Age limits aggravate me.

Age limits have always struck me as arbitrary and unfair. As a precocious child, I hated being told that I wasn't old enough for something. I was stuck in Primary classes with people my age, but not my intelligence or maturity. I never understood why I had to wait, or why age had any relevance as to what I could and could not do.

I still don't truly understand. I don't know why 16 and 18 are magic numbers--why can you date and drive at 16 and vote at 18? It seems to me that age is equated with maturity and/or responsibility. I understand that typically there is a correlation.

However.

In this day and age, maturity has become horribly distorted. I know 15 year old girls that are more mature than 30 year old men. It may come as a shock, but people don't magically grow up when they turn 18. Why, then, does society treat them as though they do? I realize that I'm a bit more passionate about this than most people would be, but having skipped a grade, I've been a year behind for most of my life. It seems grossly unfair to me that most of my classmates are legally adults, especially since they don't act like it in the least. Some of the most intelligent people I know are deprived of essential rights by an accident of birth.

When I was younger, I imagined I'd run for president. Or at least for Congress. These dreams were quashed when I learned I'd have to wait countless years until I was old. Discovery of the 25, 30 and 35 year old age limits for Congress and the Presidency killed my dreams.

A huge problem in the US government is corruption--unfair deals, scandals, etc. Once fresh young idealists like myself grow up enough to run for office, they're jaded and cynical and adopt the system instead of trying to effect any changes for the better. The current chronocracy is constitutional, but not moral. Again, why those ages? Is there empirical proof that before those exact ages, a person is not qualified to hold public office? It's arbitrary, and completely unfair.

Back to the voting age, there's nothing in the Constitution that says it can't be lower than 18.

"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." Meaning, the voting age can be lower. But why isn't it? Society, especially the media, portrays teenagers as immature, stupid, and completely irresponsible--prone to making decisions without thinking. To be honest, that's my perception of my peers a good deal of the time.

But. What about those who don't follow the stereotype? Are we to be punished and discriminated against because of our age?

My parents say that it's not a big issue; I just have to wait a few years. But that doesn't make it right. I think even when I'm old I'll campaign for youth rights. Because that's the right thing to do.

Anyway. There's my rant.