Post by Homebrew Dave on Jul 21, 2008 15:38:41 GMT -5
First off, I'd like to apologize to northshore for my comments early in the thread. My information was third-hand at best and highly suspect since it came from the father of the motorcyclist. I should have kept my damn-fool mouth shut and I'm sorry for any upset I have caused you over the loss of your aunt.
On the topic of helmet laws, as my dear friend erinslion has pointed out, I am a libertarian and do not favor any law that limits personal freedom -- especially when such laws are touted as being "for your own good" as if I am incapable of choosing wisely in such a situation. If people want to be stupid and risk killing themselves by not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle, it should be their right to do so.
The problem is that we already have laws on the books such that publicly-funded hospitals cannot refuse emergency medical care to anyone regardless of the type of injuries sustained, their causes, or whether or not they have the means to pay. So should these morons who choose to not take proper safety precautions become injured as a result of their failure, I end up paying a part of their medical expenses with my tax dollars. This is just as unacceptable to me as a mandatory helmet law.
For us libertarians, this is a no-win situation. Same thing applies to mandatory seatbelt laws and warning labels on bottled water. You can't make something foolproof because while even genius has its limits, the capacity for stupidity in human beings knows no bounds. These laws are nothing more than "feel-good" legislation to give the impression that lawmakers are doing something constructive. No matter how many laws you pass, there are always going to be people who think the law doesn't apply to them or that they are careful enough that they can get away with ignoring the law.
Would I wear a helmet even if not required to by law? Yes. I kinda like my brain and want to keep it intact for as long as possible. I also wear seatbelts and have done so since long before it was mandatory in this state.
It's been said often enough that you can't legislate morality. That's a point I fully agree with. I'd like to add to it that you can't legislate either responsibility or common sense.
Dave
On the topic of helmet laws, as my dear friend erinslion has pointed out, I am a libertarian and do not favor any law that limits personal freedom -- especially when such laws are touted as being "for your own good" as if I am incapable of choosing wisely in such a situation. If people want to be stupid and risk killing themselves by not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle, it should be their right to do so.
The problem is that we already have laws on the books such that publicly-funded hospitals cannot refuse emergency medical care to anyone regardless of the type of injuries sustained, their causes, or whether or not they have the means to pay. So should these morons who choose to not take proper safety precautions become injured as a result of their failure, I end up paying a part of their medical expenses with my tax dollars. This is just as unacceptable to me as a mandatory helmet law.
For us libertarians, this is a no-win situation. Same thing applies to mandatory seatbelt laws and warning labels on bottled water. You can't make something foolproof because while even genius has its limits, the capacity for stupidity in human beings knows no bounds. These laws are nothing more than "feel-good" legislation to give the impression that lawmakers are doing something constructive. No matter how many laws you pass, there are always going to be people who think the law doesn't apply to them or that they are careful enough that they can get away with ignoring the law.
Would I wear a helmet even if not required to by law? Yes. I kinda like my brain and want to keep it intact for as long as possible. I also wear seatbelts and have done so since long before it was mandatory in this state.
It's been said often enough that you can't legislate morality. That's a point I fully agree with. I'd like to add to it that you can't legislate either responsibility or common sense.
Dave