Should old people be allowed to vote?

[Long slender neck]

If young people arent allowed, then there should be a cut off date for old people too. They tend to lose their faculties once they hit 60

[Currywurst and Chips]

Maybe linking the cut off to the state pension age would be the answer

[BoniO]

My faculties didn't last that long! Eighteen is clearly too young as well so I reckon a "sweet spot" of between 25 and 45 ought to be about right.

Also, women are very emotional creatures so maybe we should reconsider giving the charming creatures the vote? Bless 'em!

[BiggsyMalone]

As soon as they get their pension. Why should they get free money and decide my future? 8/10 very self serving voting decisions.

[ContrifibulatoryFred]

It’s a fair point - the old do get a disproportionally big say in how the country is run. But I suppose they might be considered conservative with a small c in that they prevent rash or hurried societal changes - or indeed vital ones at times.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

If young people arent allowed, then there should be a cut off date for old people too. They tend to lose their faculties once they hit 60

I suspect there's an element of wummery to this but yes, I would not disagree with this. Not just for 'losing their faculties', for a myriad of other reasons.

Somewhere around 70, when most oldies are no longer working, not contributing to society but merely draining from it, would be about right. Maybe dovetail it with the state pension?

[Long slender neck]

My faculties didn't last that long! Eighteen is clearly too young as well so I reckon a "sweet spot" of between 25 and 45 ought to be about right.

Also, women are very emotional creatures so maybe we should reconsider giving the charming creatures the vote? Bless 'em!

Why is 18 too young?

[RedDwarf 1881]

If young people arent allowed, then there should be a cut off date for old people too. They tend to lose their faculties once they hit 60

60 ? You should get out more . If you really wanted people to swallow your wind up you should have made the age older.

[The Mindsweep]

Why vote? It doesn't bring about any real change, it just gives the illusion that people have a say in there lives when in reality its determined by those with vast amounts of wealth. Maintaining that wealth is how things are ordered, throwing the odd scrap now and then is all they are required to do.

[Dunners]

I reckon the opposite. Their votes should count as two as they have all that wisdom.

[RedDwarf 1881]

Why vote? It doesn't bring about any real change, it just gives the illusion that people have a say in there lives when in reality its determined by those with vast amounts of wealth. Maintaining that wealth is how things are ordered, throwing the odd scrap now and then is all they are required to do.

I fully understand your point but at the end of the day people fought and died for your right to vote . On that alone you shouldn't waste your vote by not voting.

[Ornchurch]

If young people arent allowed, then there should be a cut off date for old people too. They tend to lose their faculties once they hit 60

I suspect there's an element of wummery to this but yes, I would not disagree with this. Not just for 'losing their faculties', for a myriad of other reasons.

Somewhere around 70, when most oldies are no longer working, not contributing to society but merely draining from it, would be about right. Maybe dovetail it with the state pension?

Interesting point about people “not contributing to society but merely draining from it” not being allowed to vote. Would rule out a lot of people other than retirees.

[DaggerHam]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experienc ... 3e1ca8.jpg
Scottish Labour party leader Anas Sarwar arrives at his local polling station Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow to deliver his postal vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election.

What's this guys excuse, not age as he's 38, for totally missing the point.

[BoniO]

My faculties didn't last that long! Eighteen is clearly too young as well so I reckon a "sweet spot" of between 25 and 45 ought to be about right.

Also, women are very emotional creatures so maybe we should reconsider giving the charming creatures the vote? Bless 'em!

Why is 18 too young?

Well if anything like me they'll be p*ssed most of the time.

[BoniO]

I reckon the opposite. Their votes should count as two as they have all that wisdom.

No need. As hardly any young bother to turn out and vote they have that advantage already.

[Millennial Snowflake]

Mandatory IQ tests and evidence of a basic understanding of politics and real-world socio-economics should be pre-requisites.

Would rule out many extremists on the left and right

[BoniO]

If young people arent allowed, then there should be a cut off date for old people too. They tend to lose their faculties once they hit 60

I suspect there's an element of wummery to this but yes, I would not disagree with this. Not just for 'losing their faculties', for a myriad of other reasons.

Somewhere around 70, when most oldies are no longer working, not contributing to society but merely draining from it, would be about right. Maybe dovetail it with the state pension?

I'd also include other drains on society, like tax accountants for example, who enable the rich to pay minimal taxes. I'm sure you'd agree

[Millennial Snowflake]

My faculties didn't last that long! Eighteen is clearly too young as well so I reckon a "sweet spot" of between 25 and 45 ought to be about right.

Also, women are very emotional creatures so maybe we should reconsider giving the charming creatures the vote? Bless 'em!

Why is 18 too young?

Well if anything like me they'll be p*ssed most of the time.

Think testing students’ eligibility to vote would be pretty simple. Ask them to sum up the current state of the UK without using the phrase “Tory Scum” or anything similar. Unable to do so = no vote

[The Mindsweep]

Why vote? It doesn't bring about any real change, it just gives the illusion that people have a say in there lives when in reality its determined by those with vast amounts of wealth. Maintaining that wealth is how things are ordered, throwing the odd scrap now and then is all they are required to do.

I fully understand your point but at the end of the day people fought and died for your right to vote . On that alone you shouldn't waste your vote by not voting.

The vote wasn't fought over, those in control worked out that to keep the masses happy they had to give them the illusion of having a stake in their lives. The Industrial Revolution was the starting point for giving more people this illusion, as their labour was needed. When women began to transform into a source of labour, they were included as well. They then started to offer health care so the labour would be healthy enough to continue to provide the means to maintain the wealth of those few.

[Clive Evans]

Did PW have troublesome potty training? Maybe he is still learning the basics. Definitely a lot of faeces being transferred to this board. If you can't get out more. I suggest a lie down.

[Omygawd]

Anyone with more than £10k in savings or wallpaper costing more than £50 a roll should have the vote regardless of their worth or IQ.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

If young people arent allowed, then there should be a cut off date for old people too. They tend to lose their faculties once they hit 60

I suspect there's an element of wummery to this but yes, I would not disagree with this. Not just for 'losing their faculties', for a myriad of other reasons.

Somewhere around 70, when most oldies are no longer working, not contributing to society but merely draining from it, would be about right. Maybe dovetail it with the state pension?

Interesting point about people “not contributing to society but merely draining from it” not being allowed to vote. Would rule out a lot of people other than retirees.

Such as who? The vast majority of people below retirement age will be contributing to society, be that by raising children, working, paying taxes etc.

[B.whitehouse+10more]

I think only people in prison should be allowed to vote, as they like the candidates don’t have a clue what goes on in the real world

[Ornchurch]

I suspect there's an element of wummery to this but yes, I would not disagree with this. Not just for 'losing their faculties', for a myriad of other reasons.

Somewhere around 70, when most oldies are no longer working, not contributing to society but merely draining from it, would be about right. Maybe dovetail it with the state pension?

Interesting point about people “not contributing to society but merely draining from it” not being allowed to vote. Would rule out a lot of people other than retirees.

Such as who? The vast majority of people below retirement age will be contributing to society, be that by raising children, working, paying taxes etc.

You’ve answered your own question. The ones not included in the ‘vast majority’.

[Max B Gold]

In Alba everyone living there over 16 is entitled to vote. Including refugees. That is progress.