Comment on Independent MP to push for lowering of Australian voting age
Ilandar@lemmy.today 1 day agoWhat is actually wrong with the proposal, though? Or are you simply objecting because the idea came from “the other side”, even though The Greens have been pushing this since 2018?
MisterFrog@aussie.zone 23 hours ago
I’m not necessarily opposed, but beyond “they deserve a say in their future” I’m not really sure what the argument for it is.
There’s a lot of learning that goes on between the ages of 16 and 18. Like the level of stuff you’re learning accelerates quite a lot.
While education isn’t a pre-requisite for voting, we gotta set a line somewhere. 18 is the line we’ve set for a bunch of other things.
I would need more convincing that this line should be changed.
Ilandar@lemmy.today 23 hours ago
You’re right, education is not a prerequisite. Neither is intelligence, or brain development, or familiarity with the political system, or any of the other tired old arguments right wingers repeat. No one 18 and upwards is tested against any of these metrics when they first enrol. 16 year olds can leave school (in some states), drive on public roads, work a regular full time week and pay taxes. These are all things that clearly distinguish them from children 15 and under, and someone who can legally do all of those things alongside adults obviously deserves the right to vote alongside us too.
It’s quite ironic really that you were the one who tried to frame this as a right wing culture war issue, and yet your position is that of Pauline Hanson, leader of THE right wing culture war party in this country.