There are some chalkboards around my college campus, and usually someone writes a brutally dehumanizing question like, "How saddened are you by some shooting that harmed so many people?" I normally don't respond. Today, however, I saw a pretty decent question. It'*, "How should the US get out of debt?" I wrote in big, pink letters, "Legalize child labor!"

Do you believe in laws protecting child labor, or do you think a deregulated free market would function efficiently enough not to need or to encourage it?

it could be a little less strict but there are still jobs i wouldnt let a child do

A very difficult question. It would definitely help in in regards to providing additional workers for jobs that a vacuum has brought alot of illegal immigrants into the country to fill. On the other side of the coin, weakening our Child Labor Laws could negatively impact our children'* schooling and training. Something already becoming an issue.

I do feel a responsibly assessment and implementation of a study could help.

I think our country should look to Europe for some guidance. Over there a persons aptitude seems more closely evaluated early in secondary education two paths are taken. Further "higher education" or going into vocational schooling. They seem to be more adept at using what skills a child has and promoting that. Here we seem to just focus on get to college and lets see what you can do and whats available when you finish.

I think these need to be relaxed a little bit. What is considered child labor really? I started working with my dad when I was 10. By the time I was 14, I was doing jobs alone. We lived in an apartment building, my mom was the manager, and we had an exceptionally awesome relationship with the building'* owner, so I was hired to remodel apartments and do building work. I tore down cabinets, laid tile in bathrooms (and I don't mean linoleum), mirrors, light fixtures, sinks and faucets, toilets, drywall repair, patch, paint, installing blinds, appliances, painting railings, etc, and that was at 14. How the hell else is a kid supposed to afford his first car when mom and dad don't have the money? You have to work, and I wanted to have a nice car by the time I was 16, so I worked my *** off.

Would I put an 8 year old to work? Hell no, but the current 16 year law could be stretched a little.

i think 15 for sure mabey 14 with parental consent if its like a mom and pop store then keep the laws we have in place for everything else

I was able to work at the Meijer (equivalent to Walmart for those who anrent in a Meijer state) when i was 15. last time i checked they still allow 15 year old people to work as cart pushers

I was at the local Stop & Shop at age sixteen doing shelf-stocking. Had to get working papers from the school (state law), which was easy, but after that it was just like working any other job.

Connecticut will let you hire 14-year-olds under some tight conditions, and I believe most states have similar laws in place. Kids want to earn money, I say let them, with obvious parental consent and school approval. (Nobody wants to employ a D student anyway.)

The major caveat here is like Venom mentioned: trying to keep America'* brainpower competitive in this globalized economy. Still, for whatever reason, I don't see minors' labor laws getting the axe anytime soon.

I think I was 13 when I had a paper rout.

I was into wholesale/retail as a young teenager. I think I'll leave it at that.