What’s your most controversial opinion? **Read OP** **Mod Note in Post #3372**

I forgot to reply to this.

I think the answer to the question "why should young people get a vote?" Is basically the same answer to why anyone should have a vote. It's having an opportunity to get engaged with how the country is run and expressing it with a vote. Why should you have a vote? Serious question. Have you ever thought about it? The reasons young people should have a vote are probably the same but with some additions.

The basic ability to have a voice in how the country is run, just like everyone else, is the first and most basic answer.

Young people are an import stakeholder in the country. They engage with loads of government and private structures that affect their lives. Education is an obvious one but health, justice, transport, housing are some others.

Children participants in the economy and are reasonably big consumers. Granted the money is spent on their behalf but I can tell you children cost a fortune.

Engagement is an issue for me. For example, young people learn about government in school but can't actually put it into action until most of them have already left school. So teaching them about the political system alongside them being able to vote would probably increase engagement. A quick Google search (not claiming to have done much research) suggests that younger people who are given a vote albacore more politically interested and engaged

Young people will have to live with the consequences of elections for longer than older people. In this argument they have MORE at stake than older people. An example is the Brexit referendum in the UK.

I've been asking for the rationale for the status quo and haven't really gotten any great answers thst can be applied across the board to all voters, not just young people. Do you think there are great reasons to totally exclude all young people from voting?

my idea was never offering sweets to kids, but whatever i don't mind as the premise is still the same. My initial offering was a kinder egg and a packet of crisps to secure their vote, however i will be so kind as to additional add a lucky bag to the mix! and maybe even stickers? kids love stickers. You say now its not relevant, but it was at the time of discussing it, as the conversation was about how to go about obtaining the kids demograph vote but without making anyone go through any sort of test as you expressed a desire to allow all to vote but was specific on requiring them to not have to go through any sort of test beforehand.

i don't consider everything in a parties manifesto to be a bribe, but some things specificly are, to reach certain demographs and in hopes of obtaining their vote. Improving infastructure i dont deem to be a bribe but rather more of a duty. education can be a bribe if its to raise teachers pay without actually contributing anything else. that would be to reach the demograph of people in teaching positions. There's better pay (a necessity) and then there's unneeded extra pay just for the sake of it. anything thats a necessitty isnt being sprouted as bribary by me, but rather a duty.

The example you just gave about reduced taxes to attract specefic demographs of people is a lovely example of what i was attempting to express.

As for the sweets thing it wouldnt be the first time, as i quote often see sweets or chocolates being used by some charities to solicit donations. Kids run up to them wanting some and are told they can have one or 2 if they donate, then kid runs back to the parent asking them.

Right. Kinder egg and a packet of crisps and a lucky bag, not sweets. And what would happen if a politician ran on a pledged to give out Kinder egg and a packet of crisps and a lucky bag. Would they be taken seriously by the rest of the electorate? I think they would be ridiculed and probably deselected by their party.

That's why it's a funny joke and a fun thought experiment, but totally irrelevant because it's not a realistic possibility. That's the point you're missing.

No, the crisps would be given upon entering the booth, then after the vote is done, if their vote can be confirmed they get the rest of the additional stuff when they come back out. Its a very thoughtful premise and teaches kids about voting, aswell as it being a little day-out for them.

Parents may even like the idea too, and would be encouraged to bring their kids to the voting. after all its a free meal and a day out. and an activity that promotes looking into political things. it can be an educational experience like those tours that have free participatiene goodies at the end. kids love crisps!

also its realsticly possible to do something like this by the party in question getting in contact with the marketting department of some crisp brands and orgnizing something, as its also promoting the goods that are being handed out free. it's a win-win.

like honestly do you think a kid would rather get a free badge with the person they vote for on it? or a fun toy chocolate treats and packet of crisps? the lucky bag and crisps combo is the clear winner here. kids vote successfully secured, and some of the parents would love the idea. and its nice to actually get something back out of voting. something physical, instead of just a bunch of promises that may or may not happen.

well actually its a bit of both. its quite a funny thing to consider, however can also be effective. Marketting often uses comedy and memes to successfully promote a product or cause. But at the same time it can be genuine. Picture this: the thing you said about other parties and people ridculing them for the idea, would this make it to newspapers and radio stations? what would your honest answer be?

any publicity is good publicity, and while the idea may initially be made fun of, its still spreading awareness

no worries. for some adults (primarily single ones, or those without kids) i can imagine it not being their cup of tea.

Would you ever like to receive something (not bribery) but as a thank you for voting? some people sometimes say to me that they feel "used" when it comes to voting, and they never see or hear from certain political parties until its voting day, then usually its a scramble to get votes.

Yes, and so should everyone else. Should people who don't take voting seriously, not be allowed to vote?

i was just asking you a question based on your answer thats all, something you've been doing a bit in the thread. i did'nt get it from anywhere. was just asking a genuine question thats all.

But being given something for free, after voting can be them showing their appreciation for voting. and it doesnt mean you take the voting any less seriously. If they offered you a free gift after you've cast your vote, regardless on which party you voted for, would you turn your nose up to the free gift or gladly accept it?

i'm not accusing you of either of these things, just wanting to know which one you would rather do. at the end of the day a free gift is a free gift, and its nice to get something back out of it for once, even if the vote ends up being meaningless or a loss

maybe think of it as a token of appreciation or kind gesture, rather than as an incentive to vote

I think that everybody should be limited to a maximum of 2 children, if they want more then they have to prove they have to prove they can support each one with NO help from Social Welfare.

For years I heard this thing about how Gay Byrne had called a competition winner whos daughter had happened to have died the night before, and he handled it with a unique sense of humanity and empathy.

I'd actually thought the whole thing was an urban legend, but I came across the clip on YouTube last night.

Alan Partridge would have had more tact tbh.

No, we need to move away from an economic model that depends on everlasting population growth.

We need to spend money on defence . Decent war ships , fighter jets , submarines . And a mandatory one year military service

Turns out net Irish migration was zero last year when you consider the ones leaving and the ones returning. About 30,000 left and about 30,000 returned in 2023

I doubt this will have any impact but here's the evidence.

People who were married for years maybe have a couple of children and then suddenly realise they are gay and decided to go their own way are sleazebags.They've essentially conned someone into a relationship .If a person has even the slightest doubt about their sexuality then they should not get into a long term relationship with another person and essentially lead them along for a significant period of time.

This type of behaviour is deemed very brave and praiseworthy by the media but it isn't, frankly it's a dreadful thing to do to someone else.