Extract Head from Gluteus Maximus

I suppose since individual choice in a social environment is not determined or monitored by any scientific predictors, we people of this Nation will continue to endlessly debate government intrusion upon individual rights versus the degree of 'controls' necessary for the good of the order.

Let's take for example a couple of issues: (1) If we had no mandated driving 'age' law, I would guess that many parents would allow driving for the 16-year old teens at earlier ages. Then there is the 'legal' voting and alcohol consumption ages; likely the consent spectrum from parents would  produce a broad range of 'okay.' However, these aforementioned issues have government enacted laws granting permissions at specified ages, if you please for the general safety concern of all.

This twenty-first century technological explosion catches our society in cross-hairs. The evidence of Internet and cell phone usage is mindbogglingly. Seventy-three percent drive and talk on cell phones, 75% of teens have cell phones, on average teens send 1,500 text messages per month, 97% of teens play computer games and 27% of teens play those computer games with 'strangers.' Seventy-three percent of teens have 'profiles' posted on various web sites and 47% of teens have uploaded photos on computers and keep in mind a sexting-nude or semi-nude photo is just a click away from your 12 year old kid.

Of course, those who freak out over any perceived 'loss' of individual freedoms, should we attempt to enact laws on these concerns, will claim that these issues are NONE of the State's affair...parents should control their children's lives. There is an old saying that goes something like this, "You jest your friends and I'll jest mine; let's not jest one another." Speaking to you in person, I would perhaps use other wording.  Most parents are NOT in control of their teenagers and/or give little consideration to these concerns. Therefore,when the incidence of crimes committed on teens and highway deaths escalate from the careless abuse of these unbridled toys, please be leery of the neighbor who wishes to blame government, schools and Churches for failing our children. That neighbor is jesting himself and some of the jesting may get 'on you!'