well, i spent the last few months living/working in flagstaff, az. a new anti-smoking policy has been proposed recently. this proposal calls for, amongst other things, a smoking ban within 25 feet of an entrance/exit to public venues. ???? does that constitute a ban? not inside the building! outside it...in the open air. why? can't risk the smoke entering the building they say. well now....who's to say the next town won't try for 50 ft? the next for 100 ft....etc....etc. in effect..a anti-smoking policy such as this in place would prevent a person smoking a cigarette from walking down all of the downtown area....with all the stores, restaurants, etc....that is, of course, unless he/she walks down the middle of the street.

 

Smoking: an outside activity.

Seatbelt; Fact, they save lives, wear `em.

Helmets: See above fact.



Bill in Miami.

 

No
No
Yes

 

Smoking ban ---yes, I do not smoke and do not want to breath that crap.
seat belt laws -----yes, It saves lives, everyone in car.
Helmet law-----No. This will harm no one but me. I have over $2 million in health care coverage, so don't tell me that it will raise your insurance.

 

Hmm ... does that mean you have put away two million dollars? Or, more likely, you bought into OUR insurance pool with a maximum liability of two mill. So, what I'm sayin' is if your two mill isn't already in your bank, IT IS OUR MONEY you're riskin'. I think I should have a say in how my money is to be risked.

 

Don't quote me but when the helmet law was being pushed here in CA I believe I heard something like nationwide 40,000 permanently disabled from head injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents while not wearing a helmet.

 

I'm taking yet another in a seemingly never-ending series of ethics courses. One author brings up a question which is pertinent in this thread. Does an individual have the right to injure him/herself? There are actually laws forbidding suicide in some states. When we see a suicide in the hospital, they have no legal right to refuse treatment, Fact is, we can be prosecuted for it if we do allow them to refuse.

So, the use/non-use of seatbelts, helmets, cigarettes, alcohol, etc fall under the heading of self damage. Does our society have the right to stop us. What business is it of the state if you want to commit suicide, and should we, as health providers even be involved?

 

Would those be older laws enacted by legislatures heavily influenced by religious groups with belief systems that denounced suicide?

 

I think it is probably under the same reasoning as no right to die.

 

I didn't have time to read them all so I maybe repeating some one else. Most of these isssues are just mandating the common sense that seems to have gotten bred out of our society somehow.
I am a smoker and NEVER smoke indoors or in the car or anywhere that a nonsmoker will have to deal with it, so that one should be a non issue.

Seat belts; mandatory for kids, optional for adults

Helmets; same thing.

By the way, I have always said that it is what's on the inside of your head that is going to keep you alive, not what you can strap on the outside. The same goes for airbags, abs and all that stuff. You can't pass enough laws to protect ignorant people from themselves. I vote for greater driver education and awareness first and apparatuses as a distant second.

 

Hummmm Im gonna through my thoughts into the mix...

Many where talking about health care costs.. OK lets go there, if we are worried about health care cost maybe we should ban all cars, im sure that would save a couple dollars a year on health care cost cause there would be no more car accidents!! OPPS but wait then there would be no need for car insurance dang sorta shoots that idea in the foot... Maybe we should ban all product with sugar in them.. that would save a few dollars on dental bills.. OPPS but wait what about all those dentist they would starve!! Dang shoots that idea in the butt...

I know I went a little over board here but where do we stop infringing on personal choice?? If you dont smoke and dont want to breathe second hand smoke I got an idea for you.. DONT GO TO THE PLACE WHERE SMOKING IS ALLOWED!!!!!! maybe if your feelings are the majority the business ower will change their policy

As far as seat belt and helmets again let force people to only drive 15 mph everywhere there would still be accidents but nobody would get hurt!! hey theres an idea!! We will force auto makers to only make engines that max speed is 15mph... Imagine that save fuel save lives man its a win win for everyone!!!!! Again I know I went over board but lets get a clue people!!

please send hate mail to IDONTCARE@yourhouse.com lol

 

I think Willowbilly strikes a fair compromise. Life is indeed a crapshoot. You could get pegged by a stray bullet from someone's concealed full-auto weapon. I'm not sure I totally agree with the right to carry it that way, but I feel the need to err on the side of rights. Especially in light of GWB's boys and the Patriot act.

Nonetheless, I still resent laying out my money to care for some gork who thinks his head is harder than asphalt. And it IS my money, and all ours. It goes in one big pot and is drawn out as needed. But, strong as my feelings are on helmets, I resent being TOLD to wear my seatbelt. Same basic issue, different feeling, odd ...

 

In my state the DRIVER gets a very expensive citation for passengers not wearing seatbelts. At the rate we're going all vehicles will have sensors which signal overhead traffic data collectors that a seat belt is not in use and a Patriot Act clause will automatically direct that vehicle to the nearest federal impound lot for auction with proceeds going to law enforcement technology. Same with helmets. Smokers will have to buy federal issue enclosures or forfeit all assets to the Clean Air Act as bonuses for diligent federal employees.

 

You know, four years ago, that may have sounded outlandish. But today, it sounds plausible and likely. But, we need to keep in mind, our lower taxes have given these new responsibilities to fund government.

Where ARE the label-spouters? Doesn't this all sound vaguely communist? It must be a liberal democrat that started all this hogwash, with Patriot acts, and local governments being broke.

 

Seems more like a dictatorship than communistic. The Commies get medical care, etc. with lower crime rates per capita.