December 23, 2019
According to this news report, Congress has raised the National Tobacco Age to 21. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/congress-raises-national-tobacco-age-to-21-spending-package
I wrote the below 2005 post on my Yahoo GeoCities website before they were called blogs (short for Weblogs). While that platform no longer exists, the Internet Wayback Machine at Archive.org saved a copy, as the IWM does for almost every webpage on the internet. I did go through and edit some of the grammar issues now that I have been back in college a few years and know a LOT more about writing than I did back then.
http://web.archive.org/web/20050214191609/http://www.geocities.com/LennyVasbinderPI/Politics_TheNewMinority
“THE NEW MINOR(ITY). ANOTHER RIDICULOUS PROPOSAL -- OR NOT?”
Re: If so many "other adults" want to discriminate against 18, 19 and 20-year-old adults, then those "other adults" should VOTE to raise the "age of majority" (adulthood) back up to 21 years of age.
[Edit - Info added -- Many people living today do not remember or ever knew that the age of majority and the voting age in the U.S. was 21 up until 1971 when the 26th Amendment to the Constitution lowered the voting age from 21 down to 18. More reading about this topic here -- http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2016/08/age-become-adult/]
Several things that will change or should be changed for "The New Minor(ity)":
1. The new "minors" will no longer be able to VOTE, join the military, sign the selective service card, get married, sign contracts or perform any other legal matter reserved for adults. Further, the new "minors" should not be allowed to become a legal guardian (parent) to a baby. If a new "minor" has, or fathers a baby, then one of each of the "minors" parents or guardians have to sign legal guardianship papers and agree to raise and support the "minors" and their baby until the "minors" reach the age of 21. One adult parent of the "minor mom" and "minor dad" must sign as legal guardians, making sure the rest of the taxpayers are not forced to pay for the acts of these new "minors". (Actually, this concept should be instituted today, even if the age of majority is not raised back up to 21.)
2. The new "minors" will be treated as juveniles for all criminal acts as long as they are "minors" (i.e.- Slapped on the wrist for most crimes.) Except, I propose creating a "three strikes and you’re out" and "nine innings" program where a new "minor" offender convicted "three times" or arrested "nine times" would be treated like an adult on all subsequent arrests and convictions. (This too would make sense today, even if the age of majority were not raised.)
3. The new "minors" should not be taxed in any way, shape or form since our country was founded to prevent "taxation without representation". Since I don't see where any of the politicians represent the new "minors" and the new "minors" would not be allowed to VOTE, they should be tax-exempt for all income earned and purchases made. (This should be made part of the tax code today.) (But we know that our "tax and spend" politicians are not going to exempt this large group of "minor" taxpayers, even though these same politicians have no problem passing age-specific laws and prohibitions against this same group of "minor" taxpayers.)
4. The new "minors" will be tax-deductible to parents for a few more years. Since the new "minors" will not be legally responsible for their actions until they reach the age of 21, their parents will be held responsible for any accidents, civil and criminal actions, debts, education, auto and health insurance, etc. Further, their parents will not be able to treat their new "minor" (18, 19 and 20-year-old) children as adults either.
5. The new "minors" will not be able to control their own bank accounts or credit cards and would, therefore, require their parents to co-sign for everything the "minors" do. Further, the parents would have to accompany them on trips to the mall, stores, etc. to sign checks and credit card vouchers. This would affect all retail sales, car sales, etc. and would put additional strains on the leisure time of the American family.
6. Of course, the new "minors" will not be able to smoke, drink, gamble or buy a handgun, BUT HECK; they can’t do those things now. (Or at least not in the very near future with the way things are going.)
Obvious the above proposals are ridiculous. I think that all "18, 19 and 20-year-old adults" should have the same rights and privileges as any "other adult". Because of spineless politicians, special interest groups and the "other adults" (who sit quietly by and watch as this age discrimination takes place), many of the rights and privileges are being stripped, or have been stripped, from the new "minor(ity)".
I propose reversing this trend and giving back all of the adult rights and privileges to 18, 19 and 20-year-olds and getting rid of this new "minor(ity)". Or we should VOTE to change the age of majority back to 21 years of age and strip anyone under 21 of all rights and privileges, granted to adults, and the responsibility that comes with those rights and privileges.
NOTICE:
ALL OF YOU SPINELESS POLITICIANS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (i.e.-M. A. D. D., etc.) CAN NOW TELL ALL THE "OTHER ADULTS" TO STAND UP, FOR A FEW MORE YEARS, AND RAISE THEIR NEW "MINOR" CHILDREN AND THE BABIES THAT COME WITH THEM. FURTHER, YOU CAN TELL THE "OTHER ADULTS" TO PAY THE INCREASES ON THE FAMILY AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICY THAT WILL INEVITABLY HAPPEN WHEN ALL OF THESE NEW "MINORS" ARE ADDED BACK TO THE FAMILY POLICY. THE "OTHER ADULTS" WILL HAVE TO HELP WITH THE SHOPPING AND GO TO TRAFFIC COURT AND JUVENILE COURT WITH THEIR NEW "MINOR" CHILDREN. THE "OTHER ADULTS" WILL ALSO BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR NEW "MINOR" CHILDREN UNTIL THEY REACH THE AGE OF 21, INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT AGE OF 18.
ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO RAISE THE AGE OF MAJORITY BACK TO 21?
Sarcastically yours... or not?
Lenny Vasbinder
P.S.- Feel free to e-mail me with your comments. If they are considered worthy by my editorial staff (me), they may be added to this page.
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