[Apocryphon]

What determines equality?

[thegrimmest]

It is a moral axiom:

> We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...

[Apocryphon]

And how are children, as men, not also created equal, yet still subject to paternalism?

[thegrimmest]

I think children are excluded from the definition of "men".

[Apocryphon]

Surely not by the above moral axiom.

[thegrimmest]

Surely by it. I would struggle to find a precedent where children are considered equal to adults, and not subject to their authority. In fact my whole point is we shouldn't treat adults the same way we do children.

[Apocryphon]

Why is it authoritarian and condescending for a government to provide service and address societal problems, but no less authoritarian or condescending for a government to be in the business of protecting the rights that any self-respecting freeholder should be ready and willing to do so?