Ask500

Haha sorry - it means should I be able to message you. For example, you could have messaged me personally to ask "what does that mean" instead of having to post it as a comment... It's like being able to e-mail back and forth with other members of the site, but since it would be done through the website, they wouldn't have to know your e-mail, etc.

Well said.

I understand that. I'm saying hypothetically.

In the world of a draft, men ages 18-21 would be drafted to fight in a war while at the same time not being legally allowed to drink.

I apologize if my post conveyed the idea that there's a draft now. That isn't true and wasn't my intention.

Haha, I know. When I was writing that, I wondered if I should somehow incorporate that fact. To be fair though, all of the proposed resolutions regarding the draft stipulated that, this time around and from now on, women would be included in the draft (if they weren't pregnant and some other exceptions).

But, to be fair, most women have to bleed for one week a month for the majority of their lives (though the ability to take birth control continuously is making this less and less true). I feel it's a fair trade off - y'all get drafted, we have to bleed and go through labor.

Naw, but really, it is a double standard, and based on antiquated conceptions of gender roles in society. Should be changed.

KP

Because some people (like me) are often to lazy and not quite interested enough to follow the link, here's the skinny:

States do govern drinking age. The federal government doesn't really have jurisdiction. This being said, the federal government wanted the drinking age to be 21. So they withheld federal highway funding if the state didn't change the drinking age to 21. Louisiana was the last state to change it - they finally had to because their interstates were in such a state of disrepair.

KP

My real issue with it is they can FORCE you to pick up a gun and shoot people (at least in the US) and you can't drink. If I'm eligible to be drafted, then I should at least be able to throw back a shot of tequila in an attempt to forget the fact that I'm being forced into war.

Seriously, though... that was the rationale for lowering the voting age - people should be able to choose their leaders if their leaders can send them off to war without us having a say in it. So why, if I can serve and be killed in Iraq, can I not drink?

Sidenote: Thanks for the compliment the other day. =) Noted and appreciated.

KP

I act ridiculous when I'm really tired or really happy; should that be illegal, too?

We saw how well Prohibition worked last time - what makes you think it would work any better today?

To be fair, there is a ton of underage drinking here at 15-17 (I live in Texas, and since that's in the US the drinking age is 21). I know that my friends across the country in debate start drinking regularly - and some of them heavily - at about 14 or 15.

European countries with a very low or no drinking age have fewer problems with alcoholism, teen binge drinking, etc.

I think initially, the novelty of it will drive teens to drink more - since it HAS been illegal, it's going to be awesome to be able to do it. Same concept as turning 21 - everyone drinks a lot for awhile on and following that birthday, until being able to drink legally loses its novelty. I think, in the long run, lowering the drinking age is a beneficial idea.

I believe the correct term is "murses" ;) hehe

Aw, you don't like Dali's The Persistence of Memory (the melting clocks)? I've always loved that painting... It's a beautiful surrealist work of art. Le sad! xxKP