] And let's end the illusion right now that adult voters
] make their decisions based on careful study of the
] candidates and their issues. We all know that's bullshit.
] To pretend that teenagers would vote for the first
] politician who promises to outlaw homework ignores the
] fact that their parents are probably dumb enough to vote
] for a politician who promised to shorten commercial
] breaks and make super-sizing free.
]
]
] People are dumb and lazy. They don't give a shit who wins
] because they don't really understand why voting is
] important. Y'know who does realize how important voting
] is? That's right, kids! While we've mostly forgotten all
] the stuff that we were taught in civics class about "one
] man, one vote" it's still fresh in their minds. Hell,
] this could be one of the only opportunities the kids have
] to actually apply the knowledge they gain in school.
]
]
] So, yeah. I'm strongly in favor of this. In fact, other
] than the last few years, the only other time I was really
] excited about politics was during the 1992 election. I
] actually cared about how the candidates stood on the
] issues and I was pissed that I wasn't considered as
] "mature" as the adults who mostly stayed home on election
] day. If I was old enough at 16 to "rock the vote", are
] 16-year-olds today much different?

A quick retort to opposition against a new bill in California considering a partial vote for 16 and 14 year olds.

] And let's end the illusion right now that adult voters
] make their decisions based on careful study of the
] candidates and their issues. We all know that's bullshit.
] To pretend that teenagers would vote for the first
] politician who promises to outlaw homework ignores the
] fact that their parents are probably dumb enough to vote
] for a politician who promised to shorten commercial
] breaks and make super-sizing free.

I happen to think that this is a good idea. I find the notion of half and quarter votes a little remeniscient of slavery, but the fact is that half a vote is better then none, and that the political systems, notably local governments, routinely use teenagers as a political pinatta without any consideration of their interests whatsoever. Curfews, loitering laws, unreasonable catch-22 situations where those who comply with a court summons are considered truants, school uniforms, laws against skateboarding, parties, and other recreation, laws which upgrade minors to adult courts arbitrarily, unfair/unequal treatment in traffic courts, school systems which appropriate funds in ways that are most visible to local adults rather then most effective in the school, random search and seizure on school property, metal detectors, phsycological evaluations, surveillance technology... In fact, I don't think I've ever heard of a peice of legislation involving minors which seemed reasonable. I'm not kidding.

"They are easily deceived by political charlatans." So is 90% of the adult population. What planet are you people living on?