Military service and drinking
I'll make a deal with the people who use the old-enough-to-fight/old-enough-to-drink argument that we heard back in the Vietnam era -- if you stop using this argument, I'll be glad to listen to the rest of what you have to say.
Starting your crusade for lowering the drinking age to 18 with this old argument carries no weight when the nation does not have a military draft, or any other requirement of public service, for men and women between 18 and 21.
Back in the day, when everyone was subjected to the draft, you might have convinced me with the old-enough-for-the-Army/old-enough-for-booze proposition. Now, many of the same people who use this argument have no support of a draft and, to be frank, have little affinity with the military class in the United States. They say they support our troops but are, in fact, AWOL from even the consideration of military service for themselves or the young men and women in their family. After the 9/11 attacks, George Bush said, "Go shopping." He didn't call for public service of any kind, and we have an all-volunteer military with the vast majority of Americans not even looking in that direction for service or career.
So here's the rule, if were are, in fact, going to reopen this debate about the drinking age.
You don't get to use this as an argument for lowering the drinking age unless your willing to support a draft of young people into public service of some kind. If we, as a nation, are going to compel 18-year-olds to serve, I'll be among the first to buy the committed a beer and drink it with them (in moderation, of course).
Comments
If you are old enough to make the decision to join the military and make further life and death decisions, you are old enough to make a drink or don't drink decision. Since the draft was not much of a decision, it is a red herring. If you can vote, and get married and have children at 18, you are old enough to drink a beer.
Posted by: AMAZD | August 24, 2008 9:35 AM
If you are old enough to be trusted with the right to vote, shouldn't having a beer be legal for you as well? Additionally, all men when they turn 18 are required to sign up for "selective service" which is indeed the basis for a draft - if the need should arise.
If you want financial aid for college, you must be registered with selective service. So while there is not an current military draft taking place - the framework for one exists and is active.
Additionally - the president created the President's Volunteer Service Award in the 2002 State of the Union Address. He challenged all Americans to do 4,000 hours of public volunteer service over their lifetimes.
Posted by: bryanintimonium | August 25, 2008 9:40 AM
That's quite a cogent argument AMAZD.
Maybe this topic would make more sense if we consider that the law doesn't allow one to drink after a certain age, but that it forbids one to drink before a certain age.
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | August 25, 2008 11:08 AM
I'm surprised to see AMAZD's comment, since he disagreed with you.
Posted by: Rev'Ed | August 25, 2008 6:09 PM