It's just an idea. As long as it stays that way it's valid, but they are undoubted known to law enforcement.
As for the AOC, it's a line in the sand, and just as valid, but it has to be drawn somewhere however no one will ever agree.
There has come to be more and more agreement that the legal age of consent should be 18. They have been trending on the rise and we have scientific data that suggests the frontal lobes in a child's brain are not fully functional until they are in their 20s which means they are incapable (in most instances) of critical thinking skills which is why they are such risk takers and bad decision makers.
but in some states kids can marry at age 14, but not consent to a relationship with a man above 18
marriage is a life changing and lifelong decision (hopefully), but a 14/16 yr old boy is not old enough to choose a relationship with another male?
Not an adult.
Kids getting married at 14 are not adults, but they are legal to get a license and have sex with their spouse, who might be older. They can consent to marriage but not to have sex outside of marriage?
You don't think it should be the other way around? Why is having sex with a 17 yr old different than an 18 or 19 yr old? Why is sex between children allowed but consensual sex with an 18 yr old is rape? Kids are consenting either way.
Why is a child a child one day and an adult the next? Maturity is not magically given because of a birthday. Some adult never seen to grow up and some children so more maturity than people twice their age.
Why can a child be emancipated but not allowed to have sex or vote?
Why can teen join the army before their 18th birthday but not have sex with someone a year or two older, or even a few months older? Why can they die for their country but not drink or vote?
Why do kids have to be 16 to drive but when I was growing up, I was driving at 13 and tending bar after school by 18? I never had or did not know of any age limit existing when I was growing up. Wine was always a part of our table for dinner. Why is age magically changing over the decades?
...........and yet so many of out parents become children in their later years, but they have not "age" at which they loose their license to drive or refused a beer or a class of wine at the end of day. They are not told they cannot vote after 80, or not allowed to have their checking account (unless they family take them before a judge)
Why is a kid responsible enough to drive at 16 but not decide who they can have sex with if that person is a bit older?