Comments on: I Get Email http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/ It rankles me when somebody tries to tell somebody what to do. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:32:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Jim Collins http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-175668 Jim Collins Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:20:43 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-175668 The Federal Government didn't set the drinking age at 21. What they did do was to threaten to withhold Federal Highway funds from States that didn't change their drinking age to 21. Let's face it. State Governments sold out their people for the almighty Federal dollar. There was no Constitutional violation. Congress controls the Federal Budget and gets to say who gets what. Your State either toes the line or loses funding. A State is free to change it's drinking age to what ever it wants, if it is willing to lose it's share of Federal Highway Funds. I don't see that happening any time soon. The Federal Government didn’t set the drinking age at 21. What they did do was to threaten to withhold Federal Highway funds from States that didn’t change their drinking age to 21.

Let’s face it. State Governments sold out their people for the almighty Federal dollar. There was no Constitutional violation. Congress controls the Federal Budget and gets to say who gets what. Your State either toes the line or loses funding.

A State is free to change it’s drinking age to what ever it wants, if it is willing to lose it’s share of Federal Highway Funds. I don’t see that happening any time soon.

]]> By: cb http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174809 cb Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:29:03 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174809 Col. Hogan: To be fair, these are _State_ laws. There is no federal mandate, though there is a fair amount of pressure (Radley's article calls it blackmail: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,410283,00.html). So what you should be concerned about is the sovereignty of our States and citizens being under attack from the federal government. It's sad when it's the rebuff to the attack that gets news, and not the attack itself. Col. Hogan:

To be fair, these are _State_ laws. There is no federal mandate, though there is a fair amount of pressure (Radley’s article calls it blackmail: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,410283,00.html).

So what you should be concerned about is the sovereignty of our States and citizens being under attack from the federal government. It’s sad when it’s the rebuff to the attack that gets news, and not the attack itself.

]]> By: Hal http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174734 Hal Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:25:01 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174734 My favorite line was this: Instead of lowering the drinking age they should raise the voting age so the idiots can’t vote or drink. As if age somehow cures idiocy! My favorite line was this:
Instead of lowering the drinking age they should raise the voting age so the idiots can’t vote or drink.

As if age somehow cures idiocy!

]]> By: HKL http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174688 HKL Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:36:35 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174688 Can't believe all this hoopla and self righteousness. My dad allowed me to drink beer with him as a youngster. It held no fasination or inticement. When I was in my late teens I couldn't believe how the other kids went crazy guzzling everything they could get a hold of. I could have a beer whenever I wanted, big deal. Yes, I got carried away a few times in my life, but it had nothing to do with starting too young, just the opposite. Same thing with smoking. I was proud of the fact I could have smoked, but didn't want to. Can’t believe all this hoopla and self righteousness. My dad allowed me to drink beer with him as a youngster. It held no fasination or inticement. When I was in my late teens I couldn’t believe how the other kids went crazy guzzling everything they could get a hold of. I could have a beer whenever I wanted, big deal. Yes, I got carried away a few times in my life, but it had nothing to do with starting too young, just the opposite.

Same thing with smoking. I was proud of the fact I could have smoked, but didn’t want to.

]]> By: claude http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174619 claude Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:05:29 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174619 Yep it varies from state to state. In MN, a parent can serve u at home but otherwise its 21. We r also a "3.2%" state which means in any store but a liquor store, they cant sell beer that contains more than 3.2% alcohol and thats all they can sell. No wine, nothing. Its hard to get drunk on 3.2 beer. I wonder if allowing 18yr olds to buy 3.2 beer and nothing else would get some of the staunch opponents of this on board? As i said its hard as hell to get drunk off the stuff (at 17 we managed :) ) and i dont think u could possibly poison yourself on it, tho im sure somewhere at least one person would find a way to do it. Yep it varies from state to state. In MN, a parent can serve u at home but otherwise its 21. We r also a “3.2%” state which means in any store but a liquor store, they cant sell beer that contains more than 3.2% alcohol and thats all they can sell. No wine, nothing. Its hard to get drunk on 3.2 beer. I wonder if allowing 18yr olds to buy 3.2 beer and nothing else would get some of the staunch opponents of this on board? As i said its hard as hell to get drunk off the stuff (at 17 we managed :) ) and i dont think u could possibly poison yourself on it, tho im sure somewhere at least one person would find a way to do it.

]]> By: chance http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174559 chance Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:48:12 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174559 "Wait a minute, is it illegal for someone under 21 to drink alcohol even in private in the US? Here (UK) the age is 18, but that’s the age restriction for buying alcohol and drinking in licenced premises." It varies from state to state. Here in Maryland, a minor may drink alcohol with parents permission. The parent must be present, and I believe it is only at a private residence, not at a resteraunt, but I need to double check that. “Wait a minute, is it illegal for someone under 21 to drink alcohol even in private in the US? Here (UK) the age is 18, but that’s the age restriction for buying alcohol and drinking in licenced premises.”

It varies from state to state. Here in Maryland, a minor may drink alcohol with parents permission. The parent must be present, and I believe it is only at a private residence, not at a resteraunt, but I need to double check that.

]]> By: Helmut O' Hooligan http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174546 Helmut O' Hooligan Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:15:49 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174546 Andy Craig: “This person just advocated temperance and appeared to be serious” No, they advocated prohibition. Big difference. Valid point, Andy. My bad Andy Craig:

“This person just advocated temperance and appeared to be serious”

No, they advocated prohibition. Big difference.

Valid point, Andy. My bad

]]> By: Col. Hogan http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174515 Col. Hogan Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:45:15 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174515 Try as I might, I can't find the part of the US Constitution that gives the federal government a mandate to have anything at all to do with regulating that which individuals of any age may ingest. For good or ill, this, as it pertains to children, is a parental responsibility. Try as I might, I can’t find the part of the US Constitution that gives the federal government a mandate to have anything at all to do with regulating that which individuals of any age may ingest. For good or ill, this, as it pertains to children, is a parental responsibility.

]]> By: cb http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174447 cb Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:05:48 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174447 <blockquote>Wait a minute, is it illegal for someone under 21 to drink alcohol even in private in the US? </blockquote><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_age" rel="nofollow">It depends on the state:</a><blockquote>Contrary to popular belief, since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, few states specifically prohibit minors' and young adults' consumption of alcohol in private settings. As of 2007-01-01, 14 states and the District of Columbia ban underage consumption outright, 19 states do not specifically ban underage consumption, and an additional 27 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage consumption laws.</blockquote>

Wait a minute, is it illegal for someone under 21 to drink alcohol even in private in the US?

It depends on the state:

Contrary to popular belief, since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, few states specifically prohibit minors’ and young adults’ consumption of alcohol in private settings. As of 2007-01-01, 14 states and the District of Columbia ban underage consumption outright, 19 states do not specifically ban underage consumption, and an additional 27 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage consumption laws.

]]> By: The Other Jeff http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174410 The Other Jeff Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:42:00 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174410 <blockquote>So its an enforcement issue? Gotcha. (wink)</blockquote> Ah, but we're so much better at law enforcement these days, what with every moderate sized city having a tactical unit. We could do it this time! Bring on the tommy guns!

So its an enforcement issue? Gotcha. (wink)

Ah, but we’re so much better at law enforcement these days, what with every moderate sized city having a tactical unit. We could do it this time! Bring on the tommy guns!

]]> By: Lizzie http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174305 Lizzie Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:49:36 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174305 Wait a minute, is it illegal for someone under 21 to drink alcohol even in private in the US? Here (UK) the age is 18, but that's the age restriction for buying alcohol and drinking in licenced premises. It's allowed for a parent to buy a 14 year old one drink with a meal in a licenced pub, and a parent is legally allowed to give a child alcohol at home from the age of 5 onwards (though please correct me if I'm wrong on this, we were told all this in the usual 'Don't Do Drugs/Alcohol!' lessons at school and that was about 10 years ago) Wait a minute, is it illegal for someone under 21 to drink alcohol even in private in the US? Here (UK) the age is 18, but that’s the age restriction for buying alcohol and drinking in licenced premises. It’s allowed for a parent to buy a 14 year old one drink with a meal in a licenced pub, and a parent is legally allowed to give a child alcohol at home from the age of 5 onwards (though please correct me if I’m wrong on this, we were told all this in the usual ‘Don’t Do Drugs/Alcohol!’ lessons at school and that was about 10 years ago)

]]> By: ed psycho http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174294 ed psycho Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:39:48 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174294 "Phooey! The college presidents pushing for a lower drinking age merely wish to be excused from having to enforce the law" And when precisely did college presidents and their academic administration become law enforcement officers? “Phooey! The college presidents pushing for a lower drinking age merely wish to be excused from having to enforce the law”

And when precisely did college presidents and their academic administration become law enforcement officers?

]]> By: DJB http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174196 DJB Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:40:57 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174196 "Well, let’s just delay the time that they can be tried as adults to 25 as well! Just think, murder someone under 25, and you can be sent to juvie!" Don't forget military service. Lets make that change and really save our kids from being killed. Truly I believe that anyone who believes that a service member can go a die for this country but cannot drink in this country should be beaten with a hose. It infuriates me to no end. “Well, let’s just delay the time that they can be tried as adults to 25 as well!

Just think, murder someone under 25, and you can be sent to juvie!”

Don’t forget military service. Lets make that change and really save our kids from being killed.

Truly I believe that anyone who believes that a service member can go a die for this country but cannot drink in this country should be beaten with a hose. It infuriates me to no end.

]]> By: Andy Craig http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174194 Andy Craig Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:36:54 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174194 "This person just advocated temperance and appeared to be serious" No, they advocated prohibition. Big difference. I know it's somewhat pedantic, but it is an important distinction. If people want to advocate that people abstain from alcohol because they think it's harmful or offends their deity or whatever, there's nothing wrong with that. Stupid perhaps, but not wrong. “This person just advocated temperance and appeared to be serious”

No, they advocated prohibition. Big difference.

I know it’s somewhat pedantic, but it is an important distinction. If people want to advocate that people abstain from alcohol because they think it’s harmful or offends their deity or whatever, there’s nothing wrong with that. Stupid perhaps, but not wrong.

]]> By: Helmut O' Hooligan http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174146 Helmut O' Hooligan Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:54:21 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174146 The best think to do is ban alcohol drinking for everyone, but, as history shows us, those sort of laws are never properly enforced. ~ This person just advocated temperance and appeared to be serious. Jesus H. Christ, what are we going to go with backwards fucks like this? I know, appoint them to the MADD board! The best think to do is ban alcohol drinking for everyone, but, as history shows us, those sort of laws are never properly enforced.

~

This person just advocated temperance and appeared to be serious. Jesus H. Christ, what are we going to go with backwards fucks like this? I know, appoint them to the MADD board!

]]> By: Mike http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174145 Mike Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:44:06 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174145 A standard response seems to be "these college Presidents just don't want to crack down on campus drinking!" to which my response is, "Duh! Why should they want to? Haven't they got better things to do than to monitor the behavior of *adults*?" A standard response seems to be “these college Presidents just don’t want to crack down on campus drinking!” to which my response is, “Duh! Why should they want to? Haven’t they got better things to do than to monitor the behavior of *adults*?”

]]> By: Andrew Williams http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174135 Andrew Williams Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:31:15 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174135 Well, at least half your audience seemed to grok it.... Well, at least half your audience seemed to grok it….

]]> By: KBCraig http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174127 KBCraig Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:05:45 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174127 <blockquote>Gee, Radley…….you’ve got some glittering gems of colossal ignorance in your reading audience…….</blockquote> Well, this <b>was</b> the response from Fox News readers! There were some real debating champions there, eh? From <i>non sequiturs</i> and every sort of logical fallacy, right up to just plain old mis-stating the facts and mis-quoting Radley.

Gee, Radley…….you’ve got some glittering gems of colossal ignorance in your reading audience…….

Well, this was the response from Fox News readers!

There were some real debating champions there, eh? From non sequiturs and every sort of logical fallacy, right up to just plain old mis-stating the facts and mis-quoting Radley.

]]> By: claude http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174081 claude Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:32:01 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174081 "The best think to do is ban alcohol drinking for everyone, but, as history shows us, those sort of laws are never properly enforced." So its an enforcement issue? Gotcha. (wink) “The best think to do is ban alcohol drinking for everyone, but, as history shows us, those sort of laws are never properly enforced.”

So its an enforcement issue? Gotcha. (wink)

]]> By: Mike T http://www.theagitator.com/2008/08/30/i-get-email-17/comment-page-1/#comment-174055 Mike T Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:13:38 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/?p=10555#comment-174055 <blockquote> All the latest brain research says that young people’s brains do not fully mature until around the age of 25. Lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 is contrary to this research … this is moving in the wrong direction. </blockquote> Well, let's just delay the time that they can be tried as adults to 25 as well! Just think, murder someone under 25, and you can be sent to juvie!

All the latest brain research says that young people’s brains do not fully mature until around the age of 25. Lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 is contrary to this research … this is moving in the wrong direction.

Well, let’s just delay the time that they can be tried as adults to 25 as well!

Just think, murder someone under 25, and you can be sent to juvie!

]]>