If people could stop talking about young people like they're idiots that'd be great thanks

I say nothing that is false, I state my own opinion and always maintain it as so, not insulting others opinions in any way and I always qualify my posts with 'possibly', 'probably','likely' and 'near' as descriptive terms because some others may always hold another viewpoint to mine.

You could perhaps,in my view, think about trying that sometime and not be so insulting to others,and if all you are going to do is twist what I say and insult me personally then just cut that out, thank you.

It is extremely insulting to do so and wrong to generalise anyway on all in such an age group,I agree Josh.

16's not really a kid though is it? They can have jobs, they can start families. And some of them can even learn stuff, about stuff. There are probably plenty of 16/17 year olds who are more interested in, and have a better understanding of politics than some 18+ voters (and the ones who aren't interested simply won't vote). I don't see the problem with it

:laugh::laugh::laugh: EXACTLY - The cretin has NOTHING. He spouts total B.S and does not have a clue. Ha Ha.

Do you think politics should be part of senior schools national curriculum ? Politics play such a big part in our life whether we know it or not.

I've never been a supporter of the national curriculum, but it would be a necessary evil if we were to start teaching politics as one of the main subjects.

yes

Josh, just be comfortable in the knowledge that you know more about politics than most people older than you ever will. :laugh:

Yes I think it would be very beneficial, even if it were one period a fortnight. We need to know what's going on and how our country as a democracy is run. Perhaps it could even increase voter turnouts which seem to be on the decline.

Thanks :laugh:

When I was young I was a staunch Labour Party supporter, and Joey Steele was a staunch Tory supporter.

We were both highly educated, intelligent, and both BELIEVED with all our heart in our respective political choices.

I am not saying that SOME 16 year olds are not precocious and not mature beyond their years, nor am I saying that 16 year olds CANNOT be socially and politically aware.

But what I AM saying, is that the MAJORITY of 16 year olds in this country cannot SPELL politics let alone understand them.

This is why, I do not favour 16 year old being given the vote.

A vote in immature irresponsible, impressionable and naive hands is as dangerous as a firearm.

Yes - absolutely. It is as important as the three 'R's'.

Personally I think a bit of life's experience under your belt can be as good if not better than intelligence.
18 is young enough in my opinion.

Just because your views changed, does not mean that they were cast stupidly or irresponsibly - they simply changed. And we aren't going to disqualify swing voters from elections.

"No taxation without representation" also rings to mind.

I don't have a problem with the voting age changing if the decision is as a result of the proper procedure being followed with a bill going through parliament, discussed and voted on. If that were done, the legal age is changed in a democratic way.

However, the house of lords tagging it on as an amendment is not following the spirit of democracy in my opinion, that's what I object to, that and the knowledge that they do so just to disrupt timetables and the democratic process.

Hi Josh.
Just to explain,my mind changed from what I personally started to witness firstly among the homeless then of those being robbed by this govt of due entitlements as to benefits.
Once I saw that happening against the sick and disabled,even in my time at Uni and then in my work in law afterwards,that is when I changed my view as to what party was the better for me as to politics.

I was still more a Conservative sympathiser than a Labour one until I was 19,it was around 2012 when I turned 20, I had seen enough of their heartlessness and injustice that turned me away from them completely and then get behind Labour it wasn't at 16 or 17 I changed my views but when I reached my 20s.

Even the situation in Labour at present is far more appealing than supporting anything this PM particularly and this wretched govt has on offer as to its heartlessness.

ahh the far left showing false outrage on behalf of others again.....they did the same claiming Christmas offended muslims, it didn't, but the left created the division, they pretended they were the people to fix the division. maybe the majority of 16 year olds aren't prepared for voting , maybe some don't want to vote, lets ask them not those who pretend to represent them

So the majority of students who are ready to sit their GCSEs, the benchmark of secondary education, accepted by employers as proof of literacy and numeracy competency in the UK cant spell or grasp the basics of British politics... That's a really shortsighted and unfair accusation.

its not its realitistic

Spot on again Kizzy, I couldn't agree more.

It's practically ageism... Why judge others by your own standards? There's a youth parliament, many young people are very politically astute :/

if we follow that insane liberal logic, lets have babies voting....come on now don't be ageist

You're comparing 16 year olds to babies who have zero independence? :/

the line has to be drawn, 16 is too immature...no doubt youd ban all hetro men

:umm2:

Que... Where did that come from?