I had the good fortune to be able to right an injustice that I thought was being heaped on young people by lowering the voting age, where you had young people that were old enough to die in Vietnam but not old enough to vote for their members of Congress that sent them there.

- Birch Bayh

Birch Bayh, a former US Senator, reflects on his experience in lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. He highlights the irony of young people being old enough to fight in the Vietnam War but not old enough to vote for the politicians who sent them there.

Bayh's quote emphasizes the importance of giving young people a voice in the political process. He argues that young people should have the right to vote and participate in the democratic process, just like they have the right to serve in the military.

The quote is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, which was a major conflict in the 1960s and 1970s. The war was highly controversial, and many young people were opposed to it. Bayh's quote highlights the disconnect between the age at which young people were allowed to fight in the war and the age at which they were allowed to vote.

Birch Bayh was a US Senator from Indiana from 1963 to 1981. He was a Democrat and served as the Majority Leader of the Senate from 1971 to 1981. Bayh was known for his advocacy on issues related to civil rights, education, and the environment.

Bayh's quote has practical applications in the sense that it highlights the importance of giving young people a voice in the political process. It emphasizes the need for young people to be involved in the democratic process and to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.

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