...which raises the question of why we have a minimum voting age?
Presumably the minimum age was meant to assure maturity, responsibility, insight etc. Everyone knows of 14-year olds who are blessed with all of the above, and adults who possess none of those qualities.
If one were going to set up a new democracy in this modern era, I would consider it reasonable to set up something like the immigrant citizenship exam to ensure at least a modicum of knowledge among those who will be electing the people who make the rules and spend our money. It'll never happen here. But where did the voting age limit come from; it'll never change either, but I'd be interested in any historical/rational background. Cadfael, any insight on this?
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