Teens should have adult legal rights and responsibilities

How about you post some of these articles and websites that you're getting your facts from, and then maybe this debate could be a bit more honest. Give me some proof about your brain development theory. Give me some proof about some of these things you are criticizing me for; and maybe they are true, but I am not going to risk being scammed by you. I won't put up with it. With that out of the way, let me provide you with my argument (with websites, articles, etc.)! Read this definition of experience, provided so graciously by Merriam-Webster: 2. practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity You gain knowledge from experience - or so says the dictionary. And I thought that, for most people, that was a given. When politicians talk about their experience, they are talking about their political knowledge. When co workers talk about experience, they are talking about their practical knowledge at how to do their job. You get the picture. So experience does make you wiser; it can provide you with better judgement, etc. http://etherealmind.com... Click on this link; the headline might surprise you, but it's true. Getting off topic. Sorry. So teenagers don't have as much experience, which you did not deny. Without experience, teenagers cannot make true, fact-based decisions. This is where a parent comes in - to offer the teenager guidance. To help them make the tough choices in life. You make a parent sound bad, like something that holds teenagers back - but, in reality, they HELP them and make their lives easier. This is a responsibility of a parent, after all - to provide guidance when needed. To give better judgement to situations that teens cannot come to a conclusion on by themselves. This is one reason a parent is needed. Your 'example' of prohibition cannot be compared to my argument. I said that teens would break LESS restrictive laws; your claim is that they break MORE restrictive laws. I cannot deny this - if a rule is too restrictive, any one (not just teens) will break it. But lets put it into modern context. Gay marriage has become the topic of much political and ethical debate - something that I am strongly against. The first step to the legalization of gay relationships was the introduction of homosexual activity legalization; one of the last states to legalize this was Texas, in 2003. Next came the introduction of civil unions. It sounded all good at first - and then they wanted more. And more. And now the liberals are tossing around gay marriage like it is something that has always been acceptable. Just a few short years ago, though, it wasn't something to talk about. It was something taboo. My point is that, whether it is with drug legalization, gay marriage, or the latter, people are going to demand for more and more when you give more and more to them. This is why I am against allowing teenagers to smoke and do other such activities; they will continue to want more and more and more. And if government keeps giving it to them, at what point are they going to stop? We need to stand our ground; we need to be firm and say "No!" to teenage drug, alcohol, etc. legalization. You use history as an example - which is inaccurate. Life used to be a whole lot more complicated. Farming and industry were really the only two ways that a MAJORITY of the people could earn a living. And these lives were hard and back-breaking. They didn't have as high a standard of living as we do today. Teenagers married so that they could escape family poverty and make money for themselves - which put them into the same boat as their parents. It was a never ending cycle, a never ending pattern. But the standard of living has improved; people don't need to go out and find economic last resorts. The parents can - and should - pay for their kids' childhood. They should, because children and teens are still learning the basics of life. The childhood and teen years are full of guidance and self-discovery. They shouldn't be burdened by the concerns of raising a family, home ownership, etc. They should live in an environment that motivates them - and encourages them to discover their moral compass. Their moral compass, however, should be influenced by the parents. Let me put it into an example: does the world need government? It sure seems as if we make it on our own, and all the government does is steal our money. No! Government is there to supply us with basic needs - roads, schools, etc. Although you may not like HOW government is spending your tax money, you cannot deny that these basics help you in your daily life. Without roads, you couldn't get anywhere; without schools, you would be uneducated. Government is like parenthood - it may seem pointless, but it, in fact, makes our lives better.