[isowish]

Okay, so here's the deal:<br><br>
In the UK, you can be taxed at 16.<br><br>
You can legally have sex at 16.<br><br>
You can legally smoke at 16.<br><br><br><br>
But you can't vote. Not 'till 18.<br><br>
And you can't drink. Not 'till 18.<br><br><br><br>
What do you think about the UK government clearly not being able to make up their minds about when people can make decisions for themselves? What, if anything, do you think should be changed about this system?<br><br><br><br>
I guess I'll start with my opinion.<br><br>
I don't care about the smoking, the drinking, the sex laws. As far as I agree that the government should be allowed to implement these laws (and I'm not sure where I stand on that), I agree that it is completely arbitrary at what age they allow it.<br><br>
But the taxation and the voting are ridiculous. Nobody should have to pay taxes when they have no say in the running of their contry. The Americans on this site, who will have done much more American history than I have, should recognise the phrase "No Taxation Without Representation" (though I prefer "Taxation without representation is tyranny"). I think that should stand for everyone.<br><br>
Those who have read about this issue may be wondering how my view differs from <a href="http://www.votesat16.org.uk/" target="_blank">The Votes at 16 Campaign</a>.<br><br>
Well, while I think this is a perfectly valid view to take, I would rather raise the age of tax to 18. Yes, this is an arbitrary judgement on my part. But I don't feel many 16 year olds are responsible enough to vote intelligently. Yes, this includes myself.<br><br><br><br>
I fully expect people to post "TL;DR" to this. But y'know, it beats having no replies. So please, someone, post something.

 

[_leafout]

As your average ignorant American, I wasn't aware of this situation.<br><br><br><br>
So...One can legally be fully taxed in the UK at age 16, yet one has absolutely no say in regards to one's positions on the taxing?<br><br><br><br>
....WTF?? I mean, honestly, how far back in the Dark Ages are they aiming for? That doesn't even make sense in the slightest....That's like....That's like waging-war-on-"Terrorism"-stupid.<br><br><br><br>
I agree with you that sixteen year-olds haven't the capacity nor the interest enough to excercise power over their governing body, but shouldn't they have some sort of, I dunno, spokesperson for their agenda on taxation?Or whatever? Gahh....

 

[iowva]

i agree. it would be better if they just waited 2 years before taxing you (voting and taxing at 18) the longer you wait without paying taxes the better. i agree it's stupid

 

[Scythe]

I wouldn't have bothered voting at 16. Even if it was compulsory.

 

[Banshee Beat!]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Scythe</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I wouldn't have bothered voting at 16. Even if it was compulsory.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
I'm from the US, but that is how most kids think. I get taxes taken out of my paycheck now, and i'm seventeen (we can't vote till 18 either), but really i don't think most kids care much about politics or are informed enough to vote at 16 anyways, though I would like to vote now.

 

[Scythe]

Actually it was more to do with:<br><br><br><br>
A) I don't want to stay here anyway, so I don't care about this country's politics.<br><br><br><br>
B) Too much paperwork for something about which I don't give a damn.<br><br><br><br>
It would have been easy to look up a party that represented my views (if it existed) but all things considered not worth it to me. Even when I do have to vote I'll probably just screw it up on purpose so it doesn't count (see reason A).

 

[UseHerName]

I don't understand why 16-year olds are allowed to smoke, but not drink. Personally I don't think either should be allowed until 18.

 

[Absolut]

Smoke at 16? Is that SMOKE or buy cigarettes?<br><br><br><br><br><br>
Here you can smoke at any age.. but only buy smokes at 18 (and its illegal to buy smokes for anyone under 18) (Weird but true.)<br><br><br><br>
Anyway voting age is also 18.. and we get taxed for working from whatever age we start too.. but people under 18 get a large rebate at the end of the finaccial year.<br><br><br><br>
(that's for NZ)

 

[isowish]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Absolut</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Smoke at 16? Is that SMOKE or buy cigarettes?<br><br><br><br><br><br>
Here you can smoke at any age.. but only buy smokes at 18 (and its illegal to buy smokes for anyone under 18) (Weird but true.)<br><br><br><br>
Anyway voting age is also 18.. and we get taxed for working from whatever age we start too.. but people under 18 get a large rebate at the end of the finaccial year.<br><br><br><br>
(that's for NZ)</div>
</div>
<br>
You might be right about the smoking.<br><br>
We can smoke at any age, buy cigarettes at 16. I <b>think</b>. I'm not a smoker so I don't really know.

 

[Shantih]

I'm not sure about the smoking thing either...personally I think it should be changed to 18, but there's no point if it can't be inforced, since when I was under 16 it was stupidly easy to buy cigarettes.<br><br><br><br>
This does annoy the hell out of me. It annoys me that I have to pay adult bus and train fares, adult tickets at most places, etc, but I can't get paid adult wage at work.<br><br><br><br>
I don't think it's right to tax under 18's, for the reasons you said - we can't vote, so we have no say in where our money is going. I think the voting age shouldn't go down, but it should be against the law to tax under 18's.<br><br><br><br>
I had £25 whipped off my paycheck last week <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/whip.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":whip:"> I'll be demanding it back, but it's just so stupid that they think I should be taxed in the first place.

 

[TheFirstBus]

I think 18 is a good age. Many people aren't politically aware at 16. If you are why not do things to support the party you would vote for, go door to door whatever. voting is not the beginning or end of political activity.<br><br>
and remember kids, the party that won't give us social freedom is not the part you want to vote for. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sunny.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":sunny:"><br><br><br><br>
peace, love and toes

 

[aotto08]

In the U.S you get taxed whenever you get a job. And they can't hire you legally untill you are 14 because of child labor laws. But not many 14 year olds know anything about politics. Personally, I think taxes suck in general. But if you want to vote but can't, support you're cause in other ways. Sign petitions, go door-to-door, hand out leaflets. Do something.<br><br><br><br>
IMO, I think it would be a great idea if the taxing, voting, smoking, drinking, and age of consent were all the same. But some people have different ideas about what a person is ready for and when.<br><br><br><br>
BTW, what happens in that magical secon from when you turn for 17 into 18 that makes you more of an "adult"?