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From: garys@bunker.UUCP (Gary M. Samuelson)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Seat belts
Message-ID: <811@bunker.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Apr-85 09:37:45 EST
Article-I.D.: bunker.811
Posted: Thu Apr 18 09:37:45 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Apr-85 01:44:10 EST
References: <429@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <335@calmasd.UUCP>
Organization: Bunker Ramo, Trumbull Ct
Lines: 48

(net.kids and net.singles dropped from list of newsgroups)

> I think it's pretty well established that it's smart to wear a
> seat belt.  But if I don't wear a seat belt, I'm not endangering
> anyone but myself. 

Not true.  If you are involved in an accident, you may be thrown
out of your car, or at least out of the driver's seat, thereby
increasing the chance of a secondary collision.

> The REAL issue is, should the government(s) be making laws
> *requiring* people to wear seat belts just because it's "for
> your own good"?  Can we next expect legislation requiring us to
> take vitamins, as well?  [sarcasm]

If you accept the premise that the government owns the roads
(having built them), then the government has the right to make
rules about their use.  If the roads were turned over to private
enterprise, then the individuals or corporations who owned the
roads would have the right to make such rules.

I would therefore answer your first question, "No, the government
shouldn't make laws 'for your own good,' but that is *not* the
'REAL issue.'"

About your second question: there is (or was) legislation requiring
that children be innoculated against certain diseases, such as
smallpox.  Is that bad?  It has resulted in the apparent eradication
of smallpox.  Such eradication would probably not have occurred
if the innoculations had not been virtually universal.  Now, suppose
that some vitamin were to be shown to prevent AIDS.  Would it not
be worthwhile to require that everyone take that vitamin, until
AIDS was similarly eliminated?  (Substitue any communicable disease
you would like to see eradicated.)

> Where do we draw the line?

The fact that it is difficult to decide where to draw the line
between two extremes (in this case, totalitarianism and anarchy)
doesn't mean that we should draw no line, or choose one of the
extremes.

> Gail Bayley Hanrahan
> Calma Company, San Diego
> {ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!sdcsvax!calmasd!gail

Gary Samuelson
ittvax!bunker!garys