Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Helmets

On Sun, 25 Aug 2002 12:19:26 EDT, GoTory@xxxxxx wrote:

>On the other hand, Scott, with one of our riding buddies still in a coma 5 
>days after taking a fall and sustaining a severe head injury- WITHOUT a 
>helmet- I can't help wondering how much higher insurance premiums might have 
>gone had these laws not been in effect..........knowing that my input will 
>not affect  your decision........ nikki

This "insurance" argument in favor of laws or regulations to force
people to use safety devices is, IMO, completely bogus.  Somewhat like
the Federal Government claiming that if any component of a system or
product crossed a state line at any time, that system or product is in
interstate commerce and can be regulated by the Feds.

Insurance is pooled risk.  If we truly believe that some behavior
significantly affects rates for the rest of us, rates can be adjusted
on that basis -- like higher life insurance premiums for smokers.  The
fact is that people's likelyhood of needing costly medical care varies
widely, for many, many reasons, and singling out one of them as a
reason for intrusive laws and regulations is a bad idea.

IMO the use of insurance premiums, costs of welfare programs, etc., as
justification for "nanny state" regulations designed to force us to
use certain devices or to behave in certain ways, no matter how
well-intentioned, is just one more wedge driving away our freedoms.
Alas, the U. S. is a "free country" in name only, and it will probably
only get worse (look at how the lawyers, having gotten rich from suing
Big Tobacco, are now going after Fast Food).

One of the great things about Colorado is that they have stood up to
the Feds and the "nanny state" and refused to pass a helmet law for
motorcyclists.  I would never ride without one myself, but I am very
proud that my fellow Coloradans have the freedom to do so if *that is
their choice.*

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@xxxxxxxx
http://www.rnbw.com


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