The Constitution prescribes that members of the House of Representatives must be at least 25, that senators must be at least 30 and that the president must be at least 35.
Those requirements were set to seek a degree of maturity, and thus responsibility, in government.
But maturity is plainly lacking among too many lawmakers, with the federal government facing a deadline next Tuesday to avoid hitting the $14.3 trillion debt limit and being unable to meet some of its financial obligations.
That irresponsibility is not a recent development. The current and some past presidents, and a majority of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, have been financially reckless for decades. So we needn't pretend that the debt and the debt limit crisis are a surprise.
President Obama is appealing for an increase in the debt limit - and thus for increased debt. He spoke to the nation briefly Monday night, calling for a "balanced approach." But his "balanced approach" means higher debt, higher taxes and more spending. At a time when debt is catastrophically high, taxes are too high, and spending keeps growing, we see little "balance" in that plan.
Responding to the president, Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner said, "The president has often said we need a 'balanced' approach, which in Washington means we spend more, you pay more."
He noted that the president has remained steadfast in his desire for more taxes, debt and spending. "The sad truth is that the president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today," Boehner said. "That is just not going to happen."
So what is the mature solution?
It is not just to raise the debt limit and taxes. That would harm prospects for economic growth and push the burden of excessive spending onto the next generation.
The right, though painful, solution is to eliminate vast amounts of unconstitutional spending and reduce constitutional but unnecessary spending. There must also be reform of entitlement programs that are currently heading for bankruptcy.
We should not have waited until we are this close to the Aug. 2 debt limit deadline to make the right cuts in spending. But we fear Congress will make few meaningful spending cuts at all before the crisis is over.