Michelle Obama to Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show."
"Well, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, young people can stay on their parents' insurance until they are 26," said the first lady of the United States. "But once they hit 26 -- they're on their own. And a lot young people think they're invincible. But the truth is, young people are knuckleheads. They're the ones who are cooking for the first time and slice their finger open, they're dancing on the bar stool."
Actually, she's right about the first part. Young people are knuckleheads (a very useful word I wish were used more). But the thing is, they have always been knuckleheads. That's the point of being young. Then young people grow up and stop being knuckleheads. That's been the way of life for all of history, and the kids mangaged to leave their knuckleheadedness behind without Obamacare allowing them to stay in their parents' basements until they're 26.
Talking about the modern age here, of course. Before the 20th century, the concept of "childhood" itself was rather vague, those young people being expected to get out there and contribute their share from about the age of 7. But encouraging millions of 20-somethings to stay children doesn't seem like a good answer, unless you're a progressive loony who thinks its your job to make us all eat our vegetables.
