marriage

[henry quirk]

"Physical age is really a very weak way to determine who can enter into contracts."

But that's not the determiner.

"To form a legally-binding contract, each party who is signing it must be able to understand what is being signed. Not only does each party need to understand the terms of the contract, but everyone must also specifically consent to its terms."

"A young person may think that he or she has the capacity to understand the terms of the contract presented, but he or she must also be mature enough to appreciate the consequences of what is being signed."

Maturity/experience is the determiner.

Certainly there are 16 year olds capable of entering into binding contracts (emancipation is one means by which the under-aged can access the use of the legal system) and there are 60 years who cannot.

Broadly (based on community standards) 18 is seen as the minimum age wherein a person generally has the experience to consent.

It's not a perfect system.

The current system of marriage is not a perfect system.

My suggestions in this thread are not indicative of a perfect system.

And: considering the increasing level of infantilization in America, I’m inclined to think the age of consent mebbe ought to be set higher…