Lately, I've been thinking about how many political issues don't get emphasized because the people who care about them can't vote. Children (those 17 and under) have some perspectives that never make it into the national debate, and that's a pity. Here's what the U-18 (those under 17) would demand if they had their own political party: these are my best guesses.
Foster care and runaway reform: How many photos on Facebook have you seen on animals that need to be adopted? How many less photos have you seen of children who need to be adopted? And those under 18 who end up on the street, often dumped there by parents, have few options. The U-18 political party would make sure that real solutions are found to these pressing problems via tax incentives to adopt and free housing for those deserted and dumped by their parents. And don't even get us started about the criminal training ground that is juvenile hall.
K-8 Education: We pay the people responsible for giving our children early training very little. And yet, if a child gets off to a bad start in K-8 education, how do they catch up? My U-18 party will pay K-8 teachers at least $50,000 a year and attract the best and brightest to teach our children.
Abortions: My U-18 political party realizes that millions of our people are never given the chance to vote. And if some of our members do get pregnant, they have few options in terms of free day care, counseling, and other options. Some of our older members may be pro-abortion, but overall it makes sense that babies want to protect other babies.
Divorce: Adults don't want to talk about potential effects on the children of either of these options. My U-18 political party would do its very best to protect the children involved in these relationships. It's a complex issue, and the children recognize that sometimes a malicious, angry parent should go. But we firmly stand against rushed divorces, deadbeat dads and moms, and poor planning of who takes care of the children of divorce. Adults are pro-divorce because it maximizes their options, but many divorces minimize the options of a child.
Gay Marriage: My children want to be in a loving, safe home that prepares them for the future. And so the U-18 party would weigh the greater stability that marriage provides children versus the concerns that a child raised with parents of only one gender will not receive a balanced understanding of gender as a whole.
Ideological and Creative freedom: My U-18 party would push for children to be allowed to decorate themselves, express themselves, and hold beliefs as they see fit. While understanding that parents are permitted certain veto rights in exchange for the services they provide, my U-18 party will push for children to be given as full rights as possible, without fear of parental retribution.
Punishment without abuse: My U-18 party will demand that children be given every opportunity to report abuse by parents to educational and governmental officials. Any declaration of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse must be immediately investigated. Yet my U-18 party also fights for the right of a child to report such abuse without fear that the child will be forever separated from their parents. We want reformed parents, not replaced parents.
Sexual/economic exploitation of children: My U-18 party advocates the banning of advertising unhealthy, oversexualized products to children that hurt their development. We also insist that those who traffic in child exploitation of any kind be vigorously investigated and arrested by law enforcement. No longer will the plaintive complaints of a child be ignored by local police who claim they have to go after real criminals.
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