Quote:
Originally Posted by redguitar77111
Teenagers want their own cell phone, but the law won't let them enter a cell phone contract, teenagers want income, but the law won't let them sign working papers, teenagers want to live on their own, but the law won't let them buy a house, etc.
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The law is what it is because you are only dwelling on the positive side of them being able to enter into contracts. The negative side would be incurring debt they cannot pay off and purchasing things that are bad choices because of judgment issues that come with immaturity. Such choices can have lifetime consequences.
Maturity is a difficult thing. There is no bright line at which individuals obtain maturity. Certainly, some teens are more mature than others and suffer a bit because the law requires them to wait to do some of the things they want to do.
Society struggles greatly with the idea of when someone is old enough to engage in particular activities and to be treated like an adult. We have selected age 18 for entering into contracts and voting. We have selected at 21 for drinking alcohol. We have selected age 16 to work in many jobs. With criminal responsibility we have been more flexible up until age 18. It depends on the teenager and depends on the criminal act.
I personally am glad that society struggles with this concept because it shows me that the complexity of the whole maturation process is understood on some level.
I do not know how old you are. I suspect you are young. Perhaps, when you are 57, like I am, with your own children you may feel differently. I only wish we had a way to drag these dates out a little longer. I see far too many young people making bad decisions because of immaturity and lack of parental guidance.
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