Kinder Voting
Germany to institute voting rights for children?
In an apparent attempt to eliminate adultism (which word does not recognize as word) the German parliament is very seriously considering to instate cradle to grave voting rights. Forget 18, forget 16 (the current voting age in some German states, heck forget being of school age entirely this measure would give an equal vote to 60 year olds, 16 years olds, and 16 week olds. So if you really want the green party (a more than viable party in Germany, and much of Europe at that) to take an extra seat this year make sure to pop out that young patriot before Election Day.
While most people hear this and laugh, or moan in pain at the implications of letting a 6 year old have an equal say as a poli sci professor in whether or not to send the German army abroad (that is never good for anyone) explaining why is a slippery slope. While I certainly do not want children (or as would often be the case for young children) the arguments that often come up; Children who cannot even walk, read, or talk being able to vote or even my previous argument about the 6 year old and the poli sci teacher are wrought with inconsistency. The idea of a literacy requirement for voting brings up the images of racial segregation and mobility and communication being a qualification to vote would no doubt step on the toes (no pun intended of millions disabled Americans. And yes the basis of democracy, for better or worse, lies in the fact that a political junky who ways all of a candidates pros and cons has the same one vote that an apathetic ignoramus who votes based on the name or Us weekly pictorial he or she likes best.
Closing thought, you may have laughed about the name thing but in Chicago where we vote for judges who know one takes the time to learn anything about female candidates with Irish names consistently win the democratic primary regardless of ideological background
3 years ago • 0 notes