The Washington, D.C. city council is currently reviewing a newly submitted bill that would grant the right to vote in presidential elections to 16 and 17-year-olds. Riding the wave of recent children’s marches funded by leftist organizations, the council is driving the push to find moldable minds to sway the 2020 race.
Who didn’t see this coming?
On the heels of other municipalities attempting to register non-citizens to stack the deck in favor of a Progressive, obvious agenda towards a socialistic state, one wonders if our four-legged friends will be next.
The brainchild behind the bill is Councilman Charles Allen, who hails originally from Alabama. Allen, now in his second term, was a member of presidential wannabe Howard Dean’s national team. Dean demonstrated a bit too much exuberance to be entrusted with the red button and has faded, thankfully, into obscurity.
Allen attempted to pass the same bill in 2015, but it didn’t pass the sniff test. And then along comes the public relations media fest in aftermath of Parkland, Florida’s tragedy, and the bill was resurrected. And it has the support of Mayor Muriel Bowser and five other councilmembers.
In a recent interview, Allen made clear his desire to arm children with a weapon much more dangerous than a firearm, saying “By enfranchising 16 and 17-year-olds, we can bring our young people directly into the political process, lift their voices and, hopefully, create engaged, lifelong voters.”
Notice he says nothing about education of our government or Constitution. Why bother with that out of date document?
Can this Happen?
The 26th Amendment prohibits individual states from raising the voting age above 18; but not in lowering it; the last time the country tinkered with voting rights was in 1971. The Vietnam War was raging and the counterculture made the argument that if one could be a soldier and fight for his or her country, they should be able to cast a vote. And that made sense.
Granting this weighty right to 16 and 17-year-olds, most still in high school with their needs taken care of by parents or guardians does not make one lick of sense.
Sure, if they have part-time and afterschool jobs, they pay taxes. Yes, some may have more responsibility than their peers, some less. But the teenager today is nowhere near as mature as their counterparts 50 years ago.
Just ask Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University, who has the research to prove that statement. Her data proves a late start to adulthood compared to teens from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, saying “while people in their early 20’s now act like teens, teens act more like children.”
The numbers paint a dramatic scene of latent development and these shifts are across all socioeconomic and geographic groups—and not explained by increases in homework or extra-curricular activities.
Allen is dead wrong in his argument that because at the age of 16, society already gives young people greater rights like they can drive a car or they can work, that they should be granted adult status.
There is no research to support his claim. It is just the opposite:
"Their actions are guided more by the emotional and reactive amygdala and less by the thoughtful, logical frontal cortex. Based on the stage of their brain development, adolescents are more likely to:
act on impulse
misread or misinterpret social cues and emotions
get into accidents of all kinds
get involved in fights
engage in dangerous or risky behavior
Adolescents are less likely to:
think before they act
pause to consider the consequences of their actions
change their dangerous or inappropriate behaviors"
Plus, they will feel entitled to an “I Voted” trophy, instead of the sticker, and someone must inform them there are no do-overs once you punch the card.
Danger Will Rogers
This is a dangerous game the left is playing. They have run out of adults to buy into their socialist agenda and a strong conservative base will keep America’s flag flying in defiance to a globalist, one world dominion. They have attempted to use our children to further their agenda on repealing the 2nd Amendment; which if we grant 16 and 17-year-olds voting rights for the foundationless reasons that Allen stated, well, then they should be able to purchase a firearm. Take that, Lefties, you know you can’t have it both ways.
With current research pointing towards a delay in adulthood, some saying adolescence can last up to 24 years of age, it is obvious the Democrats are running scared. Conservatives, keep it up. Forget about the lunacy in D.C., and get out the vote for midterms. It’s on, my friends. Stay vigilant.
