Ralph Nader thinks kids 1/5th his age should be able to vote

Although the subject hasn't exactly been a hot political issue yet as we skim through the 16th month of the current presidential election contest, Ralph Nader is proposing that even more teenagers should be legally eligible to vote -- those who are 16 and 17.

A perennial presidential candidate recently, Nader is the oldest guy running for the White House. He's even older than that other one.

Nader is so old that when he was 16, this thing called television was just catching on. Diners Club was inventing the credit card. The average house cost $8,450, the average car $1,510 and the stuff to run it called gasoline cost 18 cents a gallon, which is about half today's per-gallon tax.

There was no known connection, but when Nader was 16, China invaded Tibet; wait a minute, didn't they just do that again?

When Nader was 16, President Truman sent U.S. troops to help the French fight Communists because it was important to defend a place soon to be known as Vietnam. And some unknown kid named ...

... James Dean was jitterbugging around a pop machine in Pepsi commercials.

That's how old is Ralph Nader, who didn't wear an earring when he was 16. But the onetime consumer advocate who's usually railing against some -thing or -body is now speaking in favor of lowering the voting age again.

Nader notes that Austria lowered its voting age last year. And we all know what that means.

Nader was a vocal supporter of the 26th Amendment that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in 1971. That was the year, if you remember, that Polish strikers demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Kazimierz Switala, who was replaced by Franciszek Szlachcic.

Anyway, today Nader says people who are 16 and may drive cars, pay taxes and even get married (though often not for long) ought to be able to vote in federal elections.

"Sixteen year olds," he writes on his campaign website, "are likely to be more excited. They are studying and learning about the country and the world in high school. They're still at home and can bring their discussions to their parents, who may turn out at the polls more as a result."

He also thinks younger voters would force schools to be more conscientious about teaching civics.

Nader intends to make 16-year-old voters a major issue in his minor campaign. "I'll be talking up the 16-year-old vote," he writes. "But it will only become a reality if a teenage political revolution makes it happen."

So start the countdown clock right now.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo Credits: Associated Press

Comments

[Seb]

Ralph, More power to your ideas. Keep working to end this insane war and bring our people home. You've been out there making speeches, doing interviews and writing articles and have written at least three books in the last 6 years. And you've been writing weekly commentary on the things that really matter, at http://www.nader.org .The question is where has the Press been on these important matters you discuss? where have the "Talking Heads" been on corporate crime and the profiteers of this war? The population is too busy being entertained and watching Sporting events to get involved, they take the easy route and don't bother to think, settling instead for snippets and quick slogans. Knowing what's going on in a Corporate controlled State takes work. Thank you Ralph, for all the good things you've done to protect the People of this Country. Amazing how quickly they forget, or perhaps they just don't know. Almost everyone's lives and/or that of friends and relatives of theirs, have been improved and made safer because of you, Some wouldn't be alive today, if not for Ralph Nader! Their minds have been intentionally bombarded with with Corporate propaganda and the Democrat Party scapegoating machine. Clinton and that phony Terry McAuliffe should be ashamed of their comments regarding you. They continue the DNC scapegoating myth. thank you for your great service to this Country. More power to your ideas. http://www.votenader.org..... all the rest of you out there, buckle-up! ....... Other Great websites about Nader; Click on play at http://thewomandirector.com./ AND after that go to http://www.dianeszoo.com/ralphnader.htm to vote and comment

[Shiu Hung]

Lowering the voting age to sixteen is a terrific idea, along with civic education in all high schools. This is a great opportunity for teenagers to become involved and particiapte, while becoming civic minded adults. Just the other day at Bellows Falls Union HS, Brattleboro, VT, high school students walked out of class to peacefully protest the war/occupation in Iraq. At the same time this brings up a major concern many people have during this presidential election campaign. While Democratic & Republican candidates have received ample coverage, we have yet to see or hear serious coverage of Ralph Nader's presidential platform, other than disparaging remarks and trivializing sound bytes. Ironically, Ralph Nader is one candidate who is bringing up critical issues that are essential to the nation and the world. The runaway corporate state is the one issue we must seriously address during this election, which is on top of the list on Mr. Nader's presidential platform. Obama, Clinton, & McCain are all representatives of the corporate state. Check out the Center for Responsive Politics at www.opensecrets.org- which is an non-partisan research group, for accurate information regarding the funding sources of all three of these contenders. Nader is advocating a Single Payer-Medicare for All Health Care Plan, which elliminates the corporate, profit-driven insurance/pharmaceutical racket, which none of the leading candidates have the courage to actively support. There are many issues that warrant serious coverage, including slashing the wasteful, enormous military budget, withdrawing all troops and private contractors out of Iraq and Afghanistan within six months, seeking impeachment of Bush & Cheney, repealing the Taft-Hartley anti-union law, raising the minimum wage to a decent, livable wage, adopting a Wall Street Securities Speculation tax, reversing Middle East policy, and addressing the failed War on Drugs, to name just a few. These issues are merely the tip of the iceberg, (and are part of Nader's platform)- that the other candidates are not seriously addressing in any substance for the voters. With a lifetime of achievements and dedication, why is Nader denied participation in presidential debates, kept off ballots, and utterly ignored by the media? w Don't be fooled. While Obama preaches change, he supports the status quo. As do Clinton and McCain. All this refects the sorry state of democracy in this country, and the two party duopoly; when a person such as Ralph Nader is marginalized, discredited, and ignored. We must demand that Nader be included in national debates, and given media coverage now. Visit www.votenader.org to learn more about his presidential platform.

[toby]

With everything going on...Nadar is fighting for 16 year old suffrage?

I think it's time to reevaluate if Nadar has the cognitive functions to own a Driver's license.

[Gene Debs]

It's hardly worth noting, but if and when bloggers (journalists?) like Andrew Malcolm bother to report something Ralph Nader says or does, they inevitably fail to engage him on the merits. Nader consistently offers new and thoughtful suggestions for improving our electoral system and our society. Just as consistently, people like Malcolm use these occasions as opportunities to demonstrate their talent for sarcasm. Very mature, Mr. Malcolm. Also very informative - about the nature and quality of your intellect.

[Jurgen Vsych]

When someone works and pays taxes, and yet can't vote, that's called Taxation without Representation.

Jurgen Vsych
San Francisco, CA

[Miranda]

Lowering the voting age is one constructive way to demonstrate that young people are taken seriously as citizens by ensuring that their voices are heard. By reintroducing Civics education in all high schools at the same time, there is a great opportunity to teach teenagers about constitutional law, how to research the Freedom of Information Act, and more. This is an action worth supporting. Lets hear more about Ralph Nader's campaign.

[TheTruth]

This writer is pathetic...How does age discredit Nader from introducing progressive ideas? If that's the case then we might as well stop reading your blog (considering you are about the same age). It is apparent that Nader is a much more lucid thinker and his ideas still quite relevant today.Just a reminder as to why I don't usually read anything associated with the L.A. Times...

[steve conn]

Nader ALONE stands for impeachment of Bush in 2008 just as he stood for an end to the war in 2004 and universal health care in 2000. Every Nader vote is an impeachment vote just as every Nader vote in 2004 was an anti-war vote. Is there any wonder why the Dems fight to have him excluded in the ballot? Those 16 year olds will be ready to vote for Nader NEXT TIME AROUND.

[andy]

I hate to be a downer, but this wouldn't make much of a difference. The average teenager doesn't care about politics. Most people at sixteen are self-centered and have very poor judgment. When Ralph Nader was sixteen, there were probably more kids that did care. Sorry for the cliche', but it's different now. Now I'm not saying all teenagers are like that, but the vast majority are.