A8 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2010 THE TIMES
Opinion
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he biggest buzz so far in the BC Liberal leadership race was generated by Mike de Jong, MLA for Abbotsford West. Mike raised more than a few eyebrows when he suggested lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. Now, I like Mike and wish him well in the leadership contest. But let’s all hope this proposal never sees the light of day. It was bad enough when we gave federal inmates the right to vote. And now this? God help us. Forty years ago I might have said otherwise. In 1971 almost a quarter of youth aged 15 to 19 were full-time members of the work force. Today it stands around six per cent. Why on Earth would we want to let these freeloaders have a vote? Today’s youth unabashedly confide entrylevel jobs aren’t good enough for them and removing one’s piercings or shaving off the Mohawk for a job interview would be a betrayal of their individuality. Yeah, right. Go eat some more Doritos and download another Justin Bieber track. Not too long ago, it was quite common for 16-year-olds to be working full-time helping support their family. The archives are full of stories of youth that lied about their age so they could join the military and defend their country.
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JOHN MARTIN
Crime matters Today, a young man typically spends his waking hours in his mom’s basement playing video games and Facebooking his “friends.” “Hey mom, I can’t find my shoes – where’d you put them?” Mike de Jong correctly notes that youth voting participation is dismal and wants them to be more involved with the political process. To this I would ask, “why?” Even the few youth that are genuinely politically engaged consistently get it wrong. Media outlets typically run “youth polls” during elections to see what kind of parliament we’d end up with if the 15- to 25-yearolds could decide the outcome. Time and time again the results show a Green Party Prime Minister and an NDP opposition. Think for a moment what your pay stub would look like under that scenario. Come to think of it, “what pay stub?” Time and time again we’re reminded that anyone under 18 is too young and immature to know right from wrong so we can’t hold them responsible for their criminal activity.
But we should let them influence public policy at each and every level? Hell, we buckled under and gave 16-year-olds the right to drive and we can all see how swell that worked out. Have we learned nothing? No Mike, let’s talk about raising the voting age. Thirty would be ideal but I could live with 27. While we’re at it, I’d add that any person of any age living with their parents, except in health care circumstances of course, should be prohibited from having a vote at all. It used to be a person became an adult at no later than 19 and made his own way in the world. Now we have 35-year-olds living with their Mom and not feeling the least bit ashamed about it. And unbelievably, some of them even have a girlfriend. I can’t vote in the Liberal leadership contest because I don’t have a membership. That seems about right. So why do we want to let people who have yet to join society as gainfully-employed, tax-paying, contributors have a say in how things are run? Let 16-year-olds vote? No way. ■ John Martin is a criminologist at
the University of the Fraser Valley. John.Martin@ufv.ca. This commentary is the author’s personal opinion and is not the opinion or policy of his employer or this newspaper.
or most people, Christmas and its constellation of associated holidays are a frantic time. Time to shop for friends and family, then hunt for deals on Boxing Day. Time to hit the grocery store, maybe the liquor store, to get the ingredients for that perfect holiday feast. For others, unfortunately, it’s time to take advantage of the massive holiday shopping spree. Police everywhere are issuing their usual holiday warnings: lock your car, keep presents in the trunk, watch out for suspicious characters. No matter how careful everyone is, of course, someone’s Christmas memories will be tainted. They’ll remember the broken window, the missing presents, the ransacked car, the police report. We could rant and condemn thieves who cause such pain. But in the spirit of the season, instead we’ll ask them to make a change. No one grows up thinking they’ll spend the holiday season breaking and entering, trading stolen goods for a few dollars or a quick fix. It’s a demeaning, miserable existence, the result of very bad choices, some they made for themselves and some made for them, often at a young age. The good news is that, at this time of year, people are more willing than ever to help when a life needs to be turned around. Our communities are filled with organizations that reach out a helping hand, from government agencies to non-profits like the Salvation Army’s shelters, to local churches, to food banks. Even the police can help point someone in need of a new direction towards help. Lives have momentum, and turning one fuelled by drugs and crime around must feel like trying to turn an ocean liner with a canoe paddle. But others have done it. There are those who know how to chart the course, how to steer through the sharp rocks. This Christmas, if you need help, please ask. If you are asked for help, please give it.
■ To comment on this editorial, e-mail us at letters@abbotsfordtimes.com.
This week’s question: How has a slower economy impacted your Christmas season? a.] Smarter and more frugal when gift-buying. b.] Staying closer to home. c.] It hasn’t – it’s merriment as usual.
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