Chris raises a valid point about politicians' obsession with voter support. But I for one don't think the 18-year-old vote change made much difference. Given the perennially low voter turnout in that age group, most politicians consider them a target audience that's well-down the priority list (especially vs., say, the elderly). I think, too, one would have to document that 18-21-year olds were significantly more antiwar than other by that late date, which I'm not sure is the case. Ted Morgan Chris Shugart wrote: > All opinion polls and anti-war demonstrations aside, no one has mentioned > what effect lowering the voting age to 18 may have influenced Vietnam war > policy in particular, and the political landscape in general. I tend to > believe that most protest demonstrations (then, as well as now) have little > effect on the political establishment unless it accompanies a tangible > voting constituency. I'm no political consultant, but I know how > politicians think. As long as they get their votes, they can ignore > everything else, in spite of what they might say about being "sensitive to > the issues." > > Chris Shugart
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