Hells bells
The Austrian elections, it is reported have returned about 30% of votes to the two far right parties (the most successful being the party founded by Haider who was isolated throughout Europe for his extreme views back in 2000). His successor is Mr Strache who is, if anything, more right wing than Haider, blaming him for compromising with centre parties.
What surprises me about this is that, for the first time, 16 years olds have been able to vote. And I thought teenagers were usually more left-leaning, and on the side of the underdog. Not so any more apparently. The move is thought to have aided the far right. :shock:
Do 16 year olds know enough about politics to vote?
Oh, heaven's no...why do you think military recruiters like 'em young?
Do 16 year olds know enough about politics to vote?
Now, I wouldn't necessarily say 'yes' in answer to your question, Tangent...
But 16 year olds do know enough about money to pay tax on their earnings. And they are considered sufficiently mature to join the armed forces, and therefore to be trained to kill people. So, why should 16-year-olds be prevented from having a say in how tax revenue is spent, and in how offence / defence policy is arranged?
Besides, 16 is THE year that you learn about the legal and the state system in special History classes. They probably know a whole lot more about it than older people.
But I guess their emphasis is different because to them other things are important.
In the last federal election, the local candidates had more intelligent questions asked of them in the elementary and secondary schools than in the regular "debates".
Granted there are a fair number of those kids who I don't want to see voting, but then again, there's a fair number of adults that I don't think should be trusted with a vote either. (i.e. anyone who voted for Stephen Harper)