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From: clyde@ut-ngp.UUCP (Clyde W. Hoover)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Seatbelt laws
Message-ID: <250@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 23-Jan-84 10:16:21 EST
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.250
Posted: Mon Jan 23 10:16:21 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Jan-84 05:42:56 EST
References: Many
Organization: Comp. Center, Univ. of Texas at Austin
Lines: 27

Sorry, all you well-meaning types, I agree with the contention that
manadatory seat-belt and helmet laws suck.  If I want to risk my
life, THAT IS, AND ALWAYS SHOULD BE <<MY>> BUSINESS, NOT THE
STATE'S!!  If I want to ignore my 'responsibilties', that is my
problem.

The worst part of this sort of thing is that people will not
do something that is good just because they are TOLD to by the state.
You CANNOT force people to take care of themselves - they barely
can handle taking care of others (I do agree with coercing 
the use of child seats).

And, on top of that, by having such laws, (like the 55 mph speed 
limit), you have the potential of making almost EVERYONE a minor
criminal - which is a useful thing for the state to be able to do.
(There is the beginning of a good flame here, but not now...)

BTW, I always wear my seatbelt - as a protection against both
my slopiness (occasionally) and OTHER people's stupidity (often) -
I don't intend for my promising and enjoyable life to be ended
by flying through some windsheild at the behest of a stupid or
drunk driver.

-- 
Clyde W. Hoover @ Univ. of Texas Computation Center; Austin, Texas  
(Shouter-To-Dead-Parrots)
clyde@ut-ngp.{UUCP,ARPA} clyde@ut-sally.{UUCP,ARPA} ihnp4!ut-ngp!clyde