Erin Feehan-Nelson is a typical 17-year-old high school senior who just happens to be running for mayor in her hometown of St. Mary’s Point. Despite the fact that you must be 21 years of age in order to take office she is pressing on since there was only one other candidate running. If elected, she would be the younger person ever elected mayor in her state, and you’d have to think that would look nice on a college application. However, as is the case with all youth minded efforts, there are some serious flaws to her thinking.
Primarily of concern is her statement regarding the age restriction on those who can hold office. She claimed that if she won and was not allowed to hold office she would take it to the courts. ``I doubt the judge would be able to say no to the popular vote,'' she said. ``The people's right to choose prevails over (state law).'' Aw, isn’t that cute? Such optimism in our system of government, relying on the teachings of high school civics in which she is taught that the people have the say in selecting those who serve in public office. Perhaps she was not paying attention to the 2000 presidential election when the person with the popular vote lost the election on the basis of a governmental decision.
Then there is Nelson’s campaign slogan, ``Uncorrupted by years of experience.'' Although it is catchy and probably looks great on placards and t-shirts, it belies a youthful mind that can’t possibly grasp the reality of the situation. To be in politics, you need to have experience corruption and injustice in your lifetime. The real world of politics is dirty, ugly and mean, the polar opposite of feel good movies like “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” in which an every man can make real changes. Actually, judging by Nelson’s age, that might not be a great example since she may not have ever heard or seen that movie. Which leads the biggest and most important problem with what she is trying.
A seventeen year old cannot hold public office due to their limited mental capacity. This doesn’t mean there are not super smart seventeen year olds out there, or even people younger than that. The concept of a prodigy is not fiction, however that knowledge can’t extend behind factual learning from the school system. They may know algorithms or molecular biology, but when it comes to politics, being book smart isn’t enough, as Al Gore proved. Furthermore, if there is a seventeen year old with the personality and demeanor that could handle politics, even that of a small town, odds are they have fine tuned from years of socializing meaning that they paid less attention to their studies and are lacking in that department. The point being a seventeen year old is not yet a fully formed person and in some areas of skills they will be lacking thereby making them inadequate political leaders. Current politicians are no doubt lacking in skills as well, such as morality, but at least through the simple act of living life they have accrued the knowledge that would make them more qualified to lead. One only needs to think back to their youth to see the point reinforced. Think of the things you thought to be unquestionably true or just at that age as opposed to your way of thinking now. Even if you were very smart, you most likely had a good deal of dumbassititude mixed in, as you should; you were a kid after all. Think about what your favorite movie was, or your favorite book or what your dream job was. Now compare that to your personal tastes now? What do you think is better? How can we expect someone whose idea of a great movie is whatever Ashton Kutcher is starring in to govern people effectively? It makes no sense.
In reading that you might think that I’m some old codger who hates young people and thinks that older is wiser in every instance. You would be wrong. In being 27 years old, I am not that far removed from the days of high school so that I can’t put myself in that position. Additionally, I have put in enough time in the so-called adult world to be able to see both ends of the spectrum. From that position I feel qualified to declare any seventeen year old unfit to hold public office. You haven’t lived long enough, experience enough, visited enough places, met enough different people, been in love, really in love, had your heartbroken, dealt with mean people, dealt with evil people, been put down, been complimented (other than your parents which totally doesn’t count cause it’s not like your parents won’t say things to try and build you up). You haven’t done enough of everything. And if you haven’t done enough, then how can you lead people whose lives you have no connection to. At least go to college first, experience life outside of the womb of your parents and then maybe you can run for office. Trust me on this, you don’t want to fast forward your life so quickly, cause the real world, real life, sucks most of the time. Why do you want to give that up? Do you know how boring town meetings are? Do you even grasp the sheer boredom involved in reading referendums and attending various town events that you normally wouldn’t come within fifty feet of? Of course not, cause you’re a teenager and you’re impulsive, exactly like you are supposed to be.
In closing it should be said that the idea of running for office and getting involved in the political system is a noble and admirable act by Ms. Nelson. But forgive me for saying that as noble as it is and I will applaud her for her efforts, I don’t want a seventeen year old governing me, when they can hardly govern themselves.
