] 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?

Proposal to extend vote to minors in California