Friday, February 26, 2016

Reset the Minimum Age

           
            Recent research has shown that the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that provides good judgment, doesn't develop until the age of 20 and is not fully developed until age 25 or even later. Armed with this new knowledge, changes in our laws seem appropriate.

Voting
            Up until 1971, the voting age was 21. It was then lowered to 18 by the 26th Amendment, largely based on the argument that if men could be drafted into military service and fight in Vietnam at the age of 18, they should be allowed to vote at that age. Knowing what we know now about the development of the prefrontal cortex, the better resolution would have been to raise the draft age to 21. The late development of the prefrontal cortex may explain why younger voters are taken in by candidates who make promises that can't be kept. We should now revoke the 26th Amendment and set a new standard at age 21.

Military Service
             Before the New Millennium, the enemy was easy to identify. He was the guy with the distinctive uniform and helmet shape shooting at you. Those 18 years old could deal with that effectively. The new enemy dresses like and mixes with civilians. Good judgment is critical. The military is better served with people who are at least 21. The law should be changed to require a minimum age of 21 for military service.

Driving
            The minimum legal age for driving is set by each state. The requirements vary from 14 years, 3 months in South Dakota to 17 in New Jersey. We now know more about why teens have so many accidents. It would have too much of an impact on life as we know it to change those laws to set an age of 21 as a minimum, but other parts of the law could be changed to good effect. For instance, the penalty for using a cell phone while driving could be a 1-year license suspension.

Drinking

            45 states have an minimum age requirement for drinking alcoholic beverages below 21. It might be enough to require the presence of an adult until the age of 21.