In the outlook to
the 2014 independence referendum, the Scottish National Party decided to
decrease the voting age to 16 years. Most probably, they were driven by the
fact that the youth would maximize their chances. Fittingly for the First
minister of Scotland , Alex
Salmond did not hesitate to get involved in a rational dispute with the Westminster Scotland remaining
in the UK but Edinburgh
Although the young Scottish are
considered mature enough to decide on the future of their country, the are
still considered inferior in terms of employment competitiveness. By the UK’s national
minimum wage laws, the minimum hourly wage for people above 21 years is £6.19,
for those aged 19 – 20 it is £4.98 and for under 18s £3.68. Apprentices aged
under 19 take home only £2.65 an hour.[1] Most of
the 16 and 17 years old belong to the £3.68 category which means they earn
almost twice less than their older colleagues. I think it is contrary to the
intention of the SNP to give them the voting rights reserved for the
‘full-citizens’.
Looking back at the history, voting
rights were granted to all men that disposed of certain property or retainable
value.[2] For an
ordinary man it could have been accumulated only through labour. In other
words, the voting rights were devolved form man’s participation in labour,
thence the labour was the precursor. But
now, the government acted contrary by granting the voting right to someone who
is not considered mature enough to deserve the full wage. On what reason should
he be competent to decide on the general status quo if he is formally
restricted from gaining the competence?
Polling shows support of the independence
lies between 32 – 38% which is a decrease since the SNP took the power in 2007.[3] People,
mainly the older generation, are getting second though that at the time of
crisis Scotland
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