Want a cigarette? Got to be 21. This doesn't seem like that bad an idea until the following is brought up:
But some smokers say it's unfair and patronizing to tell people considered mature enough to vote and serve in the military that they're not old enough to decide whether to smoke. And cigarette manufacturers, who argue that the city's high cigarette taxes have fueled black-market sales, have suggested young adult smokers may just turn to illicit sellers.
Fucking idiots.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
I think the logic is there to move the voting age to 21 as well.
If you're not mature enough yet to decide whether or not you want to bring alcohol and/or tobacco products into your life, then you're certainly not mature enough to decide who should run this country.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
Fuck that. I can serve, kill, and die for my country at 18. That age better start getting jacked up, too.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Cakedaddy wrote:If you join the military, then you can smoke and drink. If not, wait till you are 21.
Smoke, drink, and vote. If not, go fuck yourself.
Love it.
Reminds me of Starship Troopers.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
Cakedaddy wrote:If you join the military, then you can smoke and drink. If not, wait till you are 21.
Vaguely intrigued, but no. Military service isn't going to be the only way to earn privs.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Should be. If you can't be bothered to do service to the whole, then you shouldn't expect to receive all of the benefits provided by the whole. Not sayin that non-veterans should be enslaved or anything, but Heinlein had it right.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
As I've said before, create a domestic branch that does nothing but things like fighting fires, cleaning up neighborhoods, etc.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
Leisher wrote:As I've said before, create a domestic branch that does nothing but things like fighting fires, cleaning up neighborhoods, etc.
Can think of all kinds of things that might be added to that list. But I'm not for this idea if the only ticket to get on the boat is getting yelled at loudly for months at a stretch and having it called "basic training." My ears work fine.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Leisher wrote:As I've said before, create a domestic branch that does nothing but things like fighting fires, cleaning up neighborhoods, etc.
Can think of all kinds of things that might be added to that list. But I'm not for this idea if the only ticket to get on the boat is getting yelled at loudly for months at a stretch and having it called "basic training." My ears work fine.
The purpose of doing that in the Marines is to make basic training more stressful than actual combat, so you aren't shocked by the stress of actual combat. A civilian equivalent would not need that aspect...
but....
consequences for desertion/other rulebreaking need to be just as harsh as in the military. Either do the job or you're fucked, volunteer.
Edited By GORDON on 1383447992
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
