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18 Should Be The Legal Age For Everything
If you are legally an adult at 18, then make 18 the legal age for all adult privileges...driving, voting, marrying, drinking, tried as an adult in court, and anything else that has a legal age limit.
 Driver  11 May 2008 05:46
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I feel you on date!!!
 
 cumcrava  22 Jul 2008 21:42
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Absolutely. Why? Because the whole point of an age of majority (commonly signified by voting) is that you become and adult with adult rights and responsibilities. If you have varying ages then you get into stupid situations when someone can vote but not drink, or marry, fight for the country but not vote (this is in the UK).
 
 Quincel  18 Jun 2008 14:08
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In the U.S., the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1971 as a response to the Viet Nam war protests (men were drafted at 18.) Few 18 to 21-year-old voted, however, a fact not overlooked by the federal government when in 1984 they demanded states raise their drinking age to 21 or lose $$$ in fed highway funds.

Slowly but surely, most states acquiesced to these stipulations (notice I avoided the term blackmail?) The main argument for the age increase was to prevent 18-year-old from supplying 16-year-old and to reduce teenage drinking and traffic fatalities.

Interestingly, the age changes caused no improvement, and actually increased drinking levels among teens. The primary effect still seems to be that teens now consume alcohol in private venues with no adult supervision.

Oh, and there is no research data that indicates that alcohol has a deleterious effect on the teenage brain, or that alcohol "kills" brain cells anymore than Gatorade would kill brain cells when poured into a petri dish.

And our brain doesn't stop developing at age 22; it changes both structurally and functionally throughout life. This has been one of the most exciting findings in neuropsychology in the past 10 years.
 
 Lynn  18 Jun 2008 13:25
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I think this is a sensible idea, 18 is when you officially become an Adult, so therefore, i believe that yes, it should be the legal age for everything apart from obvious things, such as criminal records, e.t.c
 
 Mega_Bowl  13 Jun 2008 22:12
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I feel that everything should be one age. At the same time I like being able to drive at 16. But if you can get drafted you should be able to drink and vote, ect. You are an adult at 18 and you should be able to make adult decisions. The only thing that worries me about everything being at 18 is you learn to drive and you can by alcohol in the same yr.
 
 LME  05 Jun 2008 04:08
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It would make things a lot easier
 
 5simmoj  15 May 2008 13:30
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I believe that we should have one age limit for everything. It is easier that way. You can watch R rated movies then. Why not drive at that age too
 
 skinnyjean  11 May 2008 22:56
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I agree. In Canada, you can marry at 14 but you will not be allowed to vote until you reach 18. You can drive a car at 16, but you will not be able to watch certain movies unless you're 18... ONE age limit for everything... Yeah !
 
 Garamond  11 May 2008 12:41
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I agree with your examples ("driving, voting, marrying, drinking, tried as an adult in court"). However, the current legal age to obtain a criminal record and get arrested is 12 years of age (Canada). Do we really want to give mischievous juveniles another 6 years to commit crimes that could take away a life and take away happiness from families. These extra crimes could be avoided so why don't we do so.
 
 ZJerry  11 Jun 2008 23:44
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That's too long to wait, man...
 
 pandc35  07 Jun 2008 00:33
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Because then some kids could legally own alcohol in high school and give it out to little kids
 
 Satchel  24 May 2008 12:55
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I would agree with this if didn't add drinking. It is scientifically proven that a person's brain is not fully developed until the age of 21, and alcohol has negative effects on the brain.
 
 Custommade  23 May 2008 01:25
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I think that 16 should be the legal age for everything i would hate to have to wait 2 more years to legally have sex
 
 5cantej  15 May 2008 13:32
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 having sex is the act of making babies, are you ready for that at 16?
by  Driver
 18 May 2008 17:27
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I liked learning to drive and being able to watch an R rated movie before i was 18. I would however like the drinking age lowered if at 18 i can be drafted and sent to fight a nice shot would be great before i have to go shoot people. The only reason I'm against it is i like movies and driving more than drinking.
 
 eisenhower  13 May 2008 19:25
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