Let ’em sign up then. – Rants of a Fuzzy Curmudgeon

Glenn Reynolds argues to drop the federal mandate requiring a 21-year-old drinking age.
He entitles his argument, “Old enough to fight, old enough to drink”.
Fine, I agree. Change the law such that an active duty military ID trumps the 21-year-old minimum. If you’re 18 and want to be able to drink in a bar or restaurant, join the military. Otherwise, fuck off.
And as for the other excuse trundled out — “If you’re old enough to vote, you’re old enough to drink” — we should raise the voting age back to 21 while we’re at it.
No, in fact, we should raise the voting age to 40.
I don’t kid. If it’s going to be arbitrary anyway, ensure that adults with a little experience in the world are the ones who vote. In our current culture, 18 year olds are nearly always going to vote for the MTV candidate who promises unicorns and cookies (witness how many of them voted for The Won). Although frankly I know some 15-year-olds who are smart enough not to be duped by Commander Zero. Maybe they should be allowed to vote.
Oh, and cut off the right to vote to anyone who takes a bribe, er, entitlement money, from the government. Specifically welfare, unemployment, and food stamp recipients.
Wow. Sally said I’ve been grouchy as hell since my root canals Monday. I guess she was right 🙂

3 Replies to “Let ’em sign up then.”

No, we shouldn’t raise the voting age to 40. Sooner or later the under 40 crowd is going to figure out who gets to pay for Social Security and Medicare when you and I are in our 60s. On second thought, you’re right. Let’s raise the voting age to 40 while we still can.