You're 16

Anya Kamenetzin argues in her article "You're 16, You're Beautiful and You're a Voter" to lower the legal age "threshold" to 16 through incorporating a required, educational "graduated system" that would teach early age realists to responsibly manage their rights and privelages.
She introduces this issue with a discussion of the successful phasing in of driving for 16 year olds and the required testing that produces safer drivers. This example stands as a model for the other areas Kamenetzin would like to see altered: early age voting, drinking, and credit card use.
Kamenetzin suggests a lowered voting age based on the passing of a civics course and voting permit test. This would increase voter registration and encourage mature teens to partake in this privelage and right.
A lowered drinking age is proposed as well. Likewise, a course on alcoholism is required, along with obtaining a permit that would limit the amount alcohol allowed for consumption and with whom it may be consumed. The notion that most teens are already receiving their first drinks and most drink less if consuming small amounts with families backs this proposition.
Finally, Kamenetzin suggests a "phasing in" of credit cards for 16 year olds. She argues for a co-signer and financial literacy test. Also, teens should be required to responsibly pay each payment for a year with their own wages.
Ultimately, Anya Kamenetzin encourages adult treatment of teens. The support of the government in teaching rights with responsibilities would encourage teens to rise and meet adult expectations.