Does anyone else think there are HUGE FUCKING problems with the age laws and restrictions in the US? Why are all the laws making you an adult are at 17 and 18? I think you become an adult at 16 in America in pretty much every aspect, except in entertainment.

1) At 16 you get your Drivers license and you are leagally allowed to work.(In most states) You also have to pay taxes and you can be tried as an adult in court at the age of 16.(Also in most states) You can do all this shit but you can't vote in a Freaking Election? The Government is basically saying you are responsible enough to drive a car, get a job, pay taxes and understand US Law and be tried as an adult and sentenced to death, but you have no say in the Laws that shape our country.

2) At 16 you are allowed to have legal sex(in most states) but you can't go to a movie that has sex in it? Is it just me is that really wierd?

I'm not going to say anything about Alcohol or Smoking cause atleast you can argue that those are bad for you. What is everyone else's view? I'm especially interested in what the people from other countries with different laws think abouit owers.

1.) Work and taxes are closely related: You get an income and a portion has to be given to the government. That has been in place since the founding of this country. Also, the government used to allow 14 year-olds to quit school and work because grammer school was only needed. We now have 2 years of high school, but there is talk about forcing students to attend all four years as most people without a high school diploma are not getting proper employments. 

2.) Actually, a few states only allow 16 year-olds to have sex, and that's only between people their same age; 18 year-olds can be tried for statutory rape.

I think 18 is the mark as you can vote, buy cigarettes, and technically, if your parents say "Get the F out of my house!," you have no say in the matter because most laws recognize you as an adult. That's also the age you can serve in the armed forces. Also, all states allow marriages between 18 year-olds.

I totally agree on the second thing, about the sex stuff, that really is weird

 Not to mention if your taking pictures of yourself having sex you can be arrested for making child porn.  Or atleast I assume so.

Protect the children!

 You can serve in the Army when you're 17 (w/parental consent).

The only good reason I can think of for separating all these ages is so that young adults don't totally freak out all at once because every thing changes once you are 18. Can you imagine one day when you can suddenly drive, have sex, work, vote and buy porn. It would be a lot to handle.

I never knew that, but there still is a string attached.

I think that young people, in general, aren't given enough credit.

On the other hand, even though age restrictions are frequently circumvented, they impress a certain amount of respect for why these regulations are in place.

For example, in my corner of Canada, the legal drinking age is 19. They tried lowering it to 18, and it caused a noticeable spike in high school students drinking and getting into all the nasty trouble that it can cause, such as drinking and driving. The age was raised back to 19 and the problem receded, even though many teenagers were obviously still drinking underage. They're much more careful about how they drink, though.

It's kind of like how a posted speed limit of 100kmph causes most people to drive 110kmph. Raise the limit to 110kmph to respect this reality and you find people are now driving 120kmph.

Your point that being old enough to work and pay taxes ought to be old enough to vote is very well taken, though.

18 is more of the age that you are a full-fledged adult. I still find it stupid that you cannot drink until you are 21, or many other things but can serve in the military.

I live in Vegas and in a few months when i turn 18, I cant do anything fun in Sin City :( Guess I have to come back in 3 years and then have fun.