sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) (01/21/84)
At this point, this discussion hardly belongs in 'net.motss'; if it picks up much more critical mass we can move it somewhere else. Until then... The problem with using an objective criterion such as a standardized "test" for maturity, other than the obvious logistical problems, is that we would be in danger of creating a "meritocracy", in which those who failed would be possibly forever condemned to second-class citizenship. Despite all its drawbacks, the concept of an age of majority is equitable because it is uniformly applied to all people, and, most importantly, people reach that age without having to do anything special. A democracy is imperfect--people of disparate education and ability participate in the governmental process. But that is the only way it can be, if we still value each individual's role. -- /Steve Dyer decvax!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca