The Freedom to Be Opinionated

Recently, whilst following the American election coverage and reading up on what people think about certain vice-presidential candidates I found a comment by a (presumably) American stating:

"You're not an American so you don't have the right to vote. Hence your opinion on the candidates is irrelevant."

Which made me think: First of all, whoever made this comment doesn't like the opinion of the other person (although this is not such a profound insight admittedly). And he probably isn't that pleased about what most people abroad think of certain Alaskan hockey moms.

Rendering the opinion irrelevant I thought was a more dangerous thing. The point is taken that you don't have to be won over since you are not the target audience. But does that mean until you're 18, your opinion doesn't matter.

Does it start to matter overnight? Or only if you like his opinion?

I guess if you throw your hat in the ring to stand in for the most powerful executive job in the world, you have to deal with the fact that people opine about you. Not only your voters, but everyone.

And since you end up dealing with Non-Americans, you might find out that their opinions matter.

Occasionally.