Originally Posted by
DakarM
I disagree. Then you can also say the right to vote was sold to people who are only 18 years old because even though many couldn't even balance their check books, they were deemed bright enough to choose their next leader.
The voting age was lowered because it was decided that if they were old enough to join the military and possibly die, then they should be given the right to choose their leader.
The whole citizenship thing is no different to me. They face potential death or worse yet, maimed for life and scared both emotionally and physically. So why not make it easier for those that are fighting for this country to get citizenship of the country.
I don't see it as selling citizenship but rather a bonus. Just like the GI bill and just like when I get a bonus from work.
I am trading one thing for another which makes it a barter or a trade which in all justification amounts to a sale of sorts.
More a battle of wordplay than anything else though.
As for voting that has changed considerably because that was something that was earned. It used to be you had to be a landowner in order to vote not just over 18. This was changed many years later to an age related benefit.