Quote:
Originally Posted by boz130
Wish all you want, gang...since the 21-years-old law is attached @ the hip to highway $$$, it's not gonna change.
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We know that. Allow me to quote Dr. John McCardell from the C&C article.
In 1984, federal law did not set a national drinking age. It said the states may set the age limit wherever they chose but, if they set it lower than 21, they would forfeit 10 percent of their federal highway funds.
“Well that was a pretty effective way of stifling debate,” McCardell says. “So the legislative remedy, or the change that needs to take place, which we are beginning to advocate, is the lifting of that 10 percent condition.”
Ultimately, the decision would then fall to the states to determine what the drinking age would be — but it is unlikely any state legislature or governor would consider a new bill and risk a cut in federal funding.
“I don’t think anyone would have predicted the degree of public response to this issue, which really says to me it’s time to reopen this debate,” he says.
I saw McCardell on CBS this morning, and he made some very logical points.
I also saw a representative of MADD on TV last night who said they were going to discourage potential college students from enrolling in any institution whose president was among the 100 who signed the letter. Before there's even any debate, their tactics have gotten dirty, and they've ruined what little credibility they had.
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