Laws Infantilize Teens, And In Fact the General Adult Population

This was going to be two separate posts, but maybe the subjects derive from the same source.

Signs that command the reader to do something and then state: "It's the Law!" drive me bonkers. It is not that I am anti-order or pro-chaos. I do in fact respect the concept of law and believe it is one of the fundamental characteristics of our country that make it economically successful (another large topic altogether). However, to tell you to wear your seat belt because "it is the law" is insulting, autocratic and infantilizing. Insulting because the reason given should be maybe "it's your LIFE, duh" (thank you Zaina!) or some such reason based on self-interest. Autocratic because it says you should obey the law SIMPLY because it is a law. Well, legislators are always trying to find something to do, usually in an effort to run everyone else's life, and they come up with some dumb laws from time to time. There is nothing wrong with having an opinion on the reasonableness of a law. That is how laws get overturned in the courts from time to time.

This brings me to the second post topic, the infantilizing of teens. "It's the law" treats adults like children. We, the legislators, know what is best for you, so just do what we say without question. Similarly, laws telling teens not to get behind the wheel of a car until 16 nor drink any amount or type of alcohol under parental supervision at home until 21 are paternalistic and, in my opinion, counter-productive. Since when does the government have the responsibility of raising our kids? Driving is an issue of familiarization with handling a car. It used to be that you could drive the wagon-tractor-old-family-car around the farm long before you could drive on public roads. You probably ran into a fence or barn or something at some point, but you learned the mechanics of driving and developed your reflexes. What we have now is a system that puts a 16-year old behind the wheel for the first time, supervised by a stranger, nervous, and within a couple of weeks taking lessons driving on a four-lane highway.

Similarly, the lawmakers tell us it is illegal to serve one's own offspring alcohol in one's own home. Who is protected here and from what? Are they telling us the alcohol will physically hurt the "child?" Of course, too much of it would cause harm, by definition. So would too much cough syrup. Kids have to learn judgment and moderation somewhere. Home seems better than off on some college campus. Infantilizing teens and then sending them off unprepared sets them up for trouble instead of preparing them to take care of themselves.


I think there is a Puritan strain running through much of our society that engenders guilt about certain topics, one of them being alcohol. It is difficult to discuss this topic because one may be subject to social censure. But it should be discussed. Think about it. Parents can be criminally charged for giving alcohol to someone under 21 in their own home - although as has been frequently pointed out, these same "minors" can join the military, keep their college records secret (privacy protected) from their parents, and vote. Say what?