> Most 16 year olds know nothing about the world - they're impressionable and easily coerced by social pressure Sounds the same as everybody over 16 as well.

> Most 16 year olds know nothing about the world - they're impressionable and easily coerced by social pressure Sounds the same as everybody over 16 as well. You are really saying that they lack experience to make good judgements. In a democracy every person needs to learn by experience at some age. It is fairer if they learn sooner rather than later (gerontocracy).