Creating new laws seems an endless project doesn’t it. We’ve been creating new laws for several hundred years – both federally and in each state of these “united” states….yet, every year we surely seem to need a few hundred, or a few thousand more. But who’s counting? Righteous, pious, overacting legislators from sea to shining sea feel the need to rant and rave about something, so that they continue to look important and be of utmost value to us lowly, uninformed, incapable masses.
On this note, I wonder how the evolution of law making has progressed. I imagine, the early laws (such as murder, theft, etc…) derived from the concept that in a good, free, civilized society, there should be rules about how we treat others. Violate those rules, you no longer belong among us. Seems like a sound concept to me. Protect me from the bad guys…I get it…THANK YOU!
But then, somehow, somewhere along the way, these wise protectors of the masses began creating laws to protect me from…well, me! What? When did that become their job? I thought that job began with my parents when they told me not to run across a busy highway, or not to put my hand on the hot stove. When did these overzealous orators decide it was their job? Well, whenever it happened, they surely did welcome the task.
A good example is the seat belt law. YOU MUST WEAR A SEAT BELT IN YOUR CAR…IT WILL PROTECT YOU IF YOU CRASH! Ok…they are probably right…it’s a good idea…it’s probably the intelligent thing to do, but is it necessary to make it a “law of the land”…to protect me from being so foolish as to risk my life by driving without a seat belt? Sort of seems to me that if I want to behave as a moron at a risk to no one other than me (the moron)…I oughta have that choice. How “free” is “freedom” when they start telling me I can’t risk harm to myself?
How ‘bout parachuting out of a perfectly functional plane…that’s seems a tad risky, but apparently it’s not as bad as DRIVING TO KING SOOPERS WITHOUT YOUR SEAT BELT! Jumping from a plane is perfectly legal…as is NASCAR, Drag Racing, Hockey, Rodeo, Bungee jumping and a myriad of other activities in which you may injure yourself. How do these ever-so-intelligent people differentiate between which activities they must protect me from and which ones are just “good fun”?
Now, now folks…I can hear your “comebacks” already…relax….
Now, I actually agree with requiring minors to be protected by a seat belt when riding in a car…and the baby seat thing…GREAT idea. You see, those requirements are protecting someone not yet granted the legal definition of an adult who is supposedly able to decide what is good for themselves. No problem there! If I’m an irresponsible guy who is putting people riding in my vehicle at risk, then I have no problem with a law which requires me to protect THEM. My problem once again, is a law which protects me from me!
And sure, there’s the argument that, if I’m an idiot AND I’m uninsured, my medical bills may have to be paid by “the public”. Great point, but it could be solved by insurance contracts instead of Congress!
Just seems like a slippery slope to me. If this is the direction “we” are going, how about limiting what we eat, who we are friends with, etc…etc…etc…
What are your thoughts?
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