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
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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.
