Tracy Warner at the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has a column entitled Americans have CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. Consideration of our rights as citizens primarily takes place in the context of smoking bans. However, “rights” as they pertain to the use of seat belts figure prominently in the piece as well. Given our recent discussion of the issue, I think it’s worth a read.
A interesting read.Banning smoking in public places is very different than my choice of wearing or not wearing a seatbelt.Second hand smoke can have a negative impact on someone elses health and a public nusance to them if someone is smoking in public that intrudes on someone elses right to be in a healthy enviroment.
Insurance costs because of more serious injuries for those not wearing a seatbelt is a valid point but as I have stated before so are the uninsured,and illigal aliens that are running up emergency room costs all over the country and forcing some hospitals to close.Somehow I suspect their will be no editorial writer that says hospitals need to stop treating illegal aliens because they are driving up insurance rates.Do you?I mean they are in violation of the law when they crossed the border illegaly and suck up local resources everywhere straining local and state government resources that should be utilzed for legal citizens of this country.
Also when does the ban on cell phone usage while driving come?As I’ve stated before these people have almost hit me several times while I was driving.If as the writer of this column said we have no right to chose whether to wear a seatbelt or not because we do not have the right to kill ourselves should someone have the right to fool around with a cell phone while driving and hit me and possibly kill me?
Will other laws follow to protect my well being as well such as regulating food that is bad for my health like fast food?If we are going to talk about higher insurance rates being one of the reasons we need seatbelt laws do we not have to also regulate this type of food that causes obesity and other health related problems like diabetes and heart disease?I just want to know where we will decide to draw the line since the government is so worried about my well being.And while were at it if the government is SO worried about the well being of it’s citizens maybe they should try and figure out what to do with nearly 50 million of it’s citzens who are uninsured and have no access to health care!!If I was one of those people I guess I’d be thinking to myself it’s nice to know the government is worried about my safety concerning me wearing a seatbelt but if I get really sick I can’t go to the doctor.
This seatbelt law will not hinder me since I still won’t wear the thing.Since this laws conception for cars that is ,I’ve been fined once in all these years.I mostly have always owned SUV’s and trucks though and now drive a truck and a car.
On another note since the state seems to now be deciding trucks need to be included in this seatbelt law a question was asked yesterday on Meet Your Lawmakers will we now be able to have pickups counted as vehicles in the road funding formula that the state uses because currently they are not which has always been a sore spot for residents of this rural area where there are as many trucks as cars.
GO COLTS!!!