By your statements, you seem to be implying one of the following:

1) People under 18 should be able to vote if they make money (or, a certain amount of money);

2) People under 18 should not be able to earn money in their own name (their parents or legal guardians would have to control it); or

3) People under 18 should not be taxable.


Problems with #1:

There must be some age limit for voting. I think that this would not be disputed. Additionally, I think that a suffrage system which is dependent upon income (as was the case in this country for it's first several decades) is both unconstitutional and not in line with our values.

Problems with #2:

I think that people under 18 do have property rights and this undermines that right (though not allowing minors to dispose of their property in any manner they choose is in line with the need for children to have guardians). Additionally, this would create a burden on parents in controlling their children's finances. Other laws, forbidding youths from working would, for obvious reasons, be senseless.

Problems with #3:

There are some people under 18 who make an awful lot of money. The Olsen twins have already made millions (if not tens of millions) of dollars and I still don't think they can vote. Additionally, children would really become tax shelters for the wealthy.


I think that taxing people who cannot vote for no reason other than age is fair. You still receive all the benefits of your tax money (education, roads, national defense, police, etc) and will have the right to vote shortly enough.

Do you have any suggestions for remedying the situation as you see it?

VAdm Robert Seldon, (Jacob)
Chief of Fleet Development