If a country like New Zealand is politically free thinking enough to take in MMP, then giving 16-year-olds the vote seems the next logical step.
Would you allow your 16-year-old to have a say in how the country is run?
The teenagers I know struggle with the hormonal afflictions that many young people experience.
Putting. Together. More. Than. One. Word. Sentences. For. Example.
Keeping their rooms tidy.
Letting your average teenager vote would seem beyond their capacity for considering anyone other than themselves, wouldn't it?
Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft says we should consider changing the voting age to 16.
When Scots held a referendum to be guided on becoming independent or remaining part of the United Kingdom, 16 and 17-year-olds were allowed to vote. And about 100,000 of them did. That was 75 to 80 per cent of the eligible teen voters.
That was 2014. In 2015 Scotland lowered the age of voting in general elections to 16.
There is a popular theory that voters who start at 16 will continue to do so, creating a better engaged political audience.
Speaking of voter engagement, the American election result suggests that Donald Trump engaged disaffected citizens that other politicians had failed to in the past few elections.
In other words, people who don't usually vote were inspired to do so.
Which brings us back to our 16 and 17-year-olds voting.
If they can be galvanised to vote, they are a powerful collective. And whilst some might play the "do they know what they are really voting for" card, who cares.
Sixteen and 17-year-olds on the cusp of adulthood are directly affected by central government and local body politics.
Therefore give them a say in how the country is run, and let's have our politicians add their dynamic to the decision making process.
A great team is the sum of its different parts, as is a good political system.
If a country like New Zealand is politically free thinking enough to take in MMP, then giving 16-year-olds the vote seems the next logical step.
The worker logged 437 hours in five weeks - all of which was unpaid.