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you make some very good logical points. But i disagree. I don't think anyone under 21 should be allowed to vote, be allowed to serve in the military, have to pay adult prices at the movies, or be able to legally consume alcohol.
.
I'm not exactly sure what that emoticon means, but I take it you disagree. Why?
Do you think the 18 to 21 crowd in the United States have proven beyond all doubt that they are mature enough to handle all these things in a mature and responsible way?
The laws are an example of good Conservative progressivism: using big government to influence politics, society, culture, etc.
Our underage kids have access to cars and drive while texting, etc.
Nope, keep the limit.
You make some very good logical points. But I disagree. I don't think anyone under 21 should be allowed to vote, be allowed to serve in the military, have to pay adult prices at the movies, or be able to legally consume alcohol.
People mature at different rates. With many folks younger than 21 it would be no problem. With many it would be a big problem. Picking an arbitrary age and drawing the line there is not going to produce the best possible solution - but imho - it's better than the alternative.
I'm not exactly sure what that emoticon means, but I take it you disagree. Why?
Do you think the 18 to 21 crowd in the United States have proven beyond all doubt that they are mature enough to handle all these things in a mature and responsible way?
How can they when we make outlaws out of them for merely having a beer?
They had states that did lower the drinking age and studies found in those states that it didn't work out too well, the states then reversed the law.
Not sure that an 18 year old (for most) haven't matured enough emotionally. Know, I didn't do well drinking when I was that young...I was downright stupid.
oppression only works for the oppressor.
for our own good we will loose all freedoms.
guns, drugs, alcohol, drinking age, gambling, etc, etc
So are you advocating lowering the drinking age?
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
I've been making this argument for years. No other western nation has the kinds of restrictions on alcohol that we do, yet we're supposed to be the "freest" country in the world. The paranoia we have over 18 to 20 year olds consuming alcohol is a waste of billions of dollars a year in enforcement that frankly has failed. I don't know a single person who has not illegally consumed alcohol prior to their 21st birthday. Furthermore, the pressure it puts on business owners and people who serve alcohol as part of their job is burdensome and penalties oppressive. People need to take their heads out of their asses and realize that prohibition does not work. Teach responsibility instead. It's worked just fine in the rest of the world.
Camille Paglia: Alcohol Drinking Age of 21 Is Too High - TIME
You make some very good logical points. But I disagree. I don't think anyone under 21 should be allowed to vote, be allowed to serve in the military, have to pay adult prices at the movies, or be able to legally consume alcohol.
People mature at different rates. With many folks younger than 21 it would be no problem. With many it would be a big problem. Picking an arbitrary age and drawing the line there is not going to produce the best possible solution - but imho - it's better than the alternative.
Maybe we should make everyone be 26. If you aren't able to live without your parents insurance maybe you can't be trusted to drive, drink, join the military or anything else either.
I'm not exactly sure what that emoticon means, but I take it you disagree. Why?
Do you think the 18 to 21 crowd in the United States have proven beyond all doubt that they are mature enough to handle all these things in a mature and responsible way?
Of course you can argue its people's responsibility not to drink and drive but remember that the next time so vodka fueled 19 year old runs into your wife's car and kills her.
The idea was to keep alcohol away from teens, where the majority of teen car fatalities involved alcohol. As much as I would oppose the policy, it worked. When the drinking age went up to 21 the death rate from alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the under 21 crowd went down.
Of course you can argue its people's responsibility not to drink and drive but remember that the next time so vodka fueled 19 year old runs into your wife's car and kills her.
You make some very good logical points. But I disagree. I don't think anyone under 21 should be allowed to vote, be allowed to serve in the military, have to pay adult prices at the movies, or be able to legally consume alcohol.
People mature at different rates. With many folks younger than 21 it would be no problem. With many it would be a big problem. Picking an arbitrary age and drawing the line there is not going to produce the best possible solution - but imho - it's better than the alternative.
Maybe we should make everyone be 26. If you aren't able to live without your parents insurance maybe you can't be trusted to drive, drink, join the military or anything else either.
Really good point - we have all these arbitrary points in our lives when we are all of the sudden supposed to be "mature" and "self sufficient."
you are an adult at:
12 if you are going to a movie
16 if you want a driver's license
18 if you want to join the military
21 if you want to drink
26 to get kick off mom & dad's insurance
I guess maybe it can be argued that we are gradually increasing the responsibility and the expectations as we move along, but that would assume that joining the military requires less responsibility than kicking back a cold one.
I don't get it. But my knee-jerk is to say 21 for everything with the possible exception of driving because of the hardship that would create for mom & dad's taxi service.
I've been making this argument for years. No other western nation has the kinds of restrictions on alcohol that we do, yet we're supposed to be the "freest" country in the world. The paranoia we have over 18 to 20 year olds consuming alcohol is a waste of billions of dollars a year in enforcement that frankly has failed. I don't know a single person who has not illegally consumed alcohol prior to their 21st birthday. Furthermore, the pressure it puts on business owners and people who serve alcohol as part of their job is burdensome and penalties oppressive. People need to take their heads out of their asses and realize that prohibition does not work. Teach responsibility instead. It's worked just fine in the rest of the world.
Camille Paglia: Alcohol Drinking Age of 21 Is Too High - TIME
Really loving all the "small government" being espoused by the conservatives in this thread. Entirely predictable since they don't actually believe in it.
Maybe we should make everyone be 26. If you aren't able to live without your parents insurance maybe you can't be trusted to drive, drink, join the military or anything else either.
Really good point - we have all these arbitrary points in our lives when we are all of the sudden supposed to be "mature" and "self sufficient."
you are an adult at:
12 if you are going to a movie
16 if you want a driver's license
18 if you want to join the military
21 if you want to drink
26 to get kick off mom & dad's insurance
I guess maybe it can be argued that we are gradually increasing the responsibility and the expectations as we move along, but that would assume that joining the military requires less responsibility than kicking back a cold one.
I don't get it. But my knee-jerk is to say 21 for everything with the possible exception of driving because of the hardship that would create for mom & dad's taxi service.
It's what we get when we turn over parenting responsibilities to government. They don't know you or your kid so hey attempt to find some arbitrary median age.
I was driving good enough for farm work at 12. By 14 I was driving into town to pick stuff up. Other kids can't seem to get the hang of it...well, ever in some cases. There are some horrible 40 year old drivers with decades of experience.
The drinking age for me was 18, it was fine. My brother? 21 because Colorado changed the law on a whim. So I was ok to drink at 18 and he wasn't just because the law makers decided.
Just plain stupid.
