10 year old kids in Denver held a mock election after weeks of preparation and following the canidates: and, from the mouth of babes, came the voting-in of Kerry.
...Perry registered youngsters in grades two to six. Roughly 81 percent signed up, and most of them voted.
But not before their teachers had to steer them away from the vitriol that they see constantly on TV and occasionally hear at home.
"Kids would come in and say, 'Bush said something really stupid,"' said Perry. "I'd ask them to imagine how easy it would be to make someone look bad if you recorded every word they said."
The arguments were just as well informed if not moreso than the CSPAN2 women's focus group I watched a few nights ago and ranted about here.
"The person I'm voting for has a plan for the war in Iraq," said Neil. "He'll help us get the health care from Canada we need. He cares about wildlife."
"Bush said he would find that guy in the hole," countered Collin, drawing a temporary blank on Saddam Hussein. "And he did. So Bush has earned another chance to be president."
"I'm just plain confused," kicked in Kevin. "I'm worried that Kerry will raise taxes, but Bush will tear down wildlife refuges."
I don't remember if I ever voted when I was in school like that. Maybe a hands up election for a presidential candidate but not a "show ID's and go into a cardboard ballot-casting box deal."
Anyone have any stories of voting in middle-school to share?
What about the signifigance of the ever fabled "wisdom of youth" which has chosen Kerry over Bush?
The rest of the article can be found here.