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From: dca@edison.UUCP (David C. Albrecht)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.auto
Subject: Re: Re: If you could save lives, would you?
Message-ID: <543@edison.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Sep-85 09:59:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: edison.543
Posted: Wed Sep 11 09:59:10 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Sep-85 05:49:59 EDT
References: <2778@harpo.UUCP> <698@rduxb.UUCP>
Organization: General Electric Company, Charlottesville, VA
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Xref: watmath net.consumers:2969 net.auto:8127

> If you had the power to save lives, would you do it? You and I do have that
> power. On this day and at this moment, people are being smashed to death    
> inside their cars when their lives could be preserved by air bags. 

The question is would I save the life of someone that has the power to save
it themselves and refuses to do so.  It seems to me they are making a personal
decision that the amount of accident protection a seat belt gives them is
not worth the minor hassle of putting it on.  The advantages of seat belts
are well publicized and well documented.  Providing people with a safe
and reliable means to protect themselves is good.  Replacing or augmenting
that means with a limited usefulness method simply because people refuse
to use the first means I think is a bit silly.  We cannot be big brother
to the entire population, keep them from doing stupid things, taking
risks, indulging in dangerous activities.  We all have to live with
the consequences of our actions.

I would bet that most of the people that died in car accidents if they
had been given the choice of car with air bags and one without would
have chosen the cheaper car (i.e. the one without air bags).  I find
effective, easy to use safety tools an admirable goal.  Protecting
people who don't feel compelled to protect themselves and penalizing
those who do take the care smacks to much of big brother.  You might
try reading "The Humanoids" a book by Jack Williamson some time if
you wish to see the idea taken to extremes.

David Albrecht