I voted, not in the election but on a Facebook poll (From Times Series)
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An Informal letter to Mike Freer
5:05pm Saturday 8th May 2010
By Mohamed-Zain Dada »
The first time voter, he or she is a fresh faced, university or college student. Survived the spotty teens to step into the booth and vote for their chosen party. Whether they're the heiress of a fox-hunting multi millionaire media mogul voting for the Conservatives or a Guardian reading Clegg crazy teen. My vote went to the Liberal Democrats, my vote only counts in the world of Facebook of course. Being 17 and frankly knowing more about politics then my older siblings yet not being able to vote. It was painful watching each constituency being announced knowing that I didn’t partake in anything.
My own knowledge of politics is based on a Government and Politics A/S level book and I would vote for the party which upholds the greatest civil rights, which is the foundation of a liberal democracy. However my knowledge of the political parties' economic policies are that the Tories don’t like common people, Labour like common people and the Liberal’s have someone called Vince Cable. On the contrary, I feel I have the right to elect the person I feel fit to lead us on these matters. I also feel I should have this right along with the other thousands of young people in Barnet.
People will argue that a 16 year old will not have the ‘life experiences’ to choose their favoured political party but having met some older voters who base their choice on the fact that David Cameron wears too much makeup or that Clegg’s yellow tie is off putting (or Gordon Brown’s smile to avoid political bias.) So, why didn’t I get to vote in my constituency of Finchley and Golders Green? I wanted to vote for Laura Edge of the Liberal Democrats (not because of the forename ‘Edge’ although it is admittedly a reason.) Instead my vote was disregarded and people in Finchley and Golders Green went for the Conservative candidate Mike Freer.
I’d like to ask Mike Freer, will you give the young people of Barnet the chance to vote in an election? Or will the many 16-18 year olds in Barnet continue to vote in online polls which are meaningless or vote in the more exciting Britain’s Got Talent for someone who can juggle whilst dancing. As the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, I’d like to see if you can juggle whilst dancing. Metaphorically speaking of course.
Comments(13)
tphg
says...
5:35pm Mon 10 May 10
Rog T
says...
3:08pm Wed 12 May 10
Some 16 year olds won't have a clue and some will. Some 16 year olds have seen first hand more life than some of us see in their whole life.
As to the point about them voting in line with their parents. I was saddened by how many people told me on the doorstep that they would be voting how their husband told them.
Grumblepop
says...
5:18pm Wed 12 May 10
now you're having a giggle, I do agree with you some 16 year olds will have had more of a clue than some not as yet, you know what I mean! On a serious note 18 is about right, unless we start teaching Civics for very many reasons, earlier than the young man doing his A/S level at 17, My view is make the young man's subject of Govt & Pol compulsory at GCSE, one of my kids did that and went on to the 'A' level stage. At 18 years, he understood why he would not bother to vote.
Don't Call Me Dave
says...
6:33pm Fri 14 May 10
Grumblepop
says...
1:33am Sat 15 May 10
Hope you are not missing the point here? As Rog says, the lad puts forward a very strong case, I'm nominating him for Alison Moore's job. I thought we got rid of teflon Bliar only to vote him back in again with revised features and, in his true colour - Blue! maybe my mind has become like my body - decrepit.
Don't Call Me Dave
says...
2:43am Sat 15 May 10
The point I was making is that I don’t think we should say “You can’t vote if you are under 18 because you aren’t intelligent enough to come to an informed decision” because clearly many people will be.
There are many adults who are well over the age of 18 who clearly do not understand the issues yet are still allowed to vote!
I am sure you are familiar with the old saying “no taxation without representation”. Perhaps that should now be reversed: No representation without taxation. If someone has left school at 16 and has entered the world of work, they will be paying taxes. Shouldn’t that entitle them to a say?
Grumblepop
says...
11:40am Sat 15 May 10
No, Too young 18 is about right, at 16 I needed every penny at 18, I did not mind paying my Union dues we need people to understand that we are born with politics and everything we do is politics, or my birth and name would not be registered, The National Anthem is not, Abide With Me nor I am an Anarchist.
Importantly, The Human Rights AcT is not quite a Constitution that Paine wrote for 'Citizenship' classes. Later Dude
Rog T
says...
12:40pm Sat 15 May 10
Grumblepop
says...
2:16pm Sat 15 May 10
DCMD Rog Mohammed
3 to 1, I'll have to live with it. We should put this forward to our 3 MPs.
Mohamed-Zain Dada
says...
11:11pm Sun 16 May 10
It's 3 to 2, if you count tphg as well. But, are me and tphg allowed to vote in this mini vote , considering we are both under 18?
Grumblepop
says...
12:19pm Sat 22 May 10
I forgot this one, It's your blog so it's 3-1. Whatever your results, it's got to be one from the Russell Group. Good Luck
Grumblepop
says...
12:26pm Sat 22 May 10
Rog T says...
8:25am Sun 9 May 10
You make a very well reasoned case. I suspect Mike Freer would see your arguements as a reason to say "No" because the majority of younger people won't vote for him