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Actually, in the Tudor time period, at least as relates to the nobility, and members of the court, the average life expectancy for a man was in his 50-60’s. The average life expectancy for a woman was into her early 30’s. The things that killed most women were childbirth, complications or fever after childbirth (this was what killed the 3rd and 6th wives of Henry VIII), and multiple miscarriages or pregnancies.
As women died so much earlier, they were having babies at a much younger age. In Tudor Englandit was not unusual for men to be in their 50’s and be on the second or third or even 4th wife. Men who were in their 50’s were married to girls who were 13 or 14. Surely you don’t think that should be done today?

Wow! This thread is a rich vein, indeed.

You wrote of 13 year olds reproducing long ago, “Surely you don’t think that should be done today?”

Your tax dollars are supporting the reproduction of many 13 year old females in all too many places in America.

When government is allowed to do charity, that government would subsidize “bastard farming” (lawyers term), became inevitable.

Might I suggest Googling Davy Crockett and Horatio Bunce” - as Rep. Crockett learned “It is not yours to give”.

No. Of course, I was only going back a century, not five - so you're constructing a straw-man argument.
But I am saying that kids don't need to raised in cocoon; I had multiple jobs by the time I was 16 - I bought my own car with my own earnings. Others have done much better.
Kids, at least some of them, are ready to assume substantial levels of responsibility much earlier than the current culture seems to support. Smothering them is a bad thing.

Personally, I'm ready strap a kid on gurney at 16 (or even at 14) if he commits murder. So I'm also ready to respect a kid who learns to fly at 14 and to admire a kid who tries to sail around the world at 16.

I have a FinL, over 70, who wants to sail alone around the world. Even though he owns a suitable yacht, I figure the chances of him doing are almost nil. He's waited to too long and probably isn't fit to do it any more. I'm gettin’ old too - 49. There's still a little life in me, but most of my youthful dreams are filed on their last little shelves. If some kid can chase a dream at 16, while she's got the health and reflexes to do it, then more power to her. The only thing irritating me was some comment about applying to the US Government for salvage and rescue costs... THAT’s irresponsible.

I think our country is suffering from adults who seem to prolong their adolescence into their 40’s. Its gratifying to see an adolescent who shoulders adult tasks and responsibilities.