Youth Deserve a Voice

Adam King

The NYRA is an organization that is on the campaign to give youth the rights that they deserve. They have several chapters in numerous states across the country. Many of these chapters have convinced their legislators that it is time for the youth of this nation to receive their rights. The NYRA has been featured on several newspapers, including the NY Times, and has been on ABC, PBS, Fox News, and others. This group is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization. I am proud to be the Associate South Regional Director for chapter formation and the Vice Chair of the South Regional Committee on Public and Media Relations.

The rights of youth should be no different than that of adults over the age of 18 or 21. Essentially, they have no rights at all. Minors cannot vote until they turn 18, but there is nothing that keeps the General Assembly from lowering it. All people must pay taxes, including the people not eligible to vote. Teens must pay sales tax every time they pay an item for themselves. Teens must pay gas taxes every time they buy gas for their car. Teens must pay income taxes when they get a job. Teens must also pay grocery taxes, social security taxes, and many more that that are not made public. However, they have no say in the government about these taxes or any of the other issues they are faced with everyday! I am not saying that the voting age should be abolished, but it would be nice if our teens have control of how the government treats them.

A possible solution to the voting age is to lower it to 16. Sixteen is actually a better age to start voting than 18 because 16-year-olds have lived in their community for years. They are not pressured by full-time jobs or college experience. Most teens are currently taking classes on government, civics, and economics in high school. Therefore, teens are almost as or equally knowledgeable as most adults.

The Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal, but if not all men are treated equally, is this to be considered unconstitutional? How can age play a part in whether a person is considered a man or not? I believe that the term “man” applies to mankind, or rather humanity. African Americans and women have received their rights that they well deserve, but youth have not yet. Why are they all given the right to be free and to express their opinions, when teens under 18 cannot?

Please support youth rights, they deserve to atleast be given a voice. Start a local chapter, donate money, go to www.youthrights.org. Thank you.