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Nat that summary of aged-based rights for BC youth is very interesting. Thanks for posting that. I didn't know about half of that stuff. Just based on that list of rights and the fact that an 18 year old can run for election I'd be inclined to say I think 16 year olds today should have the right to vote.
On a personal level, when I was a young teen I could hardly wait to come of age to vote. I grew up in a VERY politically involved family that had me getting involved and helping them in their political activities and promotions by the time I was 12. By the time I was 16 I already knew a lot about politics and I was acquainted with several important political figures. I was informed enough at that age to question and to agree or disagree with the political motives of not only my adult family members but also of the various political parties that were active in BC at that time. I believe I would have been a responsible voter at age 16.
Today I think most teens know far more about politics than teens did when I was young. With our advancements in technology now everyone is inundated with daily political news from around the world, it is crammed down people's throats whether they want to know about it or not and there is no getting away from it.
But it's interesting to me when a sea change happens, as it did in Alberta, for example. What causes that, I wonder?
Well a) Alberta always votes like that. The Socreds and then the Tories after them both came in on sea changes. b) In this circumstance it wasn't a vote FOR the NDP as much as it was a vote against the Conservatives. Wild Rose would have been the beneficiary if a number hadn't defected shortly before the election call.
Well a) Alberta always votes like that. The Socreds and then the Tories after them both came in on sea changes. b) In this circumstance it wasn't a vote FOR the NDP as much as it was a vote against the Conservatives. Wild Rose would have been the beneficiary if a number hadn't defected shortly before the election call.
But from my perspective of listening to rural people talking like they know everything, no matter who is in power, and always voting the same way, how does it happen that people all of a sudden, and all at the same time, go against what has been the norm for a generation or more? People here don't seem to vote against their neighbours and I don't hear a difference in their grumblings about the government before a massive change (it's never a small chnage) and it almost seems like they got together and said, "I will if you will."
I agree that such changes are more voting against something than for, I just don't understand how, in a place where you would only whisper that you were for another party, they suddenly go from that, to ALL going for that.
But from my perspective of listening to rural people talking like they know everything, no matter who is in power, and always voting the same way, how does it happen that people all of a sudden, and all at the same time, go against what has been the norm for a generation or more? People here don't seem to vote against their neighbours and I don't hear a difference in their grumblings about the government before a massive change (it's never a small chnage) and it almost seems like they got together and said, "I will if you will."
I agree that such changes are more voting against something than for, I just don't understand how, in a place where you would only whisper that you were for another party, they suddenly go from that, to ALL going for that.
You sorta had to be there. That grumbling had been building for about 20 years. The PC's had long lost their way as a conservative voice, and were pissing away all the benefits a decade of thrift had provided under Klein. For the NDP it was all timing. Wildrose was a non-factor because their leader and a number of MLA's had just defected to the Tories, the Liberals will never win, so all that was left was Notley, and I know most of the people I know voted for her out of spite and figured the tories would get back in, but just barely, and it would send the message. Everyone woke up the next day and went, "we did what?"
You sorta had to be there. That grumbling had been building for about 20 years. The PC's had long lost their way as a conservative voice, and were pissing away all the benefits a decade of thrift had provided under Klein. For the NDP it was all timing. Wildrose was a non-factor because their leader and a number of MLA's had just defected to the Tories, the Liberals will never win, so all that was left was Notley, and I know most of the people I know voted for her out of spite and figured the tories would get back in, but just barely, and it would send the message. Everyone woke up the next day and went, "we did what?"
It’s not about age. People should have the basic knowledge in politics, economic etc in order to vote. Our problem is too many stupid people get to vote.
It’s not about age. People should have the basic knowledge in politics, economic etc in order to vote. Our problem is too many stupid people get to vote.
...and drive. Too many stupid people get to drive.
Isn't it in high school where children learn about various political ideologies? Should children without any structured understanding of politics be voting?
I think it makes good sense. It would help young people feel more connected and engaged to the political sphere at an early age and help shape government policy that will effect them in the future like post-secondary education funding. The earlier people begin to vote the more likely they are to continue to do so.
If young people are not responsible enough to vote at 16 then they damn well shouldn't be driving.
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I didn't know about half of that stuff. Just based on that list of rights and the fact that an 18 year old can run for election I'd be inclined to say I think 16 year olds today should have the right to vote. 
