Tarheel - surely if a 16 year old earns enough they pay taxes - they do in the UK. The way I see it from recent elections the turnout is steadily diminishing and and our glorious leaders have started to thrash around for anyone who can hold a pencil and make a mark to give their positions some sort of credibility. (plus if they move to computer voting only those aged 16 and under will be able to fathom out how to it.)