How much capital do I need to retire comfortably on ?

[Bjauck]

So being 60 indicates suffering from dementia does it?

Having been involved with three family members with actual dementia i can tell you that they never voted once they were diagnosed.

Personally I think 20 is a good age to vote.

I did not say that over 60 indicates dementia. In fact my reference to dementia was more proximate to my reference to those who are driving at 15.

Advancing age is certainly a risk factor, although you can get a dementia younger than 60 too. I too have had a family member with severe dementia, one day I found that the rest home manager had half filled an electoral enrolment form for them.

Looking online:
Dementia doesn’t change your right to vote
https://alzheimers.org.nz/get-suppor...mentia/voting/

[Aaron]

And some 60 year olds are still too immature. You can join the army at 17 and be behind the wheel of a car at 15. Is dementia a barrier to voting?

16 year olds voting is a sh*t idea, that was agreed in court.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-pos...-nz-voting-age

[Bjauck]

16 year olds voting is a sh*t idea, that was agreed in court.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-pos...-nz-voting-age

Justice French’s decision did not convey that conclusion and indeed there was reference to the inconsistency with regards to other capacities and entitlements for 16 year olds. An appeal under the Bill of Rights was dismissed but ultimately the voting age is a political issue. Plenty of brilliant ideas are stymied by political inertia and plenty of sh*t ideas are introduced by political will after all!

[Aaron]

Justice French’s decision did not convey that conclusion and indeed there was reference to the inconsistency with regards to other capacities and entitlements for 16 year olds. An appeal under the Bill of Rights was dismissed but ultimately the voting age is a political issue. Plenty of brilliant ideas are stymied by political inertia and plenty of sh*t ideas are introduced by political will after all!

Plenty of ideas are stupid and should not see the light of day.

[Waiuta]

We were in Turkey a few years ago and I can recall our guide telling us that the magical age there was 18.
At 18 you can smoke, get your driving licence, marry, vote and join the armed services.
Pretty simple system I thought but that may have changed.

[clearasmud]

We were in Turkey a few years ago and I can recall our guide telling us that the magical age there was 18.
At 18 you can smoke, get your driving licence, marry, vote and join the armed services.
Pretty simple system I thought but that may have changed.

Sixteen year Olds maybe a bit immature but they can certainly have a big interest in politics. I would say give them the vote, it's a vote of confidence in young people, pardon the pun.

[fungus pudding]

Sixteen year Olds maybe a bit immature but they can certainly have a big interest in politics. I would say give them the vote, it's a vote of confidence in young people, pardon the pun.

Couldn't agree less. Most will still be living on mum and dad's pocket money and the odd ten bucks from mowing someone's lawn at that age.

[iceman]

Sixteen year Olds maybe a bit immature but they can certainly have a big interest in politics. I would say give them the vote, it's a vote of confidence in young people, pardon the pun.

I asked our son a couple of years ago when he was 16 whether he thought it was a good idea. His response is that it was a stupid idea because nobody that he knows are interested or have any idea. I asked him again when he turned 18 and his view had not changed. So I can't see how giving them the vote is a "vote of confidence in them". Plenty of other ways to show that !

[Bjauck]

Couldn't agree less. Most will still be living on mum and dad's pocket money and the odd ten bucks from mowing someone's lawn at that age.

And many pensioners and other beneficiaries are living off money from taxpayers. I don’t see how that is relevant in determining capacity to vote.

[fungus pudding]

And many pensioners and other beneficiaries are living off money from taxpayers. I don’t see how that is relevant in determining capacity to vote.

NZ super is not a benefit. It is a universal entitlement. Superannuitants are not 'other beneficiaries'.
If learning to earn a living is not relevant when setting voting age, why not make it five? Surely if they are old enough to go to school, they are old enough to have their say in the system.