If you apply it to the old- you have to apply it to the young. Otherwise it’s discriminatory. You’ll be old someday too with any luck. But it’s a two way street. If we can say “this person is too young to vote, they lack the experience and mental faculties for such decisions...” Why can’t we say “this person is too old to vote. They may be losing grip on their mental acuity and lack the plasticity to contextualize current events outside the frame of perspective to a bygone era.” That’s certainly not true of ALL older people- but it also isn’t true of all younger people either. I’ve met teens more politically sharp, involved, and savvy than I am.
So if you believe it unfair that the young are discounted for their opinions you can’t support the idea that the old should be as well. Of course- we could simply abolish any type of age restrictions for voting and simply require that one pass a test- not of politics or intelligence, but of basic fitness- that they are free from illness or condition to inhibit judgment, and are capable of independent and logical thought. But not only is that still ripe for abuse and bias in the test itself as a control of who is deemed fit to vote- but it’s also a quagmire of constitutional rights issues. In America you can vote for anyone for any reason- even that you like the “vibe” you get from their picture. You can vote if you’re mentally ill, ignorant, etc. and would we want to take away the vote from any person who could be said to be impaired by some mental illness? That doesn’t seem right does it? You can’t vote this election because depression clouds your ability to think clearly?
Think real hard before you come after someone. To paraphrase: First they’ll come after those you care nothing about because you aren’t one of them. Then it will be someone else you care nothing about and so on. Eventually it will be you, and you will have no allies or no advocates to speak for you- especially if everyone else thinks the same way and doesn’t care as long as it isn’t their rights being taken. Even when we take rights for what seem like good and practical reasons we are heading down a slippery slope. Freedom is a burden. Freedom means never being completely safe, never having things completely “perfect,” because someone is always free to mess things up. Freedom requires cooperation and collaboration not force to get any goal achieved.
Imagine if your roommate is a dumbass and forced you to watch the movie without your consent.. and every second you close your eyes, he said you avoided the movie and calls you a racist for it...
Imagine
Imagine