Voting at age 16

[Robin-H]

 

Hence the point I've repeated multiple times that we should have a single age of majority, we don't, we have a hodgepodge of ages of majority ranging from 16 to 21. If I were to include the trivial we could say 15 to 21, why are films rated 15 and not 16, and why not just 'adult'?

 

It's true that as we age and we reach different milestones we are granted more rights and abilities, however I think that's the logical way of doing things (to clarify, I think the fact we are allowed to do things at a number of different ages if right and logical, not that we necessarily have when all those ages are correct).

 

At age 5, it is legal to drink alcohol at home (or another private residence).

At age 10, it is legal to have your ears pierced (with a parent)

At age 12, it is legal to watch 12 or 12A files, or play 12 rated video games

At age 13, it is legal to have a part time job.

At age 14, you can enter a pub alone (and buy soft drinks)

At age 15, you can be sentenced to prison time

At age 16, you can give consent and have sex.

 

Other things happen at some of those ages too, and I won't get into some of the things that happen at 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 25 as a lot of them have already been mentioned on this thread, but if you were to argue for a single age of majority, you have a very wide range to choose from.

[ENG601PM]

Valid reasons why they should.

Well, they live here, they deserve a say in their representation.

It's the same argument for why none landowners got the vote and then why women got the vote.

 

It's not even close to being the same to somebody with the slightest critical faculties.

 

None(sic) landowners and women NEVER voted. A 16 year old gets a vote on their representation from age 18 until they die.

[Annie Bynnol]

It's not even close to being the same to somebody with the slightest critical faculties.

 

None(sic) landowners and women NEVER voted. A 16 year old gets a vote on their representation from age 18 until they die.

 

Before all women could vote in 1928 they had to be householders and over thirty, something that happened to some but not others. Somebody changed the rules.

 

Five million more men were able to vote in 1918 compared to 1910. Somebody changed the rules.

 

Whatever is meant by "slightest critical faculties" it cannot be tested and used for very obvious reasons.

 

In the UK a person aged 16 is allowed to work full time for their and their dependents benefit. They are not allowed to have any say in how their Tax is spent or how decisions are made which impact their employability. That one group can dictate on another ability to make their way through life is wrong.

[apelike]

In the UK a person aged 16 is allowed to work full time for their and their dependents benefit. They are not allowed to have any say in how their Tax is spent or how decisions are made which impact their employability. That one group can dictate on another ability to make their way through life is wrong.

 

A child at 16 will be on a minimum wage of £4.05 per hour and for an average 38 hour week over the year will make around £7,900. The tax threshold for a singe person is £11,000 per year which means the person will not be paying income tax. Now when they get to 18 and on minimum wage they will then be in a taxable bracket albeit by only £65.60. So, what tax are we talking about and how many 16 year old's are working and paying tax?

[barleycorn]

They'll be paying VAT.

[Robin-H]

They'll be paying VAT.

 

So do 12 year olds buying sweets at the local corner shop..

[barleycorn]

And did they pay for the sweets out of their own wages?

[cgksheff]

And did they pay for the sweets out of their own wages?

 

Just two buttons, a plastic counter, lucky ring and a rubber unicorn.

Edited February 3, 2018 by cgksheff

[Robin-H]

And did they pay for the sweets out of their own wages?

 

A 13 year old could have paid with them with their own wages.

 

Should 13 year olds therefore be able to vote too?

[Annie Bynnol]

A child at 16 will be on a minimum wage of £4.05 per hour and for an average 38 hour week over the year will make around £7,900. The tax threshold for a singe person is £11,000 per year which means the person will not be paying income tax. Now when they get to 18 and on minimum wage they will then be in a taxable bracket albeit by only £65.60. So, what tax are we talking about and how many 16 year old's are working and paying tax?

 

An excellent example of a Govenment policy influencing working conditions without representation. Policies that could change at any time.

A poor statistical analysis which does not reflect any averages or ranges.

 

Government legislate on minimum not maximum wage. They also legislate on a wide range of issues which directly effect them like levels of taxation, minimum wage, hours of work, government transport policy, benefit entitlement, support for appreticeships and courses. These are decided on their behalf without any representation.

 

Every body is liable for taxation on income from wages and other sources.

A sixteen year old is allowed to work full time and/or run their lives independent of the parents or state.