Comments on: Legislating Your Life

By: Enerd

Enerd — Mon, 30 May 2005 15:19:51 +0000

Actually, seatbelts do save you money.

EMTs, firemen, police, etc… cost you money.
Litigation costs you money.
Those that end up in state care cost you money.
The handicapped survivors cost you money (public school resources, public building resources, etc)

Seatbelts just make sense. Maybe there shouldn’t be a law, I agree. BUT, some people are ignorant enough to think seatbelts decrease their chance of survival.

By: colleen

colleen — Sun, 29 May 2005 14:12:07 +0000

What else will they decide is for our own good? At least with cell phones there is possibly of a threat to other drivers, as accidents may increase with the distraction of talking on them while driving. I think seatblelt laws are worse. You’re not hurting anyone…driving at your own risk. The law started out that the cops were not allowed to pull over to check if you were wearing a belt or not, and now most places can pull you over at their whim and give you a whopping $ticket if your not wearing your seatbelt.

By: TheBisch

TheBisch — Fri, 27 May 2005 20:55:02 +0000

Instead of preventing smokers from getting jobs, why not charge them extra for health insurance? I think that this is only the beginning for a new form of discrimination.

By: ~Easy

~Easy — Fri, 27 May 2005 20:14:18 +0000

This is an interesting can of worms. Just how much is my employer entitled to know about me? Individual rights are starting to be subsidiary to corporate rights, and the profit margin of businesses.

Oh, and Michele sent me!

By: Enerd

Enerd — Wed, 25 May 2005 13:27:47 +0000

Hey, I partly agree. I don’t want the government legislating my life, either. This is especially true with federal law over state law. We have some pretty stupid local laws that remind people they can’t leave their dogs outside all day. What the fark? They are DOGS!

Back on topic…this is where I disagree.

If a private company wants to exclude people in hiring, I don’t have a problem with it. I personally wouldn’t hire a smoker. Smokers are probably (slightly) more responsible for the rise in health care costs than personal injury lawyers.

Smokers indulge in a habit that they know will kill, or hurt, them. Then, they seek damages from the purveyor. Then, YOUR health insurance company pays for their treatment. Your rates rise because of this. Sounds fair, so some selfish person can have their puff of smoke, doesn’t it?

Discrimination isn’t always bad.