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Saturday, July 5, 2008

OPINION

Letter: Don’t protect us from ourselves

  • Published: May 15, 2008 - Page: 6B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

It is a sad commentary on society when we begin to feel that it is the responsibility of government to protect us from ourselves.

I fail to see how the government, federal or state, telling you that you have to wear a seat belt accomplishes anything but allowing government to wrest more control of your life away from you.

Should you not have the right to choose to be safe or not?

Mr. Gordon Holcomb obviously doesn’t think so.

When he wrote his opinion, published in the April 29 edition of The Advocate (“Helmet law and Foster’s influence”) and said, “When people choose to ignore common sense safety and health practices, then it becomes necessary for the state or federal government to pass laws that address these issues,” Mr. Holcomb clearly showed his disdain for personal responsibility.

I am confounded as to how we got to the point of thinking that the government should be passing laws to ensure that we don’t harm ourselves when the purpose of government is to protect us from the harm others could do unto us.

That is why the federal government has the power to conduct wars and why the states have laws against drunken driving (though enforcement of this is a joke when someone can have a second- or third-offense DWI) and armed robbery.

Mr. Holcomb would like the government to tell you that you have to be immunized against diseases!

How in the world does you getting immunized protect your neighbor from getting disease? Just because you got a shot doesn’t mean every person your neighbor encounters has gotten one.

It is your neighbors’ responsibility to get their own shots to ensure they do not get sick. If they CHOOSE not to do so, then they assume the risks associated with that choice.

But that is the place we have come as a society. We don’t want to have to choose anything for ourselves, much less accept the consequences should that choice have ramifications. We would rather the government tell us what is safe, rather than have to determine that for ourselves.

I do not want anyone making decisions for myself or my family EXCEPT for me and my family. No one else has that right! Frankly, I find anyone who wishes that the government did to be a very dangerous member of society.

Perhaps the government should examine whether or not this could be considered thievery and have Mr. Holcomb jailed for his desire to take my ability to choose away from me. But until that happens, to all the Gordon Holcombs out there in society: Stay the hell out of my life!


Comments (17)
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Marc
Thursday, May 15, 2008
7:31 AM

Yes, let all the dummies who don't want to wear a seatbelt or a helmet go ahead and kill themselves. The world would be a much better place without such idiots. Mr. Olinde is a prime candidate for the Darwin awards. Sheesh!! I bet he is a Bush voter.
asp
Thursday, May 15, 2008
8:04 AM

People like this fail to see the bigger picture. Yes, wearing a helmet or a seat belt is a personal decision, however, what happens when you are in a wreck and left paralyzed, on life support and the state if left to foot the bill? What happens when you refuse to wear a helemt/seat belt and there is a wreck with injury and a civil suit goes to court? At that point, my fellow American, it is a matter for the government. Stop being seflish and only looking out for only you and realize you are apart of a society.
dh
Thursday, May 15, 2008
9:32 AM

Problem is a large portion of our population does not know how to make a decision for themselves,they wait to be told by peer groups or the government,New Orleand voting or the Katrtina non-evacuation for example.Then there are those who confuse common sense health and safety issuses with government intrusion.And usually when somthing bad happens a lawsuit occurs,at taxpayers expense.I'm for personal responsibilty and rights to make personal decisions,but that person that just passed you on I-10,driving 15 miles above the speed limit,weaving in and out of traffic,on his cell phone,do you trust his judgement ?
Joey
Thursday, May 15, 2008
10:03 AM

With a limit of 450 words, you cannot fully express your opinion in the Advocate. Following up on the opinion that I wrote, and which you are all subsequently commenting on, if you choose not to wear a seatbelt and are hurt in a wreck, do not plan on having the right to sue. You can go ahead and pass a law that says if you don't wear a helmet or seatbelt, then there is no legal recourse for you. Make talking on a cell phone illegal if you choose, but how long before someone has a problem with you messing with your radio? It only takes one small step to lead to other "unsafe" actions. Before you know it, if a cop thinks you have both hands off the wheel, then you are going to be ticketed. Oh, and by the way, just because the law is on the books doesn't mean these actions will stop! You're not supposed to go over 60 on the Interstate in town, and how many people follow that rule?
John
Thursday, May 15, 2008
10:07 AM

The problem is that once the guy who is not wearing his/her seatbelt once injured has to be treated for those injuries. This puts a drain on the rest of us because more than not he is going to use some public assets in getting to the hospital or when he cannot pay the extremely high hospital bill our insurance rates will go up. The letter writer must not be a Christian as Christians are taught to be their brother's keepers. I wonder how many sick or dying bodies the letter writer would be willing to step over to maintain his principles. We humans are a selfish lot, we like to think we are all disconnected from each other, at least in this country we do, but in reality our wellbeing is linked in many ways.
Former Republican
Thursday, May 15, 2008
11:02 AM

As a corollary to this writer's personal responsibility mantra, I would hope that he carries the maximum amount of insurance on his vehicle and pays fat premiums so that the rest of us don't have to bear the burden of higher insurance rates for his folly. Cars are relatively easy and cheap to replace, but the trauma from an unrestrained driver or passenger cost far more to address. Here's hoping he has the foresight to understand that the repercussions from a severe injury accident has many social costs, and that wearing seat belts not only makes us all safer, but costs us all less in the long run - and that goes for helmets on motorcycle riders as well. I can't think of a better case of something that costs nothing to mandate and enforce, but has positive implications for all of us.
dh
Thursday, May 15, 2008
12:23 PM

I've been rear-ended twice in stoppred traffic by persons who admitted they were on the phone,we were all wearing seat-belts.There are some who think they can talk and drive at the same time,and I'm sure there are still those who think they can drink and drive.And what about the officers' judgement,if you are pulled over it is for a reason,have you never gotten away with just a warning,
Joey
Thursday, May 15, 2008
1:05 PM

You people are unbelievable. What part of accepting responsibility for your actions do none of you understand? If you don't wear a helmet or seatbelt and get in a wreck, then accept those consequences and have a law on the books preventing someone from suing in that situation. As far as cell phones go, why don't we just outlaw children in vehicles while we are at it. I have three kids and I can tell you that any one of them is far more a distraction than a cell phone. You feel the way you feel then don't talk on the thing. Get a bluetooth earpiece. I don't care what you do, but don't tell me that the only way you feel safe is to have cops on the road trying to stare into every vehicle they pass looking for infractions. How about we just let the government put a camera in your car and let them film you like they do now at stop lights. Anytime you violate an infraction the camera can be attached to a computer which automatically notifies authorities what you have done. For crying out loud people, stop thinking the government is the only thing that can and should keep you safe. Be responsible for yourself and stop thinking that most of the morons that are elected to Congress really know what is good for YOU.
Current Republican
Thursday, May 15, 2008
1:49 PM

If all of you are so worried about how will the poor, pitiful state ever pay for those who may be hurt in a tragedy like this, why don't we reform the welfare rolls and get some of those dead beats off of their lazy keesters. Oh, wait, I would hate to be called a non-Chirstian for suggesting that someone needs to work for a living and not sponge off the rest of us.
dh
Thursday, May 15, 2008
2:20 PM

In a perfect world we'ed all"do the right thing",but not everybody likes the rules.I'm getting tired of looking out for the other guy.I'm not an advocate for further government intrusion either,but what about those who don't think,or just don't care,over 30 % of drivers on La. roads don't carry insurance now,even though it's a law,more laws won't make it better.And police officers are guys just like us,they go to work,do their job,and hopefully go home when their shift is over,I trust them more than I do most people on the road.And stop with the paranoia,they knocked down the wall................................................
Winston
Thursday, May 15, 2008
2:35 PM

Please tell me what our government DOESN'T mandate for us?? Our "free" society is getting less free every day. Our government rules on and in everything. Even think they control the rest of the world. But can they properly control anything?? Look at illegal aliens?? Look at Nancy Pelosi--that one needs controlling, and maybe even some of that "guidance" that our VA Administration says the need to make decisions thses days. Control--our government controls US, but not themselves. Pity!!!!
Former Republican
Thursday, May 15, 2008
2:46 PM

You guys are hilarious. Any new car you buy today will be able to tell the police if you were wearing your seatbelt or not when you get in a wreck. Also: how fast you were going, how long and at what pressure you held the brake pedal down, and hundreds of other parameters measured several times a second. We're already a surveillance society. So obey the law, buckle up, and don't make the rest of us bear the burden of caring for those who decide it's their "right" to run around on motorcycles without a helmet.
Joey
Thursday, May 15, 2008
3:03 PM

Sure the government will keep you safe and give you a job, just give them absolute power. Sounds almost like Hitler promising Germans a great, wonderful, rich society before eugenics, the holocaust, and WWII. Sooner or later people will realize that less government is better. Go find me a dictatorship or communistic country on this planet where the people are happy and I'll recant everything I have said. But until Cubans stop trying to escape Castro or the Chinese get to dissent when they want in media formats like this, I am keeping my stance that government is best used when it is least used!!
Joey
Thursday, May 15, 2008
8:52 PM

Bottom line: Is it dumb to ride without a helmet... Yep. Should the Fed be able to tell me I have too... Nope.
Former Republican
Thursday, May 15, 2008
9:47 PM

Well, Joey, I hope you will make arrangements for your own convalescence and/or medical affairs in perpetuity, should you survive your next encounter with the legions of careless Louisiana drivers. Your insurance company may not pay out if you crack your melon, and I'll be damned sure I won't let my tax dollars go to treat or house a human vegetable who wouldn't wear a helmet.
LSUstudent
Friday, May 16, 2008
1:52 PM

Former Republican is nothing but a troll. Every single comment section has him commenting on how he is so right and is the smartest person in the world. STOP TROLLING DUDE! GET A LIFE!
np
Sunday, May 25, 2008
5:49 AM

I realize this is a "little" late in posting but I have wanted to say this since Foster was in office... I know from personal experience how something as easy as putting on a seatbelt is well worth the effort and no one will ever know how many lives the seatbelt law has saved. On the other hand, am I the only person that thinks it is absurd to require one to wear a seatbelt in a car but not require one to wear a helmet on a motorcycle? Seems to me if our lawmakers believe that someone that rides a motorcyle is mature enough to choose to wear or not to wear a device that protects their brain, the rest of us should be given the same consideration as to our maturity.
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