Post by Jaycee on Nov 8, 2011 3:43:28 GMT
CA = Communication Arts (class)
People take on responsibilities at an early age. Many people go to kindergarten at age 5 or 6. When children turn 9 or 10, their parents normally trust them enough to let them ride a bike or give them chores around the house. Teenagers have their first chance of adulthood at age 16, when they're allowed to get a driver's license and own a car. 18 is the year one truly becomes an adult. Responsibilities come with that change, and one of them is the right to vote. Some people think the legal voting age should be raised to 21. But at age 18, people have had responsibilities long enough to deserve the right to vote.
About.com agrees that when you turn 18 years old, you're officially considered an adult. At that age, you gain legal responsibilities. You must pay taxes to the government and are eligible for jury duty. You also gain several privileges at age 18, such as being allowed to buy or sell real estate and stocks.
The most important responsibility a person gains at age 18 is the option to go to war if they choose. This was the main reason the voting age was changed to 18. The United States was in the throes of the Vietnam War and protests were underway throughout the nation. Any male of 18 years of age or older could be drafted into the armed services. There was a cruel double standard imposed, however : These young men were allowed, or even forced, to fight and die for their county, but they weren't allowed to vote in it. In late 1970, Congress attempted to right this wrong, and in 1971, 18 year olds gained the right to vote by the 26th Amendment.
Those people who say the voting age should be raised to 21 aren't taking a few things into perspective. If the right to vote was taken away from 18 year olds, the would suffer under a sick double standard of being able to go to war for their country but not vote for who leads it. Age 18 is the perfect age to gain the right to vote. People are mature adults at that age, so there is no reason to take that right away from them.
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Constructive criticism? This is supposed to be a 2 minute speech. If it's not that good, please remember I'm only in 8th grade. Thanks!
People take on responsibilities at an early age. Many people go to kindergarten at age 5 or 6. When children turn 9 or 10, their parents normally trust them enough to let them ride a bike or give them chores around the house. Teenagers have their first chance of adulthood at age 16, when they're allowed to get a driver's license and own a car. 18 is the year one truly becomes an adult. Responsibilities come with that change, and one of them is the right to vote. Some people think the legal voting age should be raised to 21. But at age 18, people have had responsibilities long enough to deserve the right to vote.
About.com agrees that when you turn 18 years old, you're officially considered an adult. At that age, you gain legal responsibilities. You must pay taxes to the government and are eligible for jury duty. You also gain several privileges at age 18, such as being allowed to buy or sell real estate and stocks.
The most important responsibility a person gains at age 18 is the option to go to war if they choose. This was the main reason the voting age was changed to 18. The United States was in the throes of the Vietnam War and protests were underway throughout the nation. Any male of 18 years of age or older could be drafted into the armed services. There was a cruel double standard imposed, however : These young men were allowed, or even forced, to fight and die for their county, but they weren't allowed to vote in it. In late 1970, Congress attempted to right this wrong, and in 1971, 18 year olds gained the right to vote by the 26th Amendment.
Those people who say the voting age should be raised to 21 aren't taking a few things into perspective. If the right to vote was taken away from 18 year olds, the would suffer under a sick double standard of being able to go to war for their country but not vote for who leads it. Age 18 is the perfect age to gain the right to vote. People are mature adults at that age, so there is no reason to take that right away from them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Constructive criticism? This is supposed to be a 2 minute speech. If it's not that good, please remember I'm only in 8th grade. Thanks!
