Most states trying to loosen standards are just trying to get in line with federal regulations (from their already more-stringent state standards) which are mostly minor changes like allowing minors to serve alcohol or work an extra two hours a day.<p>On the other hand, the media is constantly driving this idea home that there are no jobs for young people, so it's kind of hard to know which side of their ass they're talking out of.<p>What I do know is if you look at the data we have since COVID, young men have been dropping out of high school and college in record numbers in order to work to support their families out of necessity. Inflation has crushed a lot of poor and middle class people.<p>If regulators and rich liberals really want to save the children, they should get a handle on supply chains and pricing of basic necessities so that young people don't have to choose between feeding themselves/their families and their education.