Friday, January 06, 2006
missing howard, the smoking seatbelt
Now that howard stern is off the regular airwaves, I am seriously (no pun intended) scrambling for something to listen to on my morning commute. I have listened to him for 17 years and he has set the bar pretty high, so high in fact that one week after he has been gone I have determined that all morning radio shows completely suck ass.
Anyway, while listening to a suck ass talk show this morning, I came across an interesting debate. To cut to the chase, here is the question. People were complaining about the fact that police in NJ / NY can now pull you over if you are not wearing a seatbelt. It used to be a secondary ticket (meaning they could ticket you if they pulled you over for something else) and it is now a primary ticket. People were arguing that if you are an adult and choose not to wear a seatbelt, than that is your choice.
My first instinct is that people are too dumb to realize that seatbelts save lives…no one can debate that. But then I thought, if we force people to wear them, under penalty of a cash fine, why shouldn’t we then force people to stop smoking? I mean cigarettes kill you, no debate there, and second hand smoke even hurts those who don’t smoke. There is a definite parallel here. So my question to you is, if we make people wear seatbelts for their protection, should we make tobacco illegal as well?
Anyway, while listening to a suck ass talk show this morning, I came across an interesting debate. To cut to the chase, here is the question. People were complaining about the fact that police in NJ / NY can now pull you over if you are not wearing a seatbelt. It used to be a secondary ticket (meaning they could ticket you if they pulled you over for something else) and it is now a primary ticket. People were arguing that if you are an adult and choose not to wear a seatbelt, than that is your choice.
My first instinct is that people are too dumb to realize that seatbelts save lives…no one can debate that. But then I thought, if we force people to wear them, under penalty of a cash fine, why shouldn’t we then force people to stop smoking? I mean cigarettes kill you, no debate there, and second hand smoke even hurts those who don’t smoke. There is a definite parallel here. So my question to you is, if we make people wear seatbelts for their protection, should we make tobacco illegal as well?
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i agree with you Allie, and the issue i have is not with smokers, but if i want to not wear a seatbelt because i find it binding and uncomfortabel, shouldn't that be my choice? i know the risks and i am an adult.
i am just looking for a reason as to where we have drawn the line? alcohol is a good point too.
(for the record, i am all for allowing adults to do what they want, as long as it doesn't infringe upon someones rights)
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i am just looking for a reason as to where we have drawn the line? alcohol is a good point too.
(for the record, i am all for allowing adults to do what they want, as long as it doesn't infringe upon someones rights)
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