Wealth creation

The issue of extending the voting age to 16 should be seen in the broader context of columnist Max Rashbrooke’s Half-hour trip that robs some Kiwis of 10 years of life (Nov 19) , which provided a candid analysis of New Zealand society.

Critical is wealth availability to the spectrum of groups included. Is not this situation common to every nation?

The primary internal function of a government is the promotion of wealth creation, within acceptable resource boundaries, and ensuring that those doing this are fairly taxed to support their less fortunate fellows.

Our parliamentary democracy contains, in the broadest terms, the National Party, representing those who create wealth, and the Labour Party, representing those who wish to benefit from the distribution of that wealth. Each party claims to be best suited to govern the nation in the interests of all. The electoral process has the objective of ensuring the wishes of the majority of voters are followed.

Would the adoption of 16 as the entry age for voting add to wealth contributors or wealth takers? Will it improve the nation’s move to sustainability? Who will benefit most?

Mike Williams, Tawa