Here's a message to those who still support the 21 drinking age and other ageist policies:
(Mic drop)
An American Solution to an American Problem
Here's a message to those who still support the 21 drinking age and other ageist policies:
(Mic drop)
Today’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton is a direct blow to the free speech rights of adults. The Court ruled that “no person—adult or child—has a First Amendment right to access speech that is obscene to minors without first submitting proof of age.” This ruling allows states to enact onerous age-verification rules that will block adults from accessing lawful speech, curtail their ability to be anonymous, and jeopardize their data security and privacy. These are real and immense burdens on adults, and the Court was wrong to ignore them in upholding Texas’ law.
Importantly, the Court's reasoning applies only to age-verification rules for certain sexual material, and not to age limits in general. We will continue to fight against age restrictions on online access more broadly, such as on social media and specific online features.
The Texas social media ban for anyone under 18 thankfully is now dead (for now) as of May 29, 2025 as the Senate ultimately missed a key deadline for a vote on the bill. But we must not rest in our laurels just yet, though. Unfortunately, another bill passed, and was signed into law, that requires app stores to verify age and parental consent for people under 18 to download apps, which takes effect on January 1, 2026 if it doesn't get struck down by the courts in the meantime. Even if that one is not quite as bad.
This weekend is the weekend of Memorial Day, often known as the unofficial first day of summer and National BBQ Day. But let's remember what it really is--a day to honor all of the men and women of our armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, past and present. And that of course includes all of those who died serving our country before they were legally old enough to drink. Let us all take a moment of silence to honor them.
As for Candy Lightner, the ageist turncoat founder of MADD who had the chutzpah and hubris to go on national TV in 2008 and publicly insult our troops, all in a vain attempt to defend the ageist abomination that is the 21 drinking age, may her name and memory be forever blotted out.The Gordian Knot is an ancient and timeless metaphor that still has just as much relevance today. Per Wikipedia:
The cutting of the Gordian Knot is an Ancient Greek legend associated with Alexander the Great in Gordium in Phrygia, regarding a complex knot that tied an oxcart. Reputedly, whoever could untie it would be destined to rule all of Asia. In 333 BCE, Alexander was challenged to untie the knot. Instead of untangling it laboriously as expected, he dramatically cut through it with his sword. This is used as a metaphor for using brute force to solve a seemingly-intractable problem.
Does that sound familiar? It certainly should. What do the 21 drinking age and so many other types of illiberal and abominable policies (i.e. endless wars, creeping tyranny, voter suppression, revoking women's reproductive rights, mass deportations, and the all-out assault on the human rights of youth and other marginalized groups) all have in common? They all revolve around, and are both caused and effected by, the illusion of control. Per Wikipedia:
The illusion of control is the tendency for people to overestimate their ability to control events. It was named by U.S. psychologist Ellen Langer and is thought to influence gambling behavior and belief in the paranormal. Along with illusory superiority and optimism bias, the illusion of control is one of the positive illusions.
And there you have it. The Gordian Knot in this case is the illusion of control. And how to cut it? Simply abandon that illusion, along with (especially) the desire for such control over others as well, and don't look back. Problem solved.
For example, whenever the fearmongers cite scary-sounding statistics and studies in their zeal to make a case for more and more restrictions on young people, the best way to respond is: "Yeah, so? And your point is?"
And now we can see why Denmark is one of the happiest countries on Earth. At least a major part of the reason has to be because they have largely abandoned the illusion of control long ago. After all, they are the only Nordic country where the Temperance movement never really caught on.
(Which is probably why when anyone shoves seemingly scary statistics and studies about their country's world-leading and often technically hazardous drinking habits in their face, for all ages and especially among young people, they likely respond with a "Yeah, so? And your point is?")
In other words, once enough people realize that it is neither possible nor desirable for people to use public policy to have anywhere near as much control over other people as they think, peace and liberty shall finally return to the land for good. That said, convincing that many people is a LOT easier said than done. After all, it is far easier to fool people than it is to convince people that they have been fooled.
Until then, the Law of Eristic Escalation shall reign supreme. That is, imposition of order = escalation of chaos.
It is long past time to stop chasing the illusion of control. It's like "chasing the dragon": you're never gonna catch it, and you end up doing far more harm than good by even trying.
QED
UPDATE: Looks like we spoke too soon about Denmark. Just this year or so, their overall zeitgiest seems to be changing in a more "protective" (read: restrictive) direction towards young people, both in the physical and virtual worlds. So what we said just a few paragraphs up is now quickly becoming outdated with each passing day. Alas, ever since they did their rolling COVID lockdowns and such five years ago, Denmark hasn't ever been the same, it seems.
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
--Tenth Amendment
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
--Fourteenth Amendment
"The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age."
--26th Amendment
And for those who still deny that liberty and equal protection includes the right to drink legally:
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
--Ninth Amendment
(Emphasis added)
"Any people that would give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety, deserves neither and loses both."