Crabby Blogging Lady

I really like the blog, I Love/Hate America. It’s a view of the United States from the perspective of an immigrant from the Philippines. I like reading about how she sees things. I don’t always agree, of course! But her views are very interesting and she writes well. And it’s great to see that someone else realizes that we in America are not at all like the crap they put in the movies about us. We’re practical and down-to-earth, we like our pickup trucks and Delta faucets, but we’re not selfish or violent like the movies portray us. Not MOST of us, anyway.

So a recent post she wrote was concerning the “legal” age in America. And she’s confused about it. Because, well, it IS confusing.

One of the many great new things that I discovered in America is what they call the “legal age.” It is quite impressing for someone like me who hails from an underdeveloped nation in the middle of the Pacific where there are not enough laws and a national I.D. system is non-existent.

Ages of U.S. inhabitants are classified into two; illegal and legal. (Oops..I’m just kidding, illegal age is not a classification). And legal age is further distinguished into two; those that are 21 years old and above, and those who are 18 years old and above. The two categories alone may seem confusing. In all honesty, they both perplex me.

Yeah– kids are not allowed to smoke until– what?– age 18? or is it 21 now? But you are “carded” up until you’re 30. And then there’s the driving and drinking ages– driving is allowed at age 16, and drinking not til 21. Ah, and then there’s the MILITARY age, where the government can ship off the kids adults to die in the sport of kings by age 18.

Sooooo they can drive in the killing machines (and that exactly what cars are for teens) at age 16, and they can go to war at 18, but no drinking and no smoking until 21. Fornicating, however, is encouraged as early as possible, according to most school “health class” curriculum.

It IS confusing. Because there is NO WAY any of these knuckleheads are responsible at age 16, 18, OR 21! I say we simplify it all and just deem this age group as CHILDREN until they are 30. Besides, it sure would make admission prices easier for larger families, because museums and tourist attractions say your child is an “adult” by the age of 12 and must pay as much as an 80-year old.