NOM DE PLUME

The age in our society where one is responsible for voting, being elected and maintaining positions in the government is one of enormous burden, and it is a burden that we should expect only of those that can be reasonably expected to be a fully functioning and participating member of society. While it is regrettable, the recent change to the voting age is not one that fulfils these criteria, and it cannot be said that the right will be exercised correctly on either their behalf or the behalf of the entire society at large. These are decisions that affect us all, and we should all strive to see how we can improve our voter base.



The idea that individuals can make decisions on behalf of our country is grounded in the fact that they have an understanding of the country, of our society, of the function of our government. In the modern age, this is something that is indisputably tied to education and experience. This fact may be depressing to those of younger age – nobody is disputing the tragedy and disparity those who feel disenfranchised may feel as a result. Their opinions on all things are not invalid; they are uninformed. Through no fault of any of them, the subset of those who have not experienced what it is like to work, what it is like to serve for their country, what it is like to experience a modicum of adulthood simply do not have the proper mindset to be deciding the path for all of our country, for all of our society.



In theory, the agreeability of having a statement of absolute suffrage is a vital and insurmountable key to democracy, something that all people accept and strive for. To those who have lived, who have worked, to those who have had their idealism tempered by reality, we understand that universal wide-reaching privileges like these may need to be withheld for some time.



Just as the right to damage the body with certain substances are withheld to those who we deem incapable of understanding or fully interpreting the risks, the right to damage society should be kept safe to those who are involved in it. We know the dangers of exploitation, we know the fear of those who contribute less than ourselves, we know that there are times when we must hold our nose and say “not yet” to responsibilities that will be a burden to a younger generation while doing the best we can on their behalf.



As we do not hold dear to our hearts the idea that someone that is 16 can be a CEO, an airline pilot, a Prime Minister, we should not also hold the idea that these individuals can uphold the ideal of safeguarding our democracy. This is a job that is the most important job of all citizens of the United Kingdom. It is a job that requires education, a job that requires experience, a job that requires citizenship and all the responsibilities that come with it. It is a job for those of age, and the age for that across the world is uniform with few exceptions.



As regrettable as it may be for those looking forward at a longer time in the shadow of these responsibilities, the country will be better for their sacrifice.

This piece was written for The Daily Telegraph by Conservative MP Anomaline as an opinion editorial. The views expressed are not necessarily representative of those of The Model Telegraph Media Group, its editors or its proprietors. The MTMG thanks Anomaline for their opinion editorial.

Anomaline is an incumbent MP for the South East.