[Northern Light]

To be clear, the US doesn't have a 'national' drinking age; that is a State matter. But the federal government does use tax and financial levers through the Federal Uniform Drinking Age Act (1984) to keep the states in line. A state could have a lower age but they like the money. Similarly, the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act (2011) does similar with federal transportation funding. Money talks.

For further clarity, the age of consent is also set at the State Level and it varies.

However, a number of federal statues use 18 as a delineating age for whether something secondary to sex itself is an offense or the severity of an offense. (or sex in certain circumstances)

As a post-script......... the minimum age for marriage 15 in Kansas and Hawaii. In Mississippi this only applies to girls, boys have to be 17.

 

[JasonParis]

I believe that at 18, individuals should be considered fully responsible adults across the board. This includes having the right to drink, drive, serve in the military, vote, and engage in consensual relationships, as well as being held accountable as adults if they commit a crime. I'd be fine with that in Canada too (which we are already closer to).

 

[lenaitch]

Deleted

 

[afransen]

Calling it now. He quits before he gets fired. And then his co-chair Ramaswamy will wear a lot of the unpopular stuff.

I don't think Musk is afraid of being unpopular (or at least controversial). He is a narcissist, and I think he and Trump will clash. I don't expect him to be involved in the administration for long.

What will be interesting to see is if Musk continues to support Trump after they fall out. My guess is that he won't go to war with Trump as it would threaten his businesses, much like how he is friendly with the CCP.

 

[gabe]

I don't think Musk is afraid of being unpopular (or at least controversial). He is a narcissist, and I think he and Trump will clash. I don't expect him to be involved in the administration for long.

What will be interesting to see is if Musk continues to support Trump after they fall out. My guess is that he won't go to war with Trump as it would threaten his businesses, much like how he is friendly with the CCP.

Of course Musk will. Trump and Musk already had a fallout in 2017. They are like a married couple.

Elon Musk to Trump: You quit Paris, so I quit you

"Climate change is real," the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX said on Twitter.

money.cnn.com

 

[lenaitch]

Doesn't have to be de jure. It's de facto the case because of national policy. Not sure that's germane to the discussion here. They have 21 as their drinking age. How they achieve it, isn't really important.

Well, so far, two users thought it was. In future, shall I pass my posts through you for approval? Sheesh.

 

[kEiThZ]

Well, so far, two users thought it was. In future, shall I pass my posts through you for approval? Sheesh.

Didn't mean it that way. Apologies if it offended you. Just saying this discussion of how they arrived at it, is a little to in the weeds.

 

[kEiThZ]

I don't think Musk is afraid of being unpopular (or at least controversial). He is a narcissist, and I think he and Trump will clash. I don't expect him to be involved in the administration for long.

What will be interesting to see is if Musk continues to support Trump after they fall out. My guess is that he won't go to war with Trump as it would threaten his businesses, much like how he is friendly with the CCP.

Their list of proposed cuts is absolutely hilarious. Starting with $120B in cuts of Veteran's Healthcare. When this shit lands with a thud instead of thunderous applause, they'll be at each other's throats.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1856868562482467138

 

[afransen]

All the idiots who voted for Trump and his personality cult will get the government they deserve. You can't cut 1/3 of government spending without huge reductions in services and support. Actual staff costs are not 75% of the budget like low info voters imagine. Most spending is direct transfers for services like schools and health care and transfers to persons for things like pensions, etc. I can't wait until all the Trump wrinklies realise that they voted to cut their pensions and health coverage. I never thought the leopards would eat my face!

 

[kEiThZ]

The real question is whether Congress will push through his cuts. Or whether they push just his tax cuts and end up with a Liz Truss type financial crisis.

 

[kEiThZ]

The bill is also defunding NASA and a huge chunk of the State Department. And this is on top of cutting the Department of Education. I don't think an actual Manchurian candidate could do better to dismantle the foundations of American success.

 

[kEiThZ]

Will add. This is an opportunity for Canada. Stop with the fake students. Give all these scientists and skilled bureaucrats immigration. There's already suggestions that we should enable lateral transfer for their military personnel who want out. It would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to grab their best and brightest.

 

[lenaitch]

Their list of proposed cuts is absolutely hilarious. Starting with $120B in cuts of Veteran's Healthcare. When this shit lands with a thud instead of thunderous applause, they'll be at each other's throats.

The public, especially aging Vets, won't like it, but his boss has been quoted as saying they are 'suckers and losers'. Depending on veteran voting patterns, this unintended consequence could bring it home to them.

 

[lenaitch]

The bill is also defunding NASA and a huge chunk of the State Department. And this is on top of cutting the Department of Education. I don't think an actual Manchurian candidate could do better to dismantle the foundations of American success.

They would think SpaceX can fill the void, and who needs a State Department; he's the bestest negotiator the world has even seen.

 

[Towered]

The next few years are going to put the cradle of democracy to the test like never before.