Off Topic Politics Thread

I think having definite leave to remain should entitle you to vote. I think it is wrong to have to change your nationality to vote. If you are paying taxes and contributing to the economy you should not lose your franchise because of an accident of where you are born.

 

This is incorrect. You are correct in saying that 16yr olds can join up but they are not allowed to go on active service until they are 18. That may have been so in your friend's time but not now.

I'm sad to hear about your friend, who should never have been in a conflict at that age, 18 is bad enough.

 

Unless they are in television, film, theatre, modelling or even a sporting event where they are paid. And a very likely chance paid over the tax threshold.
They can be even younger than 14 with a performance licence.
So child actors, models and footballers all pass your criteria even though you've now added in the tax threshold. What ages do child actors begin their work? Can't wait for Starmer to announce that tax paying 5yr olds will get to vote at the next general election.
It's a bit of a risk but the Peppa Pig Party will undoubtedly be quite an improvement on the current mob of incompetents.

Minimum ages children can work
Part-time work
Children can work part-time from the age of 14.

In some local council areas, children can work part-time from the age of 13. Contact your local council’s education department or education welfare service for more information.

Children under 14 can work in areas like:

• television
• theatre
• modelling

Children working in these areas will need a performance licence.



Look, if you two stop the charade about this move being about young tax payers deserving their say or 16yr olds having an influence on their futures, we can move on. Just be honest and admit it's an attempt to get more votes, any party would probably do the same if it was to their advantage. But all this "it's for the kids" nonsense is fooling no-one. Maybe loading but certainly no-one else.

 

I think we live in a very questionable and imbalanced democracy that is highly open to manipulation so this is one of a number of things that I feel would make it more fair.

For the record I also think its absolute bollocks and bad for democracy that Labour have a wacking majority on 33% of the vote too, even if I was personally very relieved (and highly amused) to see the Tories booted out and even if I have an extreme dislike for Reform UK, they should have more seats in the House of Commons for their vote share.

 

Where have I said that it's not an attempt to get more votes?, I've not changed my opinion on this as I've always thought that school leavers should be allowed to vote. They may not see active service until 18 any longer but they are trained to handle lethal weapons of war, hardly innocent.
What are your reasons for opposing it (I assume that you do?).

 

Bit selective.

1 - What % of those elderly actually retired at 65. Not carried on in a part-time role? Most of the men had company pensions in an era where the wages salaries were pi55 poor. My Dad retired eventually at 57. lived by the budget until 65 when his state pension kicked in.

2 - 4-5x the wage mostly on a single income. Massive amount of women became housewives when kids were born with virtually zero state help. Child benefit then or now was not enough even to cover a few days food for the child!

3- They went without every luxury if it meant paying the mortgage. No half decent telly. TV Licence and a radio rentals TV all round. decent hi-fi only if husband already had it before they got together. No other tech. Hand me down furniture or cheap from second handshops.

4 - Going out, eating out...........never! No money for that.

5 - Clothes - rarely and clothes and shoes were much more expensive back then

6 - Food: Whatever was cheap. Steak a treat once a month at best. Liver and onions - yuck. Tongue, heart. cheap tinned sweetcorn. Salad only in the summer and then that was a couple of sliced of cabbage like lettuce, a tomati sliced and a few cucumber slices with a couple of slices of ham or corned beef - yuck!

Knackered in 5 year old cars that would only last until 10 years anyway because they just rusted to bits quick.

And after 15 years of sacrificing any treats? kids were now 15, mortgage was now affordable, bit of free money now with interest rates lower.

Remember it isn't just about house prices. Interest meant they paid way more than we would now for that mortgage. How much would a mortgage on a 150k house be now if interest rates were 10-15%?

I used to think my Dad was boring as f*** never going out at all..........but then I grew up and realised why and good for him and happy retirement at 57 because he earnt that.

And if some tosser from government even suggested that they don't need their 3 bedroom home now their on their own. I would join the protest march. I will defend their "selfishness."

Anyway back to filling out my right to buy form. I'm 50 so gonna go for a 15 year mortgage

 

Maybe the rules were different then. You cannot legally be sent to active service (war) until you are 18 and under 18 needs parental consent to join the army so while it is true a 16 year old can join the army, they still need their parents to sign their consent.

And 16 year olds are not allowed to work more than 8 hours a day, so jobs with a 10 hour shift are out of bounds for them! Not sure but think they might not be allowed to work nightshifts either.......Got to protect the "children."

 

My wife has lived here 21 years but doesn't get to vote. Good job as she loves Farage and being Portuguese she hates the EU. lol. But she loves Portugal and does not want to become a British Citizen.

 

Oh dear. The wasteful young people argument. How trite.

 

You're not allowed to leave school at 16 anymore unless you have a job! I was getting a lot of nasty phone calls from the authorities when my 16 year old was disappearing doing County Lines when he was supposed to be attending college! Not a lot I could do about it but it was of course "parent's to blame."

 

Trite but true. The youth of today would be shocked how basic life was for a lot of people, just to pay that mortgage. I'm not arguing that house prices are not too hig, they are and I'm not arguing that its almost impossible to get on the housing ladder these days. I am just saying a comparison of house prices then v now is far too simplistic ignoring how much people actually paid for that mortgage because of the interest rates and the lives they led just to pay that bill!