> No difference between belt laws and PFD laws. The difference is that we > disagree as to whether commumities have collective rights over such properly > personal decisions. I reject that premise, whether for seat belts, motor > cycle helmets, or PFDs. The irony is that refusal to comply, while heroic, > can be suicidal under the wrong circumstances. > Rick I mostly agree, but I do think it's a bit more complex. I don't like people coming up to me and trying to tell me how I ought to conduct myself in connection with my recreational activities. Just bugs me. Being a bit testy at times, I'm likely to give them an earful. But I do recognize the difference in a collective social decision adopted in the form of legislation, and a governmental body charged with enforcing that legislation, and I do think there has to be *some* right in the "body politic" to enact laws that do govern these "personal decisions." The primary reason is that the "suicidal" (or worse, almost suicidal) results *can* become a large burden on society (health costs, judicial resources, supporting families of victims, etc.). This is the argument usually advanced in the motorcycle helmet debate, and I've yet to hear a really sound rebuttal. I'm very much a libertarian on these things (and most others), and I cherish my personal freedom. But I think it is foolish of us not to recognize that there is a valid basis for a contrary view -- if for no other reason, to work on a rebuttal to that view. Mark *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Sep 07 2000 - 07:56:55 PDT
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