Originally Posted by
pinseeker
So that's not age discrimination. They are to immature to drink or drive but not to immature to be given an M16 and sent off to fight for their country. Once again, people for changing the rule argue that they aren't doing it for themselves, but to fight an injustice, but truely fighting an injustice means including all groups, not just the group that effects you. Age limits are set to provide a safety measure for the group as a whole.
OK, you win. It's age discrimination to not allow those under 18 to drink or drive. So let's get rid of those rules. Outright. Then it'll be ok for an 8 year old to get in his moms car and take it for a ride, stop at the bar for a quick one or two and then go and join the military. That would level the playing field, wouldn't it. Would that make you feel better.
As for sending them "off to fight for their country", the last time I looked, there was no draft as it's an all volunteer military. But when there was a draft, the minimum age was 18. Someone could enlist prior to that (I think), but it would take a parents signature. And that's because they are still (by society) considered children, not adults.
As for those "fighting to change the rule", regardless of their motivation, they are including all groups, as all US pilots would then be able to work past 60. Now, whether they want to or not, is not the issue. The issue is that they would then have the opportunity. How is that not fair? And by the way, this Age 60 thing had nothing at all to do with safety, as has been mentioned numerous times before. It was put in place to get rid of some pilots that the president of AA didn't like.