this age we would have made our political affiliations based on convictions, which could be either liberal, conservative or independent views. This is the age that we usually chart our careers and decide on our college education, and hence, I think this is the right time for us to get a chance to decide who we want as our representatives in the government.
ReplyDeleteIf I got an opportunity to vote today based on political campaign, debates and speeches, I would vote on issues pertaining to education and employment. I believe that these issues are very important for the youth to have a bright future. Drugs and teen pregnancies are also important factors that can ruin the life teenagers, who have no clue of what they are getting into. The use of drugs can effectively end a person’s life and is a big problem prevalent among teens. I would vote for a candidate willing to fund programs that offer help to teenage parents, and also fund school programs that educate kids about the pitfalls of drug usage.
Shamim Zarei
ReplyDelete2nd period
18 is the best age set for the voting age in America. Most people don't turn mature until there 18 years old. If the voting age was lower, people would vote for the president they think looks more cool, but they might have just voted for someone that doesn't have the right laws planned for the future. An older age is better because they understand what the candidate is saying and they can get a good education on politics and vote for the better candidate. Some kids will agree with their parents and have no idea what the plan of the candidate is. In my opinion, you turn to a adult when you are 18, and become mature enough to vote for the better president of the United States of America.
I would definitely vote to help solve those issues because they impact the teens of our generation and they are our future. If they don't fix these problems, they will go on forever and the new people of the future won't have a good enough education to solve it because the problems happened to them. Every one deserves a good living situation, good health, and a good education. These problems need to get fixed now.
Erica Johnson
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
2)I think the voting age set in the United States is perfectly fine. And if anything, it might be too young. I agree with Santiago Tricario, who said that highschoolers should be focused on studies, and save the politics for later. Teenagers need to focus on being a teenager, and voting rights might change their responsibilities as a teen. Also, people under the age of 18 might not make intelligent decisions on their own, and most people don’t know much about politics until they are older anyways.
2) I definitely agree with the voting age in America. The youth have too much to focus on, and most of us don’t even know about politics! Although the youth may have some good ideas for the future, they can be brought to the table when they are old enough to make decisions on their own.
3) I would definitely vote for those issues, because the issues mentioned would have complete relevance to me. I think that employment is so important to the society, and the youth is the key to our future, and the next generation needs to be educated, in order to fulfill our society as well as create new jobs.
Takoda Ren
ReplyDelete2nd
9th current event
2) I think that 18 is the proper voting age. Lots of scientific research proves that younger people’s brains are still not fully developed yet, so they make irrational decisions. Without realizing the impact of their vote, they may just vote for a joke. Younger people are also more likely to cave into peer pressure, they may not know which candidate is better for their good being, leading to the possibility of voting for a candidate that might do them harm. It is best if younger people were not to vote. At the age of 18 is when the brain develops into a more whole state, which is may be why you usually enter college at the age of 18, when you are more prepared for the critical thinking. I also think that an age older than 18 is not a good voting age, because at the age of 18 people start to think with a more rational mind, there is no reason to delay their involvement with the countries politics.
3) Most of the details for the reason of the correct voting age are given in the first paragraph; I think the age criteria should remain the same. Although there are many young teenagers that are smart beyond imagination, many of them still do not make the correct decisions, you could be the smartest person in the world and your lack of common sense would cripple you.
4) I might, because ultimately it is this generation of youth that are going to govern and rule the world someday. It is best if this generation today have fewer problems so that less problems crop up in the future. But honestly there is not really enough time for me to be searching through poles and other political news articles. If I said that I would vote, I would be contradicting my previous support for the voting age of 18, so even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.
Nathan Guskiewicz
ReplyDeletePeriod 5
1. I think that 18 is a perfect age for voting, younger people can be influenced by parents and peers. I have always followed my parent’s views as far as politics. But 18 is a year for independence so people might start to find their own views on politics and other things. Also I think younger kids might not see how important electing a new president is.
2. I would vote if I were able to, and I would vote for these things because I feel like they are important. Education is key in building a strong nation. Also education can help fix problems such as teen pregnancy and drug use because it can teach kids about it and give them hope that they can get a job later in life. Employment is really important for a nation because it can solve problems in a nation.
Avery Scope-Crafts
ReplyDeleteP.1
I don’t agree with the current voting age set for citizens in the United States. I think they should lower the age criteria, maybe to age 16. I think it is a great thing what Argentina is doing and I wish I could foresee the United States doing it in our future. I would think that lowering the age limit would help our nation keep the younger generation smart. They would now be able to engage in politics and they would enjoy the sense of power. If the presidency is going to affect our generation, why shouldn’t we get a say in it?
Yes, I would vote to solve issues, like the ones listed in that quote. I one hundred percent believe that we need to fix the problems for the younger generation of our nation; the biggest problem being is that the younger generation is causing these problems! It is not just Argentina who has those problems that are bad. We, as a county, need to improve rapidly in those areas.
Kunal Lodaya
ReplyDelete1st period
11/8
The voting age of 18 in the United States is appropriate, in my opinion. In fact, raising this bar a little higher, maybe to age 20, might be a good idea. The key reason for this is that the adolescent brain really won't finish its work until that age. Voting rights should stay as they are, and definitely not lower.
There are undoubtedly those in our age group or a little older who would make perfectly educated votes; they, however, are in the minority.
If I was able to vote at this time, my ideals would definitely have focus with the issues of my generation. Drugs and underage sex are massive issues that need to be tackled. To me, education and proper instruction is the way to fix the problem, and it should be made a priority. However, the stability of the nation at the present moment is a larger issue looming over us, and a collapse would render all other problems moot.
simon dunson
ReplyDelete7th period
1. Personally i feel that 16 is a perfect voting age. My brother is 16 and he has formulated his own political views. I think that around the age of 14 then you begin thinking for yourself and forming your own beliefs.
2. If i could vote then i probably would even though I hate politics. Education is the key to our future success. Also education is key to getting a job later in life. With unemployment very high right now then education is key to finding a good job.
Francisco Coch
ReplyDelete7
I think that the voting age in the United States should be lowered by one year to 17. I believe that this would provide an opportunity for all those young people who are eager to vote and letting their voice be heard. This would be possible while still maintaining an age where these kids have developed more mature and serious views that would otherwise not be present in younger kids.
I personally would vote for the benefit and well being of other people in America, given if I had this right. I am all for change and improvements to our country’s current ideas and ways, and this is mostly because of how I was brought up. I’m sure that if kids my age were granted such a right, a lot would most likely not take it very seriously, and may potentially lead to a worse state of being. This is why I think that it is important to keep the voting age at a reasonable limit, whilst still giving mature kids a chance to make their voices heard a bot earlier.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI believe that 18 is the proper age at which people should begin to vote. It is at this age that we become full adults, emancipated from the restrictions and biases of our families and communities. Any responsible adult should be fully independent, and a major part of protecting yourself is molding your future. Therefore, it is important that we as adults vote. Anyone younger than 18, not yet a free person, is liable to be shaped by their families and peers. We may make irrational decisions or not think through our actions. This is not an insult to teenagers, it is simply the way we develop.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone not vote to help the youth? While they may not seem like such a pressing issue they are our future. The youth of today will become the leaders of tomorrow. If we do not deal with the evil in this world now, it will only multiply as time wears on.
Period 1
ReplyDeleteAmerica has a voting age of 18, while other countries have voting ages of 16,17,19,20,21. I think this is because each country has it's own legislature, culture, and demographic.
Although 18 has been the voting age for a long time I think a voting age of 16 would be better. It would allow people who are still students to vote so education would be improved. Also most people I know who they like and who they would support as president, governer etc.
Yes I would vote to fix those issues. I would vote too fix those issues because those are issues that effect me. And of those issues metioned there are two that are specifically important to me. Education is the first one, because I will be in this countries education system for 7 more years. The other one is employment because I will need a job to get out of colledge.
Emily Molina
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
I think that 18 is the best age to begin voting. I think this because people are either a senior in high school or a freshman in college. You are more independent by the age of 18. I find 16 a bit too young, and voters are probably not as well informed as they should be. As a legal adult, people would more likely have a better grasp on their duties as a citizen. At 16, people would be stressed by the pressures of school work. They probably don't have time to research the two candidates for voting. And if they vote for someone based on just a few facts that might not even be true, then the candidate best suited for promoting the country may not win.
I definitely agree with the current legal voting age in the United States. While I think that people of ages younger than 18 can have good points and views on the current situation in the country, I think that they are too ignorant still to vote for the best candidate. While I agree that 16- and 17-year-olds could give valuable opinions and give various topics a new perspective, I do not think that they would always have what is best for the country as a whole in mind. They have not really lived on their own yet, so they do not know what it is like to support themselves. I find that is would be best for the age parameters to stay the same.
I would definitely start with these listed problems. They are problems that are starting early and are affecting people throughout their entire lives. These problems cause other problems later down the road. If the original issues were eradicated, like teen pregnancy, then other problems would not occur. If a girl did not get pregnant in high school, then she would not have top drop out of high school. She could continue onto college and get a good education for a sustaining career. The girl would not have to be under the stress of raising a child with little resources, especially since she is still essentially a child herself.
I do think 18 is a good age for voting. By then, people have usually adopted quite a bit of independence and responsibility. They are less likely to just vote for who their parents voted for, as someone younger might, or vote just to be opposite to their parents, as someone younger might. They are legally adults, and have a better grasp of what problems are really apparent in our society and need to change.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely vote on these problems. Not only do these affect my peers and I, but the entire country, as the youth is our country's future. They can cause chain reactions, and create more problems even more serious than the original ones. And I would definitely vote on education, as I am currently in this country's educational system, and will be for quite a while longer.
Markale Cordova
ReplyDeletePeriod 5th
1) I believe that 18 years of age is the right age to have to vote. As you become a legal adult, the adults are more likely to focus more on politics. If you could vote on age 16, it would be stressful. People at the age 16 would have to worry about school work and politics and that's too much for them. Also they probably not old enough due to the fact that they don't know much about politics and what's going on in our country.
2) As i said before 18 is considered to be the right age for people to vote in our country due to those i mentioned in question 1. your considered as in adult and have more understanding about politics.
3) I too would like to vote to fix the problems with our society or whatever. The issues right now is affecting me and my family, so I would like to vote.
Morgan Durant
ReplyDeleteperiod 1
Nov 8
I hink 18 is a good voting age becaues some young people might be under informed about the leaders or not know what would be lot with a gain or not know about the partys and just vote like their peers
i would vote to end teen pregnecy as for education i would also vote for better schools
Rebecca Harless
ReplyDeleteNovember 8, 2012
Period 5
I believe that eighteen years old is the correct age for people to start voting at, and that it should not be changed for the United States. The idea of lowering the voting age based on “intellectual attributes” that we, teenagers, could add to politics is kind of strange. Strange because there are so many teenagers in the U.S. living with so many different environments and events happening in their lives, plus the facts of my gym teacher. Apparently, the teenage brain is not fully developed until after you’re twenty years old. At eighteen, the reasoning part of the brain is still developing, and at sixteen, it would probably be developed even less. While there may be some brilliant ideas and opinions that a sixteen year old’s vote could effect, and while there may be some teenagers whose votes are so biased they could cause damage, at sixteen, the brain still is developing making rational decisions. For this reason, I do not think that the voting age should be lowered, but I do not think it should be raised because by eighteen, I think that teenagers have gone through enough to realize their opinions and vote.
Based on campaign debate speeches and social media plows getting me to vote, no, I would not vote to help these issues because people in the heat of debate and social media can lie. Based on what I think about issues such as teen pregnancy, education, unemployment, and drugs, I would vote for who someone who promised to solve these issues, because these are unavoidable problems with necessary solutions. All of these issues connect with each other to cause even huger problems for the economy, crime, etc. Teens getting pregnant, because they took drugs or weren’t educated or just because and then dropping out of school to take care of their kid or not having a job or taking more drugs because it’s too much pressure, is stupid. We should be trying to solve these issues because they are affecting other teenagers who maybe don’t want to make the same choices and want to have a good future. We should be trying to solve these issues to help those who have already made those choices and still want a good future.
Sarah Taekman
ReplyDelete11-8-12
Period 5
In America, when citizens reach a certain age, they gain adult privileges such as drinking, driving, and most importantly, voting. Our country has decided that age 18 is the magic number, while other countries have older age limits, and others, like Argentina, have younger limits. Being a high school student, and having a dad that is very talkative about his view on politics, I know that choosing which candidate to vote for can be very difficult when others are biased towards one side. While voting may seem like something “cool” to do, it’s more than a way to raise one’s social status. Votes affect the country, and determine who will have power in the running of our country. I feel as though citizens below the age of 18 are too distracted by school and other things to pay attention to politics, or authorities in their life bias them towards one candidate without them actually learning their policies and plans. Now, I’m not saying that ALL kids are like this. Many students I know paid very close attention to what each candidate’s plans were to see whom they preferred during this past election. But people 17 and under have a lot going on in their lives, or people to impress. They might vote one politician to “fit in,” or just pick a random person so they can say they voted. 18 is the age where people start to think for themselves because this is the age they start to grow independent.
I agree with the current voting age of 18 in the United States. It’s an age where citizens begin making their own opinions about the world around them, and don’t rely so heavily on others. The age criteria should remain the same for everyone, regardless of one’s intellectual advantages. Even if you’re the smartest person in the world, it doesn’t make your views on how the country should be run any more right than a less intellectually gifted person. It’s called the United States of America, not “Country of the Smart.” The right for everyone that meets the age criteria is part of what makes America so great—no matter who you are, where you come from, or your skills, you have a say in the business of the country.
If I were given the right to vote against things such as drug abuse, education crumbling, unemployment, and teen pregnancy, I most certainly would. These are some of the things of which can ruin a teenager’s future. Also, if teenagers were to be allowed to vote, these would distract them from paying close attention to the politicians’ policies and plans, and prevent them from voting based on their own views. We are the future of America. We can’t have a bunch of drugged out, unemployed, early teenage parents as the people that determine the fate of America. That would be terrible for the future of our country. People that CAN vote now should definitely vote against these things, seeing as nothing good can come out of them.
Veronica Kim
ReplyDelete1st period Honors World History
11/8/2012
I think 18 is a good age for voting. At 18, you are mature enough to know what you want, but still young enough to discuss with your peers, and alter opinions based on theirs; however, you're not so susceptible to peer pressure that you simply give in to everything that your friends say. At 18, you should be responsible enough to know right from wrong, and to be able to say that you voted, and are positive that you voted for the right person.
I would definitely try to vote to solve issues such as drugs and teen pregnancy, but honestly, you can't simply just point at someone and say, "Don't get pregnant," and expect them to listen to you. Of course, you are relying a lot on the candidates to hold to their word, but you must also be aware that you are making the right decision. So yes, I would definitely vote to resolve these issues (who wouldn't?) but it wouldn't only be my choice as to whether they were actually eradicated.
Johnny Huang
ReplyDelete5th period
The current minimum age for voting in the United States, 18 years old, seems appropriate because a majority of mental and physical developments happen during that age; things like more maturity, education, and proliferating political interest.
I believe that the current parameters set for voting for the next leader of the country is appropriate due to many factors, such as intellect. Most teenagers, more specifically people under 18, are not at a level of intellect that may help in deciding crucial factors that will affect the future of the country.
Voting in a situation like that to end a crisis most likely would not significantly impact the problems. Sure, a candidate could say they will solve the economy, educational problems and etc., but all those ideals may be insignificant when presented with other factors such as war or diplomacy. That is the reason why there are riots and protesters everywhere; they want something changed that they cannot fix with voting. Though when granted with an opportunity to vote to solve a crisis, I most likely would vote for what the general consensus of the more educated, politically interested people vote for.
Isabelle Alzona
ReplyDeletePeriod 5
I agree with the voting age of the United States. I think that the age of 16 is too young. Most 16 year olds don’t even understand politics let alone have the responsibility to vote for someone. And young people are easily influenced by media and other people, so they would be following other people’s choices rather than making their own. I think by the time your 18 you are out of high school and educated enough to make a decision.
If I was allowed to vote now I would definitely vote to solve drug, education, and employment issues in youth. I believe that America’s youth has many problems that can be fixed if people take the right steps to solve them. The youth of today is the future of tomorrow. If we are to have a strong country in the future we need to right our problems now. I would vote to solve these problems.
I think it is actually a really good idea to lower the voting age because I think by 16, people are able to make logical decisions and know enough about politics that their vote is really important and it should definitely matter.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be acceptable in the US to lower the voting age, and I don't think it would be that bad of an idea.
On the other hand, some people who might not think for themselves, might just vote for whoever their parents are voting for, and that could be a little concerning.
I do think it is important that teenagers should have a say in who the president of the United States is because that person is shaping the future for us.
Autumn West
ReplyDeletePeriod 7th
November - 08, 2012
1) I believe that 18 is an appropriate age for people to be voting. I, like many teenagers, think that there are some younger people who have better judgement than some older people, and some younger children should be allowed to vote instead of some eighteen-year olds. Even though there are definitely people with better judgement and more intelligence that should get to vote earlier on, but that would be seen as unfair by many Americans.
2)As I said before, I agree with the current voting age, but see why other countries would want to change theirs. I think that if the voting age was lowered, we would be able to vote competently, if we took an interest in politics.
3)I too would like to vote to fix the problems with our society or whatever. The issues right now is affecting me and my family, so I would like to vote
James Menache
ReplyDeletePer. 5
I think the age parameters for voting in the United States is good except if we had more young people voting, the results might be a little more spread out. Yes I agree with the voting age in the United States. I think the voting are should remain the same; but at the same time it would be better to have more young people voting even if they might not spend as much time thinking about who to vote for. Yes if I had the opportunity to vote on the issues in the article I would. I would vote for what I believed was right. I would vote because I would want to make a difference.
Valeria Campos-Diaz
ReplyDelete1st period
I personally do agree with the voting age being 18 here in the united states. Even now as the younger people are becoming more involved and interested in voting i don't believe they should lower the voting age. AT 18 i believe people have a better understanding of the great impact their vote could be.
But with the situation Argentina is in where they are having issues with education I would definitely take advantage of the right I would have to vote If it was the decision to improve the economy, education etc. But the issue they could have with that is the new voters just voting because they have the right and not really processing their decision and really thinking about it.
Jeff Richardson
ReplyDeleteHonors World History
1st Period
2) In a perfect world the voting age in America would be significantly lower. This would grant as many citizens as possible the inalienable right to have a say in our government. But there are too many confounding factors when it comes to youth. Our brains have not matured yet and we are more prone to make rash decisions. We also lack the political knowledge that only experience can get us.
3) I think it is good for us to discuss our political views with our peer group. This sets the stage for voting in the future and helps us orient ourselves to what we want for our country. I see no need to change America’s current voting age. That kind of decision depends on how educated and involved a country’s youth are.
4) It confuses me that anyone would NOT vote with solutions to these problems in mind. Nobody wants to live in a country haunted by drugs and teen pregnancy. But on the other hand it is human nature to help yourself before lending a hand to others. Personally I would vote for whoever could better my situation economically and socially.
Cisem Karaca
ReplyDelete5th period
11/8/12
1)I think it is important for the youth to have a say in elections. Since the youth of today are our future I feel that they should be allowed to vote in order to help shape the future. In some cases they can be helpful like in the basic rights for women and marriage rights for all sexualities. But some situations may not be as helpful like in voting for tax improvements or economic situations that don’t apply to the youth directly.
2) I agree with the voting age. The youth should have a say in many important subjects that affect our near future. Even though many situations don’t apply to us the youth should be able to vote for there decisions on what they view is right for the country. But right now I feel like there is no need to change the age in America simply because many children have not established their own thoughts on the government, many are just what their parents think.
3) I would vote to help fix problems affecting the community and society. Many of these problems harm the daily lives of families across the world. if given the right to vote i would so that I could help the community and country overcome these obstacles.I would vote for this because I would want to better the living conditions in our society and country.
Blake Johnson
ReplyDelete2nd period
11/9/12
I think the voting age of 18 is the right age to qualify to vote. I think 18 is the right age because it is the age when you are able to formulate your own opinions and start making decisions based on what you think. Any age younger could cause people to vote based on other opinions.
I think the current parameters in the U.S. are the right ones. The age criteria should remain the same even though teenager’s intellectual attributes are growing. The problem comes when you have an exceedingly smart group who can formulate their opinions at younger ages. Even though these people can the government is assuming that not everyone can formulate their opinions on the subject of politics without being influenced. That is why the age of 18 is the voting age because the government hopes by then that the majority of the population will be able to make their own decisions.
If I could vote I would definitely vote to solve problems. Teens face these problems so why wouldn’t we help them deal with drugs and teen pregnancy. These young people are the future of America so we should be looking to find ways to help them succeed.
Hanna Siekierski
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
Honors World History
11/8/12
Eighteen is the legal age for citizens in the United States to start voting. I believe that this is an appropriate age for people to start voting because they will take it seriously. Argentina on the other hand, has recently changed its voting age to sixteen I believe that this is too young. Two years has a major impact on someone's knowledge and awareness of politics when it comes to the Unites States. These teens may have an opinion on who they want for president or a specific topic, but I don't think that many of them are actually knowledgeable enough to make an educated decision of their own. Although there may certainly be sixteen-year-olds who are educated and mature enough to vote, the majority of that age group isn't.
I definitely agree with the current age parameters for the voting age in the United States, since eighteen years old is considered to be an adult. It would be very inconvenient if there was a government program in place instead, where they would test teens to see if they were ready to vote or not. This would take too much effort, and many adults and their teenagers, might protest the decision of them being allowed to vote or not. Also if teens were to be able to vote at a younger, more inexperienced age, they may not take the voting seriously, so the polls would be influenced and in turn not accurate.
I would vote for the campaign that solved those issues. These involve drugs, violence, and other potentially harmful situations. I would vote for the laws that dealt with those issues because they might affect my peers, as well as the people who will grow up and some day run our country. By eliminating these issues, this will help set a good foundation for the government to build on, and the new generation must be prepared educationally. They must not be drawn to gangs or drugs. There must be good employment and teen pregnancy must stop. If all of these problems solved, the country will be able to better grow.
Harrison Young
ReplyDelete7th Prd
I believe that 18 years old is a perfect age for voting. I think this because at 18 years old it is basically the end of pubescence for teens and you really become a man or a woman. At this age of development you should be able to vote because as a man or woman officially you can run your own life and you have the right to do what you want which also means you can have your own opinions aside from those who influence you the most.
I agree with the current voting age but at the same time I do not because I realize that 18 year olds still have a bit of adolescence and childlike attributes about them. This leads me to think that they still don’t have enough experience of life of independence.
I would vote to solve issues because obviously it is a much different lifestyle than ours. These people who do not have the right education shouldn’t be voting because they don’t know enough about how the world works or any school subjects on how government is. They must learn how it works before they are able to vote.
Anna Zurliene
ReplyDelete7th period honors world history
Waters
Thursday 8th, 2012
Personally I find that sixteen is too young to make a responsible and justified vote for who is going to be supporting our country. Plus, you aren’t legally an adult yet so you aren’t even supporting yourself yet, your parents still are so you should let the people who take care of you decide what would be best for families if it is in such a big manor like government. I just don’t think that at such a young age they would really take into consideration who the candidates are and they probably wouldn’t know details about the person they are voting for that they should. On top of that, teenagers need to be focusing on their education so they can get a good job to support themselves when they grow up, when they understand the importance of their decisions.
This all leads me to believe that America has a reasonable voting age at eighteen. They are legally an adult and will need to start making decisions by themselves so they can move forward. It is going to be an important part of their future and other’s futures as to who their president is. I believe they are mature enough at this age to make a supported decision on who they want to govern our country.
I would most definitely vote to help solve teen issues because as a teen, I can understand how hard it really is, and how important it is for us and for future generations to change that. With that being said, it’s not as simple as they make it sound because you can’t just tell an adolescent to do something and expect them to just do it. There is so much more that goes into it and I don’t think it can be solved by opening voting rights to younger people.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTodays currebt event is on " Argentina drops
ReplyDeleteit's voter age to 16"Argentinian law makers
passed a new law on wednesday and now
people can vote when they are 16. They say that
this is a great opportunity for young people
to start participating in politics.I think
that this new law is good because this will
get young people to become independent and
vote for who she/he thinks is better. I also
think that even if they are 16 they are old
enough to know wants good and bad for the
country.I would vote and hope that there will
be less violence, drugs,and better education.
Arthur Mouw
ReplyDeleteWorld History 7th
1. I think that the voting age in the United States is fine. The problem is that the lower the voting age is, the immature people will waste their vote. By wasting their vote on any random candidate, it would mess up our country if a bad president was elected. If anything the voting age should be raised.
2. Yes I would. Those are major problems in the modern society, and they need to be fixed. All of the drugs that are being abused need to stop, and if someone does not include them in their campaign, they should not get elected. Unemployment also needs to be solved to combat the rest of these issues, they go together,
George McBurney
ReplyDelete5th period
I believe when a person is givenn the right to vote it should be when they are legally considered to be an adult. If our country recognizes people of the age 18 or greater to be an adult, then they should have the right to vote. If America were to take in all of the teen votes I believ that we would get a mirror image of the actual vote. Kids ussually believe in what their parents believe in. I think that the current parameters for voting is fine. Of course I would vote to help pregnant teens, hunger or to stop drugs from being accessable. I do not understand why anyone would want those things for their country.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete(1 and 2) I honestly do not see a problem with the current voting age. I believe that 18 is about the age where an individual becomes less dependent on their parents. If someone younger is voting then their views may be too distorted by their parents to give all options fair thought. Also I don’t think campaigning should affect schools in any way or form. Those are my beliefs on the age of voting.
ReplyDelete(3) I would vote to solve those various issues for a few reasons. The main reason is that I think we can all agree that drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, etc, are problems. Also I want a future of peace and a chance for prosperity.
Jonathan Phillips
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
Right now I don't really see much wrong with the voting age right now. Actually I think that if the age is going to change at all it should be raised. The younger the voter is the more influenced by their parents they would be. Also when you become 18 you are a legal citizen of the United States, and at that point you should be able to vote.
I would vote to solve these issues because of how important they are to making society a better place.
Casey Patterson
ReplyDelete11/9/12
Period 2
1. I think that 18 is an appropriate voting age in the United States because, the older people are the more likely to choose who they vote for based on politics. 18 year olds, are also less likely to vote for someone just because every one else is. The human mind doesn’t fully develop until age 21, and that might be the only reason I would say the voting age should be higher. Also, many kids in high school have good thoughts about politics and what is right, and what is wrong. Kids are the future of our country and should be able to choose who leads the country in the future.
2. Yes, I would want to solve the issues in the quote because if these are the people who are going to be voting it would be nice if there are fewer problems with them. If these kids didn’t have there own problems to worry about, then they could help fix other problems in their country.
Carly LeMoine
ReplyDeletePeriod 5
I think that eighteen and older is a good age for who should be voting. If the law was sixteen then I would be able to vote in a little more then a year. I know a lot of people who are my age and don’t really care about politics. The age should stay the same because the people allowed to vote would start in high school. High school is mandatory because kids don’t have enough knowledge yet to get through life. Are these really the people you want voting on who should run America? I would vote for the problems listed. These are things that are very important and people should focus on stuff like that not whether sixteen year-olds should vote. It doesn’t even make sense to have sixteen year-olds be able to vote if they don’t have an education that can help them make the decision. People need to focus on the important problems and stop spending time on random things.
Robert Fernald
ReplyDelete11/9/2012
1st period World History
I think that 18 is a fair voting age and it should remain to be the legal voting age is the US. Voting age should not change based on intellectual criteria because then some people would be disadvantaged and left out. I also think that the rule that 17 year olds can vote if their birthday is on or before Election Day is perfectly fair because they will still be 18 when the president is elected. Personally if I was granted the ability to vote I would vote to solve important issues and issues that impact me. There is no point in voting if you are not trying to improve society.
Reagan Roeber
ReplyDelete11/8/12
I think that 18 is the best age to begin voting. I think this because people are either a senior in high school or a freshman in college. You are more independent by the age of 18. I find 16 a bit too young, and voters are probably not as well informed as they should be. As a legal adult, people would more likely have a better grasp on their duties as a citizen. At 16, the pressures of schoolwork would stress people. They probably don't have time to research the two candidates for voting. And if they vote for someone based on just a few facts that might not even be true, then the candidate best suited for promoting the country may not win.
I definitely agree with the current legal voting age in the United States. While I think that people of ages younger than 18 can have good points and views on the current situation in the country, I think that they are too ignorant still to vote for the best candidate. While I agree that 16- and 17-year-olds could give valuable opinions and give various topics a new perspective, I do not think that they would always have what is best for the country as a whole in mind. They have not really lived on their own yet, so they do not know what it is like to support them. I find that is would be best for the age requirements to stay the same.
I would start with these listed problems. They are problems that are starting early and are affecting people throughout their entire lives. These problems cause other problems later down the road. If the original issues were eradicated, like teen pregnancy, then other problems would not occur. If a girl did not get pregnant in high school, then she would not have to drop out of high school. She could continue onto college and get a good education for a liable career. The girl would not have to be under the stress of raising a child with little resources, especially since she is still essentially a child herself.
Kaitlin Hill
ReplyDelete2nd Period
I think that 18 is a good voting age for the United States. Although many younger students, including myself, have valuable opinions that should be heard, there are too many kids that just agree with what their parents believe. If we were to have the voting age be younger than 18, my fear is that ignorant kids who just believe what they have always been told and cant think for themselves would vote and I don’t think that is fair.
If I had the opportunity to vote today, I definitely would. I think it is every citizen’s responsibility to vote, especially on important social topics like the ones discussed in the article. If given the chance to make a difference in the world I would do everything I could to make that happen. Voting is our way of getting to express our opinions, so it is important that people vote so that things can improve.
Blake Rasnake 11-9-12 2 nd
ReplyDeleteI think that the age of 18 is the right age that people in the United States should be able to vote at. People younger that the age of 18 should not be able to vote because teens do not have the maturity level that they would need to make their choice for the future of our country. I do not think that people my age would vote for the right person that is bet fit to run the country. They would problem just vote for who their friends are voting for or what their parents tell them to do. The voting age in the United States is the right ages and should never change.
I know that I would definitely vote to solve the issues that are in the quote about Argentina. Drugs could be one of the worst things that have ever happened to the country and every other country in the world. Employment is killing family's all over the world and it is really hurting the people of Argentina. We need to find a way to stop employment so it is know longer as high as it is right now. The government of Argentina needs to find a way to do something about teen pregnancy. I am not sure what that is but it needs to stop or its just going to get worse and worse.
Keith Segars
ReplyDeletePD4
Current Event #9
Legal Age to Vote
Currently, citizens of the United States are allowed to vote when they turn 18 years of age. To me, this seems like a good age for people to begin to vote. I think that people of my age understand and follow politics but not in the detail that would be needed to cast votes meaningfully. I also think that political campaigns might target younger voters with ads, phone calls, and social media. It is also possible that parents or relatives of younger voters might try to influence how votes are cast. Together, these influences might be harmful to younger voters. I do think the issues listed in the article are serious. I would vote for candidates that have plans to address these problems. To me, these problems seem to be connected to a lack of education and economic opportunity for Argentina’s citizens. I think it is important to use the right to vote to address these issues. These are long-term problems for Argentina but I do not see how giving 16 year olds the right to vote will make them better. They may feel part of the process but they are also likely to be exploited by the politicians that have caused these problems.
Shreyas Pyati
ReplyDeleteNovember 9 2012
7th Period
I think that the current voting age is perfect for people in the US because of the mental development of a normal teenager is reaching a stage where the impulsiveness of a 15 year old is fading and the judgement of an adult is starting to show. I think that this is the best voting age by far. It is common knowledge that teens act impulsively so it would not be good if the teens voted for someone that would benefit themselves but wouldn't change much in the grand scheme of things.
I would partly because this is the important stuff that people need to vote for. There isn't any point in wasting a vote on something useless-this is a big problem and you may get caught in the crossfire. I don't know if the Argentinian gov't will change anything though--it doesn't look like they have made much progress thus far.
Linda Martinez
ReplyDeleteperiod:2
In my opinion I think that even though young people like me have an opinion of who should stay president I still don't think it would not be a good idea for us to let us vote because many of us are still not mature or wised to make a decision for the country. I think it should have stayed at the age 18.
In the United States the voting age is perfectly fine because legally at that age many people are dependent or have the choose to be dependent. In my opinion i think that the voting age should not change,it should stay the same.
I would vote to stop many of this issues given in the quote. I believe that Argentina and many of the other countries should solve this issues. They need to stop teen pregnancy and focus them on education instead they also need to stop drug use.
Hope Davison
ReplyDelete1st Period
Many of America’s youth are still developing their views on the world throughout highschool, so the age of 18 as a legally voting age is ideal because it marks the entrance of a person into adulthood. Once a teenager fully grasps both sides of each party and reasonably thinks of the pros, cons, consequences, results, etc. only then should they be eligible to vote. This is why America, in my opinion, has a stable voting system.
I agree with it, for all of the reasons stated above. I realize that there are some teenagers younger than 18 that have strong beliefs and opinions about an election, but until they’ve watch a few play out without them involved can they be more knowledgeable about the event when it comes time to insert their opinion. I actually think 18 is a great age. If you think about it, the majority of teens at age 18 are in a way going “out into the world”, taking into account that they just left high school, will probably go to college, might move out of their house, meaning these young adults are briskly stepping out of their comfort zone. They will start viewing the world through their own unsheltered eyes and must make their completely independent decisions.
I would absolutely focus on these issues, making them high on my priority list if I were the Argentine government. If they believe the youth is the problem, then they need to set out to fix this problem instead of looking down on these adolescents. It does no good to turn the other cheek when these things are happening in their country, and just scoff at them later when in the end they did nothing to prevent it. I know it’ll be a difficult task for the government; I actually think the best solution is for the government to make available help for young women and men to help educate them about why these things like drugs and teen pregnancy are a major problem. If the government tries to take away drugs and making teen pregnancy illegal, it’s not like the youth are going to conform whole-heartedly. The government cannot and does not have the power to stop these issues by making them illegal. That’s why I think they should set out to make help available for teens and young adults so they can prevent these issues before they happen.
Sam Nielsen
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
2. As far as voting age goes, I believe that it could be changed without a devastating impact upon a country. Sure, one can argue that 16 year old teenagers are less responsible than 18 year old ones, but really that would just decrease the likeliness they would go out and vote at all. I do not have an extremely strong opinion on this and can see good parts and bad parts either way. For example, younger voters may be able to formulate their own opinions on who they want to vote for, but they may also be easier to influence, not only through campaign ads, but based on what their parents believe. In general, I do not care too much about voting age at the moment, and therefore I would not mind if it changed or stayed the same.
3. As with my answer for the previous question, I really have little opinion on this. I'm sure that there are many capable 16 year olds out there that could provide excellent insight into an election. I am also sure that there are some who would just vote for what their friends or parents are voting for no matter what, making their votes somewhat pointless. In reality, the amount of differently opinionated teenagers out there is as varied as the amount of differently opinionated adults. So, I think that the 18 year old age limit is fine the way it is, but I would not be terribly distressed if it was lowered to 16 years of age.
4. This really just depends on what other things to be worked on would be delayed due to the country focusing on issues such as these. I think that all of these issues are important, but that other issues come first. For example: war, the economy, healthcare, keeping religion out of government etc. I do think that, of the issues stated there, education and employment are on par with a lot of the matters that I just mentioned. Other than those though, issues that deal with teenagers and youth do not really bother me. So, I would vote for only some of those problems to be focused on.
Annelise ter Horst
ReplyDelete7th
1) My opinions on the voting age would probably be different if I was of voting age. Since I am only 14 I obviously am not able to vote, I would want to have that opportunity. I believe I am competent enough to know what is right and wrong and make my own opinions. Doesn’t everyone believe they are capable of doing things? The voting age today for america is just, for not everyone my age has an opinion on these points. While I wish to vote, its common sense to know that teenagers are not grown up yet, so they cannot make those decisions. So I am supporting the voting age that is already set today.
2) I agree with the current voting age. That I have said, but I believe that if people not of age should have a chance to show their ability to understand politics. I think the american children should be tested to see if they are able to make their own, educated opinion, that is unbiased. While this is a good idea in theory, and I would be a supporter of it, there are a lot of factors involved. Who would make the tests? What questions would be on the test? How would America fund it for the whole nation to take it? Those sort of things would hold us back from measuring the youth’s perception and judgement. There are also a lot of factors that hold us back from changing the voting age at all. So while I believe some good would happen out of the voting age being change, I do not believe it is a good thing to do in our current situation.
3)Yes. I would try to vote based on these issues. A lot of candidates claim they will resolve these issues. If I was just ingesting the media politics though, my vote would be based on which channel news I was watching.
Edward Zhuang
ReplyDelete11/9/12
Period 5
I believe the current age of 18 is a good parameter. It is important for people to understand who they are voting for and why. While you are under 18, and still a minor, you will probably live in your parent’s household. Everything political that your parents say will stick to you, and you will see yourself wanting to vote whoever your parents voted for. While one is still a minor, they have trouble making their own decisions, because they haven’t truly experienced our world.
they don’t know enough to vote, and they might do so for foolish reasons. To make it fair, people with high intellects should also have to wait to vote. We should not let them think that they are above others.
If I could vote, I would focus primarily on our future generation, as the upcoming years will become more difficult to live in. I would target things like education reforms and drug uses. I would also target teen pregnancy. Our America definitely need some changes, some I look forward to.
Wenbo Wang
ReplyDelete11/9/2012
2nd period
2. Voting is the public’s method of contributing to the country politically. Because it contributes strongly to the country’s position in the economic and political sectors of society through the elected leader’s actions, the people who have voted for the leader originally holds a responsibility that determines the country’s next approach towards tackling issues and maintaining good factors. Countries throughout the world have decided the age limit of the citizens who will be holding such a responsibility; ranging from ages 16 thru 21. The United States have set the age limit for youth voting to 18, or the age of adulthood. As in the middle of the world’s youngest age to vote range, the country’s age parameters is very reasonable and due to education, I believe eighteen year olds will have gained enough information to vote reasonably ; due to years of study in grade school upon the country’s system of voting, and the importance of one’s vote towards the country.
3. I agree with the current voting age set for the citizens in the United States, and it should remain the same unless the factors that contribute to the success of eighteen year olds in society change. If educational programs delay or advance the study of the subjects by one year or more permanently, the voting age requirements should reflect that change. The age criteria should not be changed based upon intellectual attributes of a peer group, for that is not consistent within the rest of the country; the intellect trend for each decade’s youth might show drastic change as well, making it not consistent enough to create a new age requirement for voting.
4. Because the adolescents of this era are summarized to be negative overall, influenced by drug abusers, pregnant teenagers, and the youth’s lack of enthusiasm towards education; many political leaders hesitate in providing the adolescents a right to suffrage. Although the statements are often stereotypes, situations like this exist in the community. If I were to be granted the opportunity today to vote, by following campaign speeches and media for detailed information, I would support the demand to resolve the issues that affect a minority of the youth, because by working to solve these issues through motivation, advanced techniques, and care; not only will the youth gain a new standpoint on life, but these opportunities will increase employment, and might lead to political leader’s belief in the youth’s potential in the ability to accept the responsibility found in voting and other important jobs in society.
Rachel Danner
ReplyDelete7th period
I do agree with the voting age because lowering it would even more clearly highlight the fundamental problems with democracy; what if the majority chooses wrong? What if the people make a decision that is not in the best interest of society as a whole? Now this is not to say that I disagree with the principle of democracy, that everyone should have a voice and that we need to work together to come to a common agreement, but it may not always be the most efficient for getting things done. And I think that extending the enormous responsibility of our future to stressed, hormonal teenager is not exactly a great idea. But how do you judge who should be able to have a say in what our country should do?
Currently the cutoff is the age of eighteen, but that number does not represent your maturity or ability to make reasonable decisions. Many adults cannot do this, as exhibited with the reelection of George W. Bush in 2004. However, there does not seem to be an easy way to determine who is of the mental capacity to decide the fate of our country. Can we say that stupid people do not get a vote? Of course not. I am not advocating for restriction of voting rights, but simply expressing my views that we as humans are not always capable of being rational.
In regards to the issues that should be solved by the government, we need to remember that life is not an equation. We can not turn our legislature into a break- even problem, we need to consider the fact that actual, real live people will be affected by the decisions that our leadership makes. Yes it is important to balance the budget and have a stable economy, and we must fix the problems that our predecessors have created for us, but not at the expense of the American people. The decisions made will have a tangible impact on many people, that needs to be taken into account.
Ashley Yang
ReplyDeleteWorld History 2nd
Different countries have different views on the legal age to vote, but I think the U.S. voting age of 18 is reasonable. It is important for young people to get more involved and for their voice to matter, but it’s important that they make good decisions. 18 is a good voting age because at age 18, people can make better decisions than those of 16. This does not mean that all of those younger than age 18 won’t make good decisions, but that generally people who are 18 make better decisions. This doesn’t only affect a few people, instead it affects the entire U.S., so we cannot look at just look at those who might be more mature at younger ages.
I agree with the current voting age set for citizens in the United States. I think the U.S. should keep this set age because it would be hard to test for the intellectual attributes of each person. If voting were based on intellectual attributes it would take a lot of energy and money from the government to sort out the younger people that reach those levels. The U.S. is very big and it’s much easier to just leave the voting age of 18.
Yes, I would vote to solve these issues because these not only affect the youth, but it applies to a lot of other people too. Education and employment are very important aspects to a strong nation and it’s important to think about the future. If these issues are not addressed now, they might get worse and because the youth of the present will be the people of the future, they need a good foundation.
Lily Elnaccash
ReplyDeleteH World History 7
It make perfect sense to me that the voting age here is 18, because that is the age when we are considered adults. People finish public school around that age, so they are able to make well-informed choices based on their knowledge of the country and the world.
I see no reason to lower the voting age to 16, like Argentina. At that age, students almost always live with their parents and are influenced by them. Would they form their own opinions, or would they vote as their parents told them they should? They are also not adults, and I think that the right to vote should be given once a person is legally an adult
I would, and I think that most voters would. Whether or not a person is without a job or on drugs, citizens in general can agree that those things are bad for society and the economy. Whether or not a voter has had direct experience with these issues, they can vote for the good of the country as a whole.
Emily Chang
ReplyDelete11/09/12
pd. 6
I think that the current voting age is appropriate because the majority of those that are younger do not know or seek enough knowledge about our country and the world to make an effective, educated selection. If the age was lowered, I would feel that some would vote merely just to feel important, even if they didn't really think about how that vote would effect their lives.
I would certainly vote to solve these sorts of problems because i recognize them as detrimental toward our community. When you vote, you vote for what you think is right, so I would vote to eradicate these harmful acts.
Abby Thomas
ReplyDeleteI think that all people around the world should have the voting age of 18. I think that it is a good age set, when teenagers are old enough to think logically for themselves and vote for what they believe in. They shouldn’t just vote to be voting, but vote for what they stand by by logically thinking about things.
I think that the age for voting should stay the same. The age for voting here is a good age because it is right after most have completed highschool, and they are old enough to think logically about who to vote for. It provides them a chance to think about who they’d vote for if they were to vote, and to get a good understanding of what the candidates are like.
I would vote to solve the issues as listed because I think that everyone deserves a fair chance at getting a good education. I think that these things are bad to our society, so they should be corrected.
David Cho
ReplyDeleteWorld History
I think that different countries should have their own age limit that they think is appropriate for their country. and the age limit should be when the people are responsible and mature
i think maybe if they do change it they should make it at like 21 or 22 when people usually are done with school and get jobs and families. because that will ensure that they are mature enough to vote
yes i would definitely vote to fix problems in any country. because i think if you had the chance to do something you should always take it
Nikki Thai
ReplyDelete1st Period
1. Other countries are free to chose their own age requirements. Different countries are experience different economic situations, and are based on different morals and beliefs. Their own views of what a political “ruler” should be varies from ours. Thats why it may be acceptable for 16 year olds to vote in other countries but i don’t believe it should be acceptable in the states.
2. I don’t think we should be allowed to vote at the age of 16. I don’t believe that majority of 16 year olds would actually vote using reasonable bases, and leaving a big decision such as the next president of our country is too much of a risk. The progression of our economy and etcs. are determined by the plans made by the president. Most 16 year olds wouldn’t understand the actual situation at hand which makes me believe the vast majority of them are ineligible to vote.
3. I would vote to help our country, but the problem is that I don’t fully comprehend the crisis in our country. Not experiencing any real life financial crisis, I wouldn’t be able to understand what it actually takes to restore this country. Which I think can be said for many other teens. I don’t think we have enough real life experience to determine how to restore our country.
Sophie Heins
ReplyDelete1. 18 seems like a good age to vote people are mature enough. They ae also legally considered adults in this country. Though in othere countries older or younger ages might be more appropriate.
2. 16 is to young to vote. Though I do believe the majority would make good decsions just as any others would not. Yep.
3. I would vote fix the whole worlds problems. Because other areas have it worse than us but we still need to fix our own too.
Iain Dixon
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
11/12/12
2. I personally really really want to vote at an early age. I would love to vote right now if I could. The problem that I see in younger people voting in this country is that their parents affect their ideas too heavily, like that of religion, politics, and biases. Because the younger population is really just a mindless herd that listens to their parents, lowering the voting age really just adds another couple of votes for the family in question.
3. As I mentioned in the paragraph above, there are several exceptions my age group that could make good, thoughtful voting choices, but most just follow their parents ideas. Its really rather idiotic the amounts of times I’ve talked to good, intelligent people whom I thought could make a good decision, and all they seem to care about its the fact that one party lets you keep all of your money, and the other wants to enforce taxes. I hate these idiots, as they cant look past money to what the government is doing with the money, and the fact that every country takes taxes.
4. I wouldn’t vote just based on political campaign adds, seeing as half of those are just hate ones that don’t really give me any information. In the end, I just wouldn’t vote based on these.
1.I think that the voting age in America is very reasonable because people of younger ages sometime do not fully understand everything that happens around them. People of younger age's opinions are also more easily influenced by people such as their parents. Also people of younger ages do not have all of the responsibilities as most older people do such as paying bills or getting a job, so their vote would only be based on how the candidate appealed to things that applied to them.
ReplyDelete2.I think that the voting age in the United States is very appropriately set, as I explained in the answer above, lowering the voting age would make the elections less in favor to the people due to the fact that younger people would most likely make poor decisions while voting.
3.I wouldn't vote based on these because I usually dont fully understand them, and other people would be more suited to make the decision.
I think that the voting age of 18 is a good age. That is the age when people start to become more thoughful and mature, because you get pretty dumb decision making wise in your teens. I think that maybe you had to be a senior in high school to vote, as well as 18, and you can only vote after that if you finish high school. That would make kids more inclined to finish high school and not drop out. The voting age in the US is right, and at 16 doesnt seem to be the best option. I do not think that that was a good decision for Argentina. And I think that you shouldnt vote unless you know exactly waht your voting for.
ReplyDeleteAlexis Ramirez
ReplyDeleteHonors World History
1st period
2) I think that the of 18 is good age to start voting. This because its an age that is mature enough and to understand who, why, and what are you voting. Also because the younger people do not understand what is the debate lets say and just by their friends think is the good guy or the bad guy who your voting for. In my opinion the age of 18 and older is the correct and fair age to vote. Not just to vote but to have responsibilities. Such as paying bills and having a reason why to choose their candidate for president.
3) Like I said i agree with the voting age for America. Because if we lowered the age then we would of seen signs of chaos. People, government, in America would not be united if we let this happen. Also because we need a better future for the rest of the youth. And not many citizens understand the politics and it could be waste of votes.
4) I would vote to help and have a better future as for an education for the youth, to stop drugs spreading, and to have employment increase. I do not want to families suffer, for not having a job that leads to no money, no food, no education.
Emma Baldwin
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
11.14.12
3. I agree with the current voting age set for citizens of the United States. I think that it is important to remember when the United States lowered its voting age, though: the twenty-sixth amendment was passed in 1971, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Since the draft used in the Vietnam War began at age 18, it seemed unfair that people required to potentially die for their country could not have a say in the actions of that country. That being said, I think that lowering the voting age would be a dangerous thing. The voting age was only lowered to match responsibilities, and few teenagers face the responsibilities of adulthood. Teenagers’ minds are still developing, which means that any decision that they make could be ill-informed or ignorant. Teenagers might also feel that they had to vote even if they didn’t know what was going on, which would damage the country. It is also important to note that Argentina’s actions could be seen as a way to try to inspire teenagers to take action in their country, which is a risky idea. This type of bargaining is unstable at best.
4. If I was granted the right to vote today, I suppose I would vote to solve issues. Although voting at my age might not be a fantastic idea, if it was legal it would be important for as many informed voters to vote as possible because there would be no way of knowing how many uninformed voters there would be. I think that one of the only pros of lowering the voting age is that teenagers would be able to speak out about things that affect their lives, instead of having representatives try to portray the general opinion. This could affect the way our nation treats drugs, education, and teen pregnancy.
Current event #9
ReplyDelete3. I agree with the age limit of the United States because it has been that way for the longest time. When you become 18 you are recognized as an adult and are legally able to registure and vote. I think as a Americans we should not change the age limit of voting.
4.Yes I would because even though things like that might keep happening there is always hope for us citizens.
Jeffrey He
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
I think that the United States voting age is fine at 18 because that's when you finish high school and have a semi-decent education compared to other countries. This is so that you actually know what you are voting for and you know information behind the politics.
If I could vote, I would definitely vote to help the youth and the struggles that they face, such as bad education, drugs, employment, teen pregnancy, etc. I think that a pro of lowering the voting age is that teenagers would be able to speak out about things that affect their lives, instead of having representatives do it for us, incorrectly, but then again, 18 is the age when people start to become more thoughful and mature, because you get pretty dumb decision making wise in your teens.
Bobby Russell 5th period
ReplyDelete2. I personally really want to vote at an early age. I would love to vote right now if I could. The problem that I see in younger people voting in this country is that their parents affect their ideas too heavily, like that of religion, politics, and biases. Because the younger population is really just a mindless herd that listens to their parents, lowering the voting age really just adds another couple of votes for the family in question.
3. As I mentioned in the paragraph above, there are several exceptions my age group that could make good, thoughtful voting choices, but most just follow their parents ideas. Its really rather idiotic the amounts of times I’ve talked to good, intelligent people whom I thought could make a good decision, and all they seem to care about its the fact that one party lets you keep all of your money, and the other wants to enforce taxes. I hate these idiots, as they cant look past money to what the government is doing with the money, and the fact that every country takes taxes.
4. I wouldn’t vote just based on political campaign adds, seeing as half of those are just hate ones that don’t really give me any information. In the end, I just wouldn’t vote based on these.
1) I disagree with the current voting age set for citizens in the United States. I think the legal age should be moved to 16 yrs, because the youth should be able to have a say in who their president is because the person who is elected and what they do will later effect them and their future. Voters are electing who they want for president because of their beliefs and ideas that they agree with and the youth should be allowed to vote because eventually it will effect them. The voting age should be changed so more youth can contribute their say and opinions.
ReplyDelete4)I would vote to resolve the issues with the teens because they/we are the future of our countries and their should be some sort of help they could get to stay off the streets and not get pregnant and to have a better education so they can have a better future than the one that they are choosing to have now
Sam Bauers
ReplyDelete11/28/12
I think that the voting age change in Argentina is not a good idea. I dont think anything that gives that much power to kids is a good idea. Its not even the kids fault really. Its just that kids get to a weird age where their thoughts change constantly. They can think one thing one day and something else the next. They are so vulnerable and now we want to give them this huge responsibility. I would love to be able to vote right now. However there are a lot of things that I want to do that I cant and there are age restrictions for a reason.
I dont think they should change the age to vote. I think thats only a call for trouble. People are going to just tell kids what they want to hear and kids dont really understand as well. They can be so easily taken advantage of so to give them a burden this big would just be ridiculous. I hope they never change the voting age.
Having said all of that if I could vote I would take advantage of it in a second. I would vote on anything I could and would especially vote on things talked about in the article. You need to keep kids safe when no one else will. Teen pregnancy and drugs and poor schooling are not just problems in Argentina they are problems everywhere you go in the world. We as a people and a country need to make sure we are always keeping people safe especially the kids.