Friday, July 27, 2007



Maybe next time

Sue Bradford has dropped her plan to introduce a bill to lower the voting age to 16 due to lack of public support. It's a pity - I think there are strong arguments for such a move and that it would enhance our democracy - but if the support isn't there, it isn't there, and there's not much point putting up a bill which is going to fail (unless the goal is to make people vote against it).

Don't think this is the end of the idea, though. Bradford is talking about a public education plan, and I expect the bill will be back in five or ten years once there's a bit more public support. And hopefully next time it will succeed.