#16tovote on the 16th – March 2011

It’s the fourteenth run of #16tovote on the 16th! After such high participation in January and February, and last year’s March one also being popular, I was hoping this one would be as good or better. Well, participation was down compared to those runs, although some could be attributed to Twitter having had issues yesterday. You know what day of the month is a good day for Twitter to be having issues? Absolutely any day other than the 16th! But, seriously, the tweets were good as usual and this fourteenth run of the legendary #16tovote on the 16th was still a great success. A couple of recent and current events helped shape the theme, namely the student activism involved in the Wisconsin protests, as well as our own battle in Texas to end school paddling, two issues that highlight the importance of lowering the voting age, that the Wisconsin state senate is not accountable to the students whose schools they are making decisions on, that the students at risk of being paddled in the states where it is legal cannot vote against officials who go against a paddling ban.

The next one will of course be Saturday, April 16, but for now, be sure you are following NYRA on Twitter, and check out the recap below.

youthrights Alright! Here we go again… #16tovote on the 16th!!! 😀 Here’s Top 10 Reasons to LOWER THE VOTING AGE! http://bit.ly/cavxOT

teh_maxh #16tovote: because I said so. 😉

youthrights A lot of students walked out for #wiunion protests, regarding actions of a state senate they could not vote for. #16tovote

youthrights Just had anti-paddling rally in Austin, TX: http://bit.ly/eyR0Qm Would this even be an issue if these students could vote? #16tovote

arclights It’s #16tovote day again, and I’m tired of it. But not as tired as, at 16, I was of not being free to vote.

arclights If you’re old enough to participate in revolution, you’re old enough to participate in republican self-government. #16tovote

arclights Teenagers buy things and pay sales tax. Some of them work and pay income tax. No taxation without representation! #16tovote, or better, 0

youthrights This is #16tovote on the 16th! We’re tweeting for a lower voting age, with the #16tovote hashtag! http://bit.ly/x4CA8 🙂

arclights How much debt, to be paid by minors and the unborn, has our government issued to pay for programs for the middle-aged and elderly? #16tovote

geoffreyfoster @youthrights – Cambridge and Lowell join forces at a “Lower The Voting Age” rally at Mass Statehouse April 21st #16tovote

sciville Some teens are emancipated and even parents! But still can’t vote because they’re underage and apparently irresponsible. : #16tovote

youthrights Some states want to impede the college student vote. No, no, no! We must increase youth voting rights! #16tovote

sciville All I did before the last election was Google the candidates, which is more than most do. Teens can definitely do that! #16tovote

arclights Some think teens would just vote for hot, charismatic candidates. But adults support @BarackObama and @SarahPalinUSA #16tovote

arclights Can you think of a better way to inculcate political apathy in teenagers than a high voting age? #16tovote, or better, #0tovote

arclights Smack your wife: horrible crime. Smack your teen daughter: perfectly legal. Why? Who wrote the laws? #16tovote

sciville Really sick of politicians going on about controlling youth. They can’t vote for you, thus can’t consent to your rules! So STFU! #16tovote

youthrights Check out the answers @GOOD got when they asked if the voting age should be lower: http://bit.ly/hu3Z1f #16tovote

youthrights Want some late night reading? – http://bit.ly/em9H9p – “American 16 and 17-year-olds Are Ready to Vote!” #16tovote

davymoss Happy #16tovote from #SXSW!

youthrights Good morning! It’s the 14th run of #16tovote on the 16th! What good lower voting age tweets will we get this time? 🙂

youthrights Perhaps the best protection is the ability to speak for and defend yourself. To defend youth, equip youth with voting rights! #16tovote

youthrights Saw tweets saying kids must stay out of #wiunion protests bc they can’t vote. No, they should be in it and should be able to vote! #16tovote

youthrights Typical. “You’re too immature to vote because your political views are different from mine!” *facepalm* Seriously? #16tovote

youthrights Older people who buy into the media’s horrid teen stereotypes can vote. Teens themselves cannot. That’s pretty scary. #16tovote

youthrights Even scarier? Older people who believe misbehaving or poorly achieving students should be paddled can vote. Those students can’t. #16tovote

youthrights There’s nothing partisan about wanting a lower voting age. Supporters are all over the political spectrum! 🙂 #16tovote

youthrights Doesn’t matter if liberal, conservative, or whatever. What matters is a desire to see youth truly represented in the process. #16tovote

youthrights And why do people of all political ideas want a lower voting age? Here’s some reasons: http://bit.ly/x4CA8 🙂 #16tovote

youthrights Afraid youth won’t vote like you? Then convince them. Don’t say “shut up and go away, you’re too young!” #16tovote

youthrights Not sure you’re convincing enough for youth voters? Perhaps it’s your views that need scrutiny then, not their voting rights. #16tovote

davymoss “‘Because I said so’ isn’t a reason.” – TX State Rep Alma Allen #16tovote

youthrights Teens pay many billions in sales and income taxes but have no vote. Seems like they’re being cheated. #16tovote

youthrights We’ll gladly take taxes out of teens’ hard-earned income, but when it comes to voting rights, suddenly they’re too immature. #16tovote

youthrights Time and again teens are shown to have the same or better political knowledge as their elders. Let teens use that knowledge! #16tovote

youthrights One of the most consistent and nasty messages we send youth is “you’re not one of us”. Lower voting age is one way to fix that! #16tovote

youthrights Did you know we have a TV ad about lowering the voting age? Watch: http://bit.ly/9lVTJh Created by @nyrasefl! #16tovote

youthrights Lots of protests lately, every one of which included many people under 18. So let’s not have this “teens don’t care” nonsense. 😉 #16tovote

youthrights If protecting your ideology requires inhibiting the input of youth, then you’re doing the exact opposite of protecting it. #16tovote

youthrights If you think a youth voice dilutes your message, that only those older can understand, you ensure your message dies with them. #16tovote

youthrights Yes, youth are the future. But that’s only true as long as you remember and acknowledge they’re also the present. 🙂 #16tovote

youthrights Youth are criminals in some cities for merely going outside at night. Youth input and consent was never sought in making that law. #16tovote

youthrights No, #16tovote wouldn’t cause exploitation of young voters. They’re already exploited through political scapegoating. This would stop that!

youthrights Politicians talk a lot about doing things for the kids. Yet not very interested in listening to what the kids have to say. #16tovote

youthrights Laws are made restricting and criminalizing youth, by people the youth cannot vote out of office for it. How convenient. #16tovote

publichistorian Because you don’t magically become worthy of full citizenship on your eighteenth birthday. #16tovote @youthrights

youthrights We’re with @unltdjustice at #SXSW to #FightthePaddle. Yes, school paddling is legal in 20 states. Students can’t vote it away. #16tovote

EIFY US government spends $4 on elderly for every $1 it spends on minors under 18. Care to guess why? http://ti.me/eK3UMU #16tovote

youthrights #16tovote on the 16th is going well! 🙂 Once again, here’s Top 10 Reasons to Lower the Voting Age: http://bit.ly/cavxOT

nicmend #16tovote Because 18 is just a number, baby.

youthrights Teens pay taxes, participate in social activism, and volunteer in communities. How about giving teens voting rights already? #16tovote

youthrights Youth do not exist to serve their elders. Youth are just as much a part of society as everyone else and must have their say! #16tovote

youthrights Without voting rights, youth will continue to be faceless voiceless emotional leverage for officials to exploit for personal gain. #16tovote

arclights Want to keep kids safe? Empower them to defend themselves. Protect their free speech, & let them vote & carry. #16tovote #16totote #better0

youthrights Know what else remains legal because those it hurts are too young to vote? These places: http://bit.ly/fQ3bGv #16tovote

youthrights When you don’t have the right to vote, officials are free to forget your very humanity. Youth deserve better! #16tovote

youthrights A right doesn’t become a privilege just because you’re under 18. It is STILL a right! This includes right to vote! 🙂 #16tovote

IrisVanRooij RT “@nicmend: #16tovote Because 18 is just a number, baby.” Agreed, as is 16. #0tovote

youthrights Some people are parents before they reach voting age. They’re responsible for a child but still not trusted with a ballot. #16tovote

youthrights Privacy is just some frivolous privilege when you’re too young to vote. Officials are free to say so. http://bit.ly/halP77 #16tovote

youthrights 16-year-olds can be tried “as adults” for many crimes. Where’s this “as adults” idea when it comes to voting rights? #16tovote

youthrights All levels of politicians want “better schools”. But students aren’t their voters so not sure how much I’d trust that! #16tovote #edreform

EIFY @teenrightsguy Therefore minors are stuck in compulsory underfunded school. The struggle to learn and earn muzzles them further #16tovote

youthrights Why the focus on youth suffrage? Because no other youth rights are safe without it! #16tovote

youthrights Want to participate in #16tovote on the 16th but not sure what to say? Just check the #16tovote feed and retweet what you like! 🙂

youthrights I wonder about the type of person who thinks society would collapse if someone younger gets an equal voice. : #16tovote

youthrights Ann Coulter said the voting age should be raised! Then our own @kpalicz chimed in: http://huff.to/ijN8nT 🙂 #16tovote

youthrights Why Peter Levine of @CivicYouth supports a lower voting age: http://bit.ly/hEiAm6 (thanks @geoffreyfoster!) #16tovote

youthrights Another little read from our Download Section: http://bit.ly/i4pSIg Notes from a voting age debate! #16tovote

youthrights One of the opposition notes in that was “teens shouldn’t vote *because* they’re most affected by these policies”. Um… what? #16tovote

youthrights Students see their school every day. They know all about it. They know what needs fixing. They don’t have a say in it, though. #16tovote

youthrights “Let Teens Vote” – http://bit.ly/gFJTYO Excellent piece in @campusprogress by @nicmend! #16tovote

youthrights Four hours to go for #16tovote on the 16th! Tweet your support for a lower voting age and/or retweet someone else’s. 🙂

youthrights Lower voting age means more eligible young voters, making the youth vote more vital, so political candidates can’t ignore them. #16tovote

SnipeMe 11yo girl gangraped ‘because she dressed like a 21yo prositute’ http://snipeme.com/go2/75ac0 – this shit wouldn’t fly with #16tovote

youthrights Voting age rally in Boston on April 21. And our Seattle chapter is working on lower voting age for school elections. Yay action! #16tovote

teh_maxh #16tovote: because voting shouldn’t be a crime

kpalicz @nickj47 You still doing anything with #16tovote? You should get involved with NYRA-NYU. Get in touch with chapter president @UsielX.

kpalicz @Oroso Hey, are you coming to the #nyraam this year? It’d be great to have you back. Also, are you able to help promote #16tovote today?

kpalicz @ACLU What does the ACLU feel about #16tovote? Is voting a right? If it is a right, then shouldn’t it be a right for youth too?

youthrights Check out @UsielX’s speech at the Supreme Court for free speech and youth voting rights! http://youtu.be/sVFWwGyPAX4 🙂 #16tovote

youthrights Youth work, pay taxes, volunteer, contribute to arts and culture, and are activists. Youth MUST have the vote! #16tovote

youthrights Two hours left of #16tovote on the 16th! Keep up the lower voting age tweets! 🙂

Jordan_Carr #16tovote age to drive=age to vote. Do it up.

youthrights Is leaving youth out of the political process beneficial at all? Or are we suffocating our future? I think we know the answer. #16tovote

youthrights Once again, here’s @nyrasefl in our voting age TV ad! http://youtu.be/k7XtMb6ig38 😀 #16tovote

youthrights Is that video game too violent for you to buy? Youth can’t vote so officials have no fear posing that question. #16tovote

youthrights Should we be teaching teens safe sex or abstinence only? Ab only would never come close to consideration if teens could vote! #16tovote

youthrights Should a teen book with gay characters be in the library? Only because teens can’t vote is such a stupid question asked. #16tovote

youthrights Without voting rights, youth free speech and other rights are under constant severe and often (otherwise) bigoted attack. #16tovote

youthrights Could you tell a group who can vote you out of power they’re too immature for certain info or entertainment? Not very well. #16tovote

youthrights The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Voting age cannot be higher than 18. It can be lower, though. 🙂 #16tovote

youthrights Austria, Brazil, and other places have a voting age of 16. Many other places are thinking about it! 🙂 #16tovote

youthrights Dennis Kucinich stated at a 2008 presidential primary debate that the drinking age should drop to 18 and the voting age to 16! #16tovote

sciville Want to set a youth curfew law? Are youth able to vote? No? You’re oppressing those who can’t defend themselves. Not cool. #16tovote

Khaetlyn @youthrights Cuba has a voting age of 16, too! I mean, there’s only one party, but still. Its the principle! 😉 #16tovote

youthrights Voting Rights Act of 1965 states anyone with a 6th grade education is eligible to vote. Do you know any 18-year-old 6th graders? #16tovote

youthrights We’ve gone another day of tweeting lots of points supporting lowering the voting age, could go on and on! And will next month! #16tovote

youthrights But it comes down to acting on what’s right, that there are millions of competent citizens in this country who aren’t being heard. #16tovote

teh_maxh #16tovote is almost over, so GTFO Twitter and do shit.

youthrights Whether students walking out for #wiunion or demanding to stop being paddled in TX schools, they are active and ready for change. #16tovote

youthrights But our high voting age doesn’t recognize youth activity, competence, and drive. It denies them their voice, their existence. #16tovote

youthrights How can we justify continued exclusion of youth? What are we afraid of? Why do we distrust our idealistic younger citizens? #16tovote

youthrights However that question is answered, we must stand up for democracy and rights, for today and tomorrow, and lower the voting age! #16tovote

youthrights And… that it’s for another fun exciting #16tovote on the 16th! Thanks so much everyone! Recap and feed-clogging credits soon! 🙂

kpalicz Had an awesome meeting to discuss #16tovote on Monday with the Cambridge Kid’s Council: http://bit.ly/focuZu Lots going on in Mass!!

youthrights Thanks for the #16tovote tweets! @teh_maxh @arclights @geoffreyfoster @davymoss @sciville @silverwolf1977 @pipix @theteentoolbox @Khaetlyn

youthrights Thanks for the #16tovote tweets! @SSOTeenVoices @IrisVanRooij @underbellie @taradinoc @Pinensikwe @CourageousCo @SacCountyILP @BFSEsq @EIFY

youthrights Thanks for the #16tovote tweets! @publichistorian @oinonio @nicmend @teenrightsguy @JLModer2 @Perry_Global @MarieFollayttar @MediaActivist

youthrights Thanks for the #16tovote tweets! @SnipeMe @youthactionuk @kpalicz @Jordan_Carr @james__hayward @Menkara @ThomNorman @Ms_UK_American @vslost

youthrights And thanks to anyone I missed! You guys rock! We do it again Saturday, April 16, the next run of #16tovote on the 16th! Goodnight! 🙂

See you next month! Got to keep the dialogue going!