WhatFinger


Young people should be restrained from voting until later in life. Not just because they have no skin in the game, but because they only have half a brain

Who Has Half A Brain?



In an earlier essay published in Canada Free Press (see An Issue For Debate: Universal Suffrage, March 13, 2016) I made the case for limiting the right to vote to citizens who had "skin in the game", meaning they had reached a stage in life where they had something of value at risk. With certain exceptions, those with skin in the game are generally mature persons who have acquired tangible assets such as real estate. Mature in this case usually refers to age, although it is acknowledged that many older people may not themselves have acquired such assets. But what age is "mature"? Persons who disagree with my thesis are likely to state something like, "Young people who haven't lived long enough to acquire tangible assets are regularly enlisted in the armed forces, voluntarily or via conscription, and may be required to put their lives at risk protecting those who have been around long enough to acquire tangible assets. They should be entitled to vote in national elections where electees may be involved in decisions that lead conscripts into armed conflict". A fair argument as far as it goes, but it could very well be specious.
Counter-arguments might include the notion that young people are particularly desirable as military conscripts because they are less likely to challenge authority. They are more likely to follow orders without thinking through the possible negative consequences of carrying out those orders, including instant death. Why is that the case? Maybe its because they don't have as much to live for as older persons with assets and families to protect. But there may be another more inclusive reason . . . a deficient brain. The startling frequency of teen suicides has engendered research attempting to explain the reasons why so many young people are making a decision to take the final step and end their lives. One study titled "At What Age Is The Brain Fully Developed?" is insightful. It was published in Mental Health Daily in 2015 and a portion is reprinted below.

At What Age Is The Brain Fully Developed?

"It is widely debated as to which age the brain is considered “fully mature” or developed. In the past, many experts believed that the brain may have been done developing in the mid to late teens. Then along came some evidence to suggest that development may last until at least age twenty. These days, a consensus of neuroscientists agree that brain development likely persists until at least the mid-20s – possibly until the 30s.

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The fact that our brains aren’t developed until the mid 20s means that “legal adults” (those age 18+) are allowed to make adult decisions without fully mature brains. Someone who is 18 may make riskier decisions than someone in their mid-20s in part due to lack of experience, but primarily due to an underdeveloped brain. All behaviors and experiences you endure until the age of 25 have potential to impact your developing brain. Although brain development is subject to significant individual variation, most experts suggest that the brain is fully developed by age 25. For some people, brain development may be complete prior to age 25, while for others it may end after age 25. The mid-20s or “25” is just an average age given as a checkpoint for when the brain has likely become mature. While it may seem logical that those aged 18 to 25 are completely mature, the brain is still maturing. Changes occurring between ages 18 and 25 are essentially a continued process of brain development that started during puberty. When you’re 18, you’re roughly halfway through the entire stage of development. The prefrontal cortex doesn’t have nearly the functional capacity at age 18 as it does at 25. This means that some people may have major struggles with impulsive decisions and planning behavior to reach a goal. The brain’s reward system tends to reach a high level of activation during puberty, then gradually drifts back to normal activation when a person reaches roughly the age of 25. Adults over the age of 25 tend to feel less sensitive to the influence of peer pressure and have a much easier time handling it."

More to worry about

Another concern about the behavior of young people is the widespread rancor displayed on college campuses nationwide. To emphasize the issue here are synonyms that apply: bitterness, spite, hate, resentment, malice, ill will, malevolence, animosity, antipathy, enmity, hostility, acrimony, venom, vitriol. Some might suggest that such behavior in young people flies in the face of the "obeying orders" argument stated above, and that the behavior indicates youthful willingness to challenge authority. To which I reply: It is likely the great bulk of misbehaving youths on campus are actually pawns following orders. They are being led by organized groups. Their brains are not yet ready to think through the reasons, pro and con, why they carry on as they do. In many instances the organizers/leaders are the ones wearing masks, hiding their identities . . .and age.


The followers are less likely to be masked and may be there for a variety of reasons including, "Let's join the protest . . . it could be a fun thing to do. Maybe we'll be on the 6 o'clock news!" I wonder how many parents paying the bills are proud to witness their activities. Unlike Groucho Marx who was secure enough to aver "I wouldn't belong to a club that would have me as a member", many young people are so insecure they will join any group, regardless of purpose, just to savor the feeling of belonging to something. Perhaps there was a thoughtful reason why Obamacare specifically permits young people to remain on parental health insurance policies up to age twenty-six, a clause likely to remain in Trumpcare if the latter ever materializes. Prior to that time of life it seems they are not capable of properly taking care of themselves. In consideration of all the above, I re-submit my thesis that young people should be restrained from voting until later in life. Not just because they have no skin in the game, but because they only have half a brain.

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Bob Christie -- Bio and Archives

Bob was born in Toronto and began his financial career as a trader on the Toronto Stock Exchange. He relocated to California and became SVP and CFO of a $multi-billion diversified financial entity. He served on the board of many companies in Canada and US. An avid yachtsman, he owns a twin diesel ocean going vessel once featured in Architectural Digest magazine. He maintains a hockey web site. “slapshotreport.com” and currently resides in Sausalito, California.


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