It’s amazing the wide range of legal definitions of an “adult” today. Here in Wisconsin, the minute you are born you are considered old enough to hunt with an adult–and carry your own gun. When you are 10 you can start driving ATV’s on public trails. At the age of 12, you can start working at a job–with a permit–and you can be waived into adult court to face felony charges for heinous crimes–like the girls involved in the “Slenderman Stabbing Case”. Twelve year olds can also operate their own snowmobiles.
Turning 16 is of course a big one, as you are allowed to get a drivers license. Automobile accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teenagers. You are also allowed to pump gas and you can get married in Wisconsin–with your parents’ permission. At 17 you are allowed to become a pilot–and you can be charged in adult court with felony crimes without have to be waived out of juvenile court first.
At 18 so much of the world opens up to you. You can now vote, buy a gun, join the military and kill people–or give up your life for your country. You are allowed to purchase tobacco products. You can rent an apartment, take out loans and get credit cards all on your own. You can take part in jury duty, sign up for utility service, get an abortion without your parents’ permission, get married, book airline flights on your own and work up to 40-hours a week. No one will give you a hard time about going into an “R” rated movie. You can buy–or make–porn. You could even drop out of school and not be considered truant. And you are allowed to legally sell and serve alcohol to another person.
Finally at 21, you can actually drink alcohol legally. Somehow, we have deemed this activity so dangerous and requiring so much “maturity” that up until now, it was not safe to do so–despite everything else you have been allowed to do so far. Handling guns, flying planes by yourself, going off to war–all okay for younger folks–but having a couple of beers is just “too risky”, you aren’t ready for that kind of responsibility.
Of course, there are a couple of things that we think 21-year olds aren’t responsible enough to handle–like renting a car–gotta be at least 25 to do that. And we couldn’t possibly expect someone to be responsible for buying their own health insurance until they are 26–so let’s keep them on Mom and Dad’s policy until then.
Maybe it’s time we review all of the “adult things” we’ve attached ages to, and make them more consistent all along the line.
