Is the official political silencing of children in a democracy rational and just or is it arbitrary and capricious How might democratic polities benefit from the political engagement and activism of young people Michael Cummings argues that allowing children equal political rights with adults is required by the basic logic of democracy and can help strengthen the weak democracies of the twentyfirst century. A good start is for governments to honor their obligations under the ambivalently utopian UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Childrens political views differ from those of adults on issues such as race sex militarism poverty education gun violence and climate change. Young activists are now sparking change in many locations around the globe.