FFLA: Reasons Why Kids Under 18 Should Be Allowed to Vote

NuMetalManiak Welcoming the new year with an FFLA, right? Err, I need to check the date on my last FFLA to see if it was done this year or last year, but this will be one of the first of 2020 at least! And let's get to politics because of all the crap that has transpired during the beginning weeks of January as well as the fact we are in 2020, the next presidential election year! Oh boy, this is gonna be crazy. And the issue is, with this list, SHOULD KIDS UNDER 18 BE ALLOWED TO VOTE? My stance is NO! But let's see how well justified this particular list is.

1. Kids are smart and responsible enough to vote: This is debatable. Any mind can be easily influenced by whatever media they conform to, or just whatever their parents or guardians tells them to do. And then when the disgruntled losers see the results, the demographic that voted a certain way gets the most blame often.
2. If kids are responsible enough to drive at 16, then they are surely responsible enough to vote under the age of 18: This kind of isn't a good enough excuse. It's like 18 year olds in America can drink at that age and not 21. It doesn't make much sense in this case.
3. Kids are just as important as adults: Hmm, perhaps they are? Well that's ACTUALLY what some politicians try to persuade others to believe.
4. 18 does not automatically mean smart and responsible: This is actually a counter-reason. How did a counter-reason end up in the top 10 here?
5. Adults who claim they're "smarter" than kids voted for Donald Trump: What if they are? Honestly this is party bias. They apparently know what Clinton (Hillary that is) has done and her record and such.
6. The ability to vote would give kids more political education: Don't high school seniors have to take a government class? They should get their political education from non-biased teachers. And that's what I had. Voting doesn't really entail the full aspect of political education though.
7. It is inequality and against human rights to restrict something just because someone is a part of a certain age group: Well, sure. But just because you're a smart kid doesn't rectify the means that every kid should be as smart as you.
8. Everyday children are affected by laws they do not have a voice in, so let them decide their own future: This really sounds socialist in all the wrong ways. If they decide their own future, you honestly never know what they will do. Follow a life of crime? Why would you let your kid do that?
9. There might be less votes for people you hate, and more votes for people you love: Not a bad reason! I'll give it that.
10. Everyone's opinion matters: This isn't a reason. It's a buzzphrase used by Twitter people at times.
11. Career politicians and those seeking office often behave and speak childishly: Define "childishly". They're not the most mature and sensible people, I'll say that, many are outcrying for certain things to conform to everyone in America. But I wouldn't go too far to say they're childish.
12. Kids shouldn't have to miss out on voting when they are young.: This sounds like propaganda to be honest. What about the kids that don't wanna vote? Sure they aren't doing civic duties but they're allowed to not vote.
13. Some adults don't vote even though they have the chance to, so somebody will use the chance to vote if they won't: Basically what I said earlier.
14. Kids may be 20% of our population but they are 100% of our future. So they need to have a voice in their own future. Everyone has the right to make their own choices.: This definitely sounds like a political speech moreso than a reason.
15. You can drive, die in war and get married before you are 18! I don't understand how driving and fighting are for younger people when voting is strictly for adults!: You can get married under 18? How? Also TECHNICALLY SPEAKING anyone can drive, it's just they are not supposed to until 16, and die in war can mean civilians caught as casualties. This item by the way works as a comment, not a list item.
16. It will affect the children's future so why should they not decide: How many times has this been said already.
17. Some laws heavily affect kids, yet they can't vote for them: Well they should, I agree with this.
18. Waiting to vote will not help the economy: One does wonder just who is controlling the economy and why it often crashes.
19. Kids live in the country too so they should have the right to choose who runs it: Though I gotta say. Demanding a right isn't a good way to earn it.
20. Kids can have opinions that can help: A good reason.
21. Letting kids vote means more votes for the people running: Well this list might not be so bad after all.
22. Children have opinions too: OKAY. WE GET IT.
23. Kids are the future generation: OKAY. WE GET IT.
24. Many under the age of 18 have jobs and pay taxes. If you pay taxes you should have the right to vote.: The idea of taxing people is awful. Thanks a lot money.
25. Some kids are smart enough to vote: Apparently this is #1, but without responsibility.
26. Kids don't have a lot of political experience but neither do most adults: How is this a reason? Not having political experience doesn't really pertain to votes. They just got to know who they are voting for.
27. Kids are the next generation: Kids are the future! They have opinions! Please stop rephrasing previous items.
28. Most children are more mature.: If I see someone saying this, chances are they aren't as mature as they say they are.
29. Kids can think creatively: Does this actually pertain to voting?
30. if you are the age of 18 or younger and you have a good job and you are smart, you would have the same exact right to vote if you were 16 or if you were 18: Except this isn't really a good reason because a lot of high schoolers don't often get jobs that make them smarter.
31. It's a free country and everyone no matter what age should be able to vote: What about the younger kids that still need to cognitively think?
32. Some people are under 18 and very responsible: Yeah, so they know what they gotta do and such. This honestly goes for any non-criminal kid though.
33. Kids are smarter than you think they have abilities that adults don't have.: Name them. I dare you.
34. Kids are responsible enough.: You know what? The kid who puts this up here isn't responsible.
35. Kids' opinion is important to make the country a better place.: Opinions are opinions though. They can't always be seen as making things better, because someone is gonna think it's way worse.
36. We are mature enough to vote: I don't think you are.
37. Kids are human as well: What people do you see everyday think that kids aren't human? They are!
38. Kids rule: I think it's items like these that prove kids shouldn't vote in elections. They always think that whichever candidate is conforming to their selfish desires the most are the ones everyone should vote for. It's sickening.
39. Kids are not as biased: Uh no, they are. Most of their bias is influenced by what they see on TV, what their parents say, anything. So they are biased, and they probably don't know it.
40. Kids are smarter than adults: Don't confuse smarter with WISER. Adults are wiser, they know that being smart doesn't really get you anywhere unless you use your smartness WISELY.
41. People under the age of 18 are smart and have potential, not a lot of adults do: You're assuming that every adult is as dumb as whatever politician you currently hate. But your outcrying proves you're not as smart as you think you are.
42. Adults shouldn’t have an advantage on kids: I don't see how being 18 and up is considered an advantage. Is it because they think more clearly?
43. Kids are the ones who are going to grow up with it: I mean duh, but these comments I'm seeing for these items are complete cringe.
44. It's the kids community too: Community? How about nation or state in some cases?
45. Kids could get more education and could decide who they want as there leader to lead them through war and hard times: VOTING DOES NOT GIVE YOU MORE EDUCATION. IT'S JUST ONE PART OF GOVERNMENT/CIVICS CLASS.
46. Us kids make up 24% of the US population and some adults don't vote: This is quite a specific number.
47. Even mentally ill people can vote in some U.S. states: And just how mentally ill must someone be to be ineligible to vote?
48. Children are more adaptive and know what it's like in the life of children which would be helpful for stances about education and such.: Anyone can be adaptive, the stances of education should be refined to subjects that pertain to what kids want, but they must be willing to learn them at the same time.
49. Most kids are more open minded: I'm somehow thinking this could be a bad thing.
50. Voting can make kids more responsible: This is the seventh item on this list that mentions responsibility.
51. Voting will help us learn more about politics: No it won't. Learning about the history of the US government, the political parties' main stances, and the branches of the federal government, among much many things, will help learn what kids need to know about government.

Lots of repeat items and about two or three decent reasons, but I still hold my stance. Some kids need to realize that just because you're "smart" and "mature" it doesn't mean you're the best voice of reason. Why? Because I can easily tell that some kids just want to seem like they're always in the right. Adults have this problem too but I know kids are more volatile about it.

Comments

Good Post. I agree anyone under 18 shouldn’t be allowed to vote hell even at 18 some people are still not mature enough to vote. I mean you pretty much hit right on the nail concerning this issue. In my opinion people who are Seniors in High School or just graduated High School and barely have a full drivers license shouldn’t be allowed to make decisions about who the president should be. It’s clear that people who support a lower voting age are just looking for personal gain/ persuading people to vote for them. They really don’t care about allowing High School kids to vote if it’s not for their own personal gain in winning elections - visitor (1/11/2020)

Good post. - 2storm (1/12/2020)

Kids should never be allowed to vote. As someone under 18, most of us are selfish ignorant people. If kids vote, the end of the world will start - AlanaThePony (10/13/2020)