Rights are something you are born with, they are not generally granted to you. That said, some do arrive upon certain stages of your life.

Freedoms are something that is granted to you.

You do not have the right to have sex at age 18, or any age for that matter. You have the freedom to have sex unmolested by the law at age 18 in most places, but thats assuming the partner you are having it with is consenting.

You have the right to deny someone sex. THATS a right.

I could go into indepth detail about the distinctions between the two concepts but this is neither the place nor the time.

there is a distinct difference between the two however and I am sorry to say this but the difference becomes clearer when you are subjected to them for longer periods of time, hence older people feel differently about them.

18 is a milestone. having rights, thats not one of them.

oh, and thanks for the avatar. I cannot see them so I will have to take your word that it looks good.

Happy birthday, you big man you.

It seems so long ago when I was eighteen. Well, it *is* a long time ago.

In the states I think it varies from state to state but generally its about 16 when you can get a permit and 17 or 18 for a full license.

In certain instances, you can apply for a hardship license at 13 or 14. You have to be in a bad way such as both parents are incapacitated in some way. Say, father dead and mother stroked out. At least thats my understanding on ages for driving.

BTW, driving is a privilege in the United States. You have no right to drive.

Now I am going to assume that you at least google searched prior to posting but just in case. I also am aware that you said "everywhere you been". That could mean, one state or all 50 but I am going to assume that its less than 5 or so since I know what I posted to be near accurate.

http://www.wvdot.com/6_motorists/dmv/6g1_licenses.htm
http://www.dor.state.mo.us/mvdl/drivers/license.htm
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/geninfo.html

These are just a quick scan in google for minimum ages for drivers licenses that I did.

These three at lease are close to my post.

For the record. I have commercial class "A" licenses and am aware of most driving laws in the USA because my job depends on my knowing them. Not state specific like drunk driving fines and such, more traffic fines that a commercial license deals with due to scale houses and port of entry duties.

In my travels, I have had to know minimum ages because commercial licenses require a certain age for issuance. In most states its 21, but some its as high as 25. I do not need to know minimum ages for permits and such persay, but its on the same page most times so I do notice.

In other words, I would not have posted, if I were not pretty damned sure of my reply holding up to closer scrutiny.

Apples/Oranges.

If its restricted, its not a real license. Period.

Unless, you were referring to eye wear?

I will look deeper, but whether its designated "learners" or not, it still amounts to the same thing. Its not a true license.

[EDIT]

I cannot even locate Hardship licenses anywhere that do not deal with people whom have lost their licenses for some other reason.

Anyway, its all semantics. It does look like 16 is the line of distinction.

Whether its a permit or license.

We seem to have reached an impasse on our viewpoints Maze. You seem determined to add more value to the word intermediate than I. So be it.

Have a good day.