Do you think the drinking age should be 18 again?

[mainbutter]

I think that smith285 was trying to say that the state's voting populace DOESN'T determine the laws, because we're a republic and not a democracy, those elected into office do.

[Typical_08]

I think that smith285 was trying to say that the state's voting populace DOESN'T determine the laws, because we're a republic and not a democracy, those elected into office do.

Yes, and then those same people that voted for those in power complain about the laws that those politicians write in. Or worse, do not vote, then complain even more.

[Egapal]

The government (specifically liberals) don't want you to think for yourself and suffer consequences of your own decisions. they'd rather the government control everything, and it's a scary path we are heading down.

Believe me the conservatives are no better than the liberals. I am about as liberal as they come. You may want to talk to some more liberals because many of us believe in taking responsibility for your decisions and preserving Americans rights.

[Smith285]

Umm. We are a republic.
That is what we do.

That's exactly what I just said

They didn't "agree" to make it 21 across the board, exactly. The federal government decided that they would only give money to build roads to states that had a drinking age of 21. Basically, the federal government passed a nationwide drinking age without actually passing a law. IMO this is a grievous overstepping of authority, trampling on state's and voter's rights.

Ah yes, I knew there was more to it, couldn't remember though. Thanks for clarifying

[Smith285]

Believe me the conservatives are no better than the liberals. I am about as liberal as they come. You may want to talk to some more liberals because many of us believe in taking responsibility for your decisions and preserving Americans rights.

I know, but I'm a conservative and like to take jabs at liberals Neither of them can get it right

[Typical_08]

Believe me the conservatives are no better than the liberals. I am about as liberal as they come. You may want to talk to some more liberals because many of us believe in taking responsibility for your decisions and preserving Americans rights.

I believe that would make you a blue dog, not a liberal.

That's exactly what I just said

Ok, I must have mistook what you were trying to say.

[JamieLynn]

This is a long thread, but I'm add ing what I think.
Lower the drinking age, raise the driveing age. I drank a lot when I was 15-18, but once I turned 21 I stopped. But then I also did not get my licence till I moved out here when I was 21. all the time before that I took the bus.
driving age out here is 14-16 (not sure on the exact)
Thery is if first you lean to hold your liquor, then you settle down, when you grow up THEN you can drive.

The driveing, and other laws should be the same accross the whole USA, this is the UNITED states, not the DEVIDED states.

P.S. in some southern states it is still illigal to buy any "adult" items (for all ages)

[Ammodawg]

Military folks are able to drink at 18 on base. Personal experience and many, many fuzzy nights.

What militrary are you talking about? I have dedicated sixteen years to the US Air Force now and have not been aware that 18 year olds could drink on a state side base. Many people turn a blind eye to the under age drinkers in the beginning, but as soon as the military turned to the zero tolerance stance, things changed and they changed real fast.

Now as for the overseas bases when I came in the law was kept at 18. They then up the age to 21 on all overseas bases a couple of years after I came in. If the law of the country you are in is 18 then you can drink off base, but you better not come back on base if you aren't 21. I have seen many good young kids get in trouble and kicked out of the military for underage drinking.

In my personal opinion I do belive that if you are old enough to fight and die for our country you should be able to have a drink anytime you want. By that I talking about anyone who enlists with any branch of the US military.

[Typical_08]

I would disagree with raising the driving age for several reasons.

One, because you would see a lot of dollars not being spent on the market. In most areas of our country you need a vehicle in order to work. Two, I noticed something after I joined the Corps, though it took me a long time to come to a conclusion. I noticed that the cars that had NY plates had less experienced drivers. After time I realized that this was likely because when they lived in NY they did not have to have a vehicle to get from place to place. But after they joined the Corps, and moved to Jacksonville, they had to have a vehicle, so now we have a bunch of 18 and 19 year old kids getting vehicles, who do not have the two for or six years of driving experience that one would have had if they came from a rural area. Those people tended to have more accidents and moving violations than those who had been driving since they were 14 years old or younger. Yes you could increase requirements to get a license, but some things only come with experience. I would say that a good 70% of the traffic accidents I see down here come from people that came from those larger cities where there was no need to have a car.

[Ammodawg]

Maybe it's a base by base thing?

Not a base thing. The law is the law.