Posted on 05/31/2006 9:42:50 AM PDT by from occupied ga
Virginia's secretary of transportation sent out a letter announcing the state's annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign May 22 through June 4. I responded to the secretary of transportation with my own letter that in part reads:
"Mr. Secretary: This is an example of the disgusting abuse of state power. Each of us owns himself, and it follows that we should have the liberty to take risks with our own lives but not that of others. That means it's a legitimate use of state power to mandate that cars have working brakes because if my car has poorly functioning brakes, I risk the lives of others and I have no right to do so. If I don't wear a seatbelt I risk my own life, which is well within my rights. As to your statement 'Lack of safety belt use is a growing public health issue that . . . also costs us all billions of dollars every year,' that's not a problem of liberty. It's a problem of socialism. No human should be coerced by the state to bear the medical expense, or any other expense, for his fellow man. In other words, the forcible use of one person to serve the purposes of another is morally offensive."
My letter went on to tell the secretary that I personally wear a seatbelt each time I drive; it's a good idea. However, because something is a good idea doesn't necessarily make a case for state compulsion. The justifications used for "Click It or Ticket" easily provide the template and soften us up for other forms of government control over our lives.
For example, my weekly exercise routine consists of three days' weight training and three days' aerobic training. I think it's a good idea. Like seatbelt use, regular exercise extends lives and reduces health care costs. Here's my question to government officials and others who sanction the "Click It or Ticket" campaign: Should the government mandate daily exercise for the same reasons they cite to support mandatory seatbelt use, namely, that to do so would save lives and save billions of health care dollars?
If we accept the notion that government ought to protect us from ourselves, we're on a steep slippery slope. Obesity is a major contributor to hypertension, coronary disease and diabetes, and leads not only to many premature deaths but billions of dollars in health care costs. Should government enforce, depending on a person's height, sex and age, a daily 1,400 to 2,000-calorie intake limit? There's absolutely no dietary reason to add salt to our meals. High salt consumption can lead to high blood pressure, which can then lead to stroke, heart attack, osteoporosis and asthma. Should government outlaw adding salt to meals? While you might think that these government mandates would never happen, be advised that there are busybody groups currently pushing for government mandates on how much and what we can eat.
Government officials, if given power to control us, soon become zealots. Last year, Maryland state troopers were equipped with night vision goggles, similar to those used by our servicemen in Iraq, to catch night riders not wearing seatbelts. Maryland state troopers boasted that they bagged 44 drivers traveling unbuckled under the cover of darkness.
Philosopher John Stuart Mill, in his treatise "On Liberty," said it best: "That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise, or even right. These are good reasons for remonstrating with him, or reasoning with him, or persuading him, or entreating him, but not for compelling him, or visiting him with any evil, in case he do otherwise."
Dr. Williams serves on the faculty of George Mason University in Fairfax, VA as John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics.
"Have the number of crashes gone way down?'
Number of people thrown out of their cars only to have the car they loved join them in the ditch - on top of them - you bet
Seems to me a congressman thought that same ting recently. He killed a man. Remember? Who is the idiot again?
When I raise these specters as future threats to freedom, my associates look at me like I'm crazy. Glad to know someone else sees a possible threat here too.
Requiring seat belts is akin to requiring age of 16 or a requirement to pass a test in order to qualify to drive.
No, mandating a million dollar coverage or no license.
Discount the deer it happens here every day. Maybe you should expand your horizon to see that not all things are everywhere as they are where you reside.
I offer you personal experience and you laugh. That shows that you care not for facts and rely on feeling alone. How nice for you.
I had a sperm donor not a father. A father says son. You are not my father. As I said before, those that call names do so for reasons.
Boy? I am no boy I am a grown man with boys of my own, so you lose on that account also.
They are not different when they all apply to all people the same especially when it comes to enforcement of them. You seem to be unable to ascend to that level of thinking.
Good day.
Nice one!
Please tell us that you ride a bus.
More name calling. Imagine that. WOW you sure do like to show your level of intellect don't you?
good day.
remote shut down? GM did that along time ago it is called "service engine soon" lights! Ha Ha. Onstar is on it already. I have no beef with that whatsoever.
GPS? in lots of cars now. Satilites can see a cig pack on the ground already, you make hay that is long since passed and claim it is coming. Funny really.
Cameras? well on public roadways that is to be expected. Just like in walmart, the bank, the ATM, Subway, the gas station. I like to pose to you anti camera folks that a DUKE lacross player is showing his INNOCENCE with a camera like the one you aim to oppose here in this post. Think about that to understand the two way street they provide.
Milage logging? Ummm odometers?
Now this one you really reach into the ozone for:
One could even argue that a seat belt is about stoppng distance also. In relation to your seat and the windsheild that is.
WOW... (Que the laugh track)
See, some people cannot even exhert self control long enough to allow the puter to wrok thru a hang up! HA HA.
What's wrong with mandating $1m coverage?
You seem to assume that it is 20x as expensive as $50k minimum coverage.
It isn't. Not even close. I pay $112 for 6 months of coverage at $500k liability per incident, on a European sports car (collision, uninsured, and comp are additional). That is the required max before the umbrella insurance takes over.
You see, the vast majority of claims are at low levels, but motorists should be required to insure against all the harm they may cause.
Bus and taxi, you aren't dricing are ya?
Helmets obstruct sight belts do not.
When old people fall alot they are bound in restraints and are alarmed to alert people they are up and about. This is proper for those that cannot care for themselves. Are yousaying we should not do so?
Dang, Williams, blew it in the second paragraph.
How about doing away with mandatory speed limits and just say that your insurance won't cover your accident if you were going 110 mph?
Or how about doing away with mandatory drivers licenses and having the insurance company not pay if you drive without a license?
These are EXACTLY the same principle you are proposing with seat belts - no difference.
Mandatory licenses, speed limits AND seat belts are all there to protect us. Why ignore one and accept the other two?
I would love a no pajamas mandate.
Oh wait, my bad! Never mind.
And I think there are some people who are so stupid that they cannot figure out the purpose of Shift Key.
When that idnividual is on the road with many others this argument loses some validity. If you lose control of your vehicle, even if after the initial collision, you are more likely to hit more cars(c0ontaining other people) on the road.
Are you seriously going to dispute even that???
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