Law professor Adam Benforado argues that centering children in public policy and law, including extending voting rights to those under 18, is key to addressing poverty, crime, and climate change.
Law professor Adam Benforado proposes a radical solution to tackle major societal challenges: prioritizing children in all aspects of public policy and law. Benforado argues that neglecting children's needs is the root cause of issues like crime, poverty, and climate change. He proposes extending voting rights to those under 18 as the most impactful way to empower children and give them a voice in shaping their future.
Benforado acknowledges the pushback against his idea, particularly concerns about children's capacity and life experience to vote. However, he cites psychological and neuroscientific evidence suggesting that 16-year-olds possess the cognitive abilities necessary for informed voting. He also argues that many young people have valuable lived experiences relevant to pressing societal issues, such as climate change, gun violence, and economic inequality. He points to the alarming increase in child labor violations as a stark reminder of the need to prioritize children's rights.Benforado draws inspiration from the Children's Rights Movement of the early 20th century, which led to significant advancements in legislation regarding child labor, health, and education. He believes that a similar societal shift towards recognizing children as stakeholders in their own future is crucial. He is optimistic that children will eventually be enfranchised, citing examples of other countries that have already lowered their voting age. He sees it as a matter of time before children are empowered to participate fully in civic society and advocate for their interests
Education Law CHILDREN's RIGHTS VOTING AGE SOCIAL POLICY CHILD LABOR CLIMATE CHANGE POVERTY CRIME
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