SACRAMENTO -- Millions of California teens would become the nation's first to vote under a proposed constitutional amendment introduced Monday by a 71-year-old state senator.Ah, teenagers, the latest potential pool of dumbed-down Democrats. Better than all the others because they own nothing and pay no taxes. "Dude, I'll vote for eleven billion dollars in increased taxes for school bands -- but only if they rock. And because my old man will be really pissed off." Better still because they're exposed to the California Teachers Union on a daily basis. "Dude, don't you know that Mars is all about the oil?!"Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, proposed the idea alongside three other lawmakers, saying the Internet, cellular phones, multichannel television and a diverse society makes today's teens better informed than generations of their predecessors.
Coming on the heels of an expected record low turnout among adults in the March 2 election, Vasconcellos would give 16-year- olds a half-vote and 14-year-olds a quarter-vote in state elections beginning in 2006.
-- Press-Telegram
Will they swell turnout? If you stipulate that they can get out of school for election day if they come back with an "I Voted" sticker, you will have lines stretching from here to the dark side of the moon.
Posted by Vanderleun at March 9, 2004 2:26 PM | TrackBack