Why Your Teenager Isn't That Smart Yet

The old joke about teenagers moving out while they still know everything still applies, but now, there's scientific evidence to back up what every parent already knows: teenagers have no forethought and don't consider the consequences of their actions.

More interestingly, to me, this research suggests that the decision-making center of your brain--the prefrontal cortex--doesn't fully develop until the late 20s. By that time, people have been through college (or dropped out), gotten married and had babies (not necessarily in that order). Is it any wonder young adults get in so much hot water so quickly with finances, careers, dating, and family? According to the science, they simply aren't mature enough to handle making these decisions. Yet the same guy who spends all his money on gaming systems has the same voting rights mature adults do.

Ann Coulter has proposed repealing the 26th Amendment, based on the crappy voting record of young adults. But given the research that shows 18-year-olds don't have the mental capacity to make good choices, maybe it isn't such a bad idea.

Why Is It That the Same People Angry Bristol Palin Is in the Finals of DWTS...

Are against Voter ID laws? Seems like picking your elected representatives is a bit more important than a television show.

Texas Dems Gain Support from Houston Chronicle

Great post at Lone Star Times on the gutless lying and sleezeball behavior by Houston Chronicle columnist Lisa Falkenberg.

Falkenberg outright lies about procedures Republicans used to bring the voter ID bill out of committee where it could be voted on. Best part of the post is this chart which shows wide voter ID support from Texans:



Democrats talked the bill to death, complaining that the bill would prevent lots of eligible voters from voting. That's just a lot of malarky, since legal voters would still be able to vote. It's the illegal ones we want to eliminate.

Voter ID Passes Texas House Committee

Lone Star Times is reporting that the Voter ID law has passed out of the Texas House Elections Committee and is now headed to the House floor. This is great news for Texans.