Using Children to Argue Policy

Q: Politicians on both sides of the aisle have been using children to argue policy lately. What are the ethical implications of finding children to put in the spotlight?

A: I think that it's unethical to use children in this way. Children under the age of 18 are determined by law to not be able to fully comprehend and understand the consequences of their actions. That's why we have statutory rape laws. Even if a girl says yes, if she's under a certain age and having intimate relations with an older man, she's considered by the law to not be able to adequately comprehend the consequences of her actions.

Thus, a child is not fully able to comprehend the issues and how those …