At What Point Should Elderly People......

[tsquared]

Have their driving and voting privaleges taken away? I think it would be very difficult to take away an elderly ones drivers liscense and not let them drive anymore. Never had to do this and hope i dont have to. Ones independance is a great thing to have no matter how old a person is. I dont think taking away the voting rights would be that bad, but if they could get a ride to the polling places then their votes are just as great as anyone elses.

[Advertisement]

[menanamama]

your right to vote should never be taken away because of age! i am honestly shocked you woulde suggest that it would not be that "bad." you don't have to drive to vote. you can get a ride or even get an absentee ballot because of inability to make it to a polling place.

[cleaningla]

I have a son who has a form of mental retardation and I was urprised when he said he wanted to vote for president. He cares who the president is and I don't see anything wrong with him voting. he is an American and has as much right to vote as anyone.

I don't care if a person has alzhiemer's or what. If the express a desire to vote they should be able to vote, even it means letting them go into the booth and push random buttons.

I doubt there are so many people that it would change the outcome anyway.

Just my two cents.

[MsLynn]

i think as long as they can pass an eye/ driving test then they shouldn't be taken away at all,and I believe that EVERYONE should have to retake the eye/driving test ever so often..... and they should always have the right to vote.

[DivineMsDi]

Regarding driving....I saw a very sad program a few weeks ago about the elderly and driving/losing their rights to drive. One woman had had a car accident and hit a fence or house. They took away her driving license and she was depressed. She only had a daughter (adult) who could help her out and this woman worked a lot. Meanwhile, the older lady went from being a vibrant, busy lady involved in clubs and church to being a shut in. She was "too proud" to ask her "friends" for rides. I felt very sorry for her. I understand we need to get reckless people off the road, and those too old to drive, but there has to be alternatives, especially for those in suburbs and rural areas.

[Quaker_Parrots]

Voting privaliges never taken away. Driving privaleges, I personally think they should have to take the road test every year after age 65. (that way if they are not able, it is on the state and not the family to make them quit)

[stresseater]

Voting privaliges never taken away. Driving privaleges, I personally think they should have to take the road test every year after age 65. (that way if they are not able, it is on the state and not the family to make them quit)

ITA, I am in this situation right now with my FIL. He should NOT be driving. I tell him this and he thinks I am just being mean and drives anyway. He's going to kill someone or himself eventually, and there is not a thing I can do about it. The state decided that since he passed his last driving test(somewhere around the year 1955) and has renewed his liscense on time since, that he can drive. About all I can do is protect my family by not letting them ride with him.

[suziebee20]

I think as long as the elderly can pass an eye exam and can prove they are capable of driving safely they should be able to keep their licenses. Everyone ages at different times. There are some 40 year olds who already have failing vision and there are also some 80 year olds who probably have vision as good as young people. As for voting rights... I see voting rights and driving rights as two different subjects... just because someone isn't a safe driver doesn't mean they can't vote... arn't the blind allowed to vote? They can get absentee ballots. My grandfather, who can see and drive great, and I, a vibrant 18 year old, both requested absentee ballots.

[stresseater]

There should also be some type of memory/competancy test for older drivers, in addition to the eye/driving test.

[tsquared]

your right to vote should never be taken away because of age! i am honestly shocked you woulde suggest that it would not be that "bad." you don't have to drive to vote. you can get a ride or even get an absentee ballot because of inability to make it to a polling place.

What i meant when i said this is that of the 2 it would be harder on an elderly person taking away their driving privaledges than it would be their going to the polls. Any one can vote by getting an absentee ballot in the mail and then mailing it back. It is hard taking away a right no matter how old they are once they have worked hard to earn that right.

[Nanc952]

I think as long as the elderly can pass an eye exam and can prove they are capable of driving safely they should be able to keep their licenses. Everyone ages at different times. There are some 40 year olds who already have failing vision and there are also some 80 year olds who probably have vision as good as young people. As for voting rights... I see voting rights and driving rights as two different subjects... just because someone isn't a safe driver doesn't mean they can't vote... arn't the blind allowed to vote? They can get absentee ballots. My grandfather, who can see and drive great, and I, a vibrant 18 year old, both requested absentee ballots.

You are so right. I am sick and tired of people acting just because you get to a certain age you should be put away.

My Uncle learned to use the computer when he was 95. Yes I am proud of him and he is special but to say just because a person is old they should be locked away. NO WAY I want all who thinks that to remeber you will be that age some days.

Lets stop judgeing a person by their age instead judge them by their ability.
Our country is the only country that thinks old people should be put out to pasture and locked up.

A Senior knows really more about what is going on in this country than the young people because they have more time to read and keep up with things.

For driving most Seniors are very careful and try to judge when they drive. Lets be proud of what they have done for us and not try to hurt them anyway we can.