If you're old enough to enroll into a nation's army, fight and die for it. You should also be old enough to have a say in how your nation handles its affairs.

And to drink.

and fux cows

Gay.

Lets lower the drinking age instead.

'But kids today aren't what they were in 1970 -- not the stakeholders in the political process, nor the models of civic engagement their boomer parents once aspired to be'

I sense an age bias. Sure maybe most 18 year-olds aren't really cut out for voting, but neither are most people you meet. Determining political rights by scientific estimation doesn't seem like a good method to stand by.

I think the numbers demonstrate a need for more course time on civics and citizenship in the high school curriculum.

High school? Too fucking late then, strap the bastards into chairs in first grade and don't let them leave until they can read and reason.

What MAM said cept in the home.