As I plunge headlong at the disgrace of my wife and friend Cody, into my diatribe about U.S. seat belt enforcement and my disappointment in citizen response to this Gestapo-esque government agenda, I feel the need to explain my political perspective on this issue. I am a self-described political moderate / independent, with a bent for conservatism and libertarianism. Both bents are philosophically opposed to totalitarianism, which translates in American politics as large or "big" government. My short definition of conservatism and libertarianism is an extreme over simplification but frames the forthcoming points.
I can be very divisive when it comes to seatbelt enforcement. I truly don't understand why this is an area the government needs to regulate. To me, seatbelt enforcement is a waste of tax payer money (or maybe it's a great local government money maker with revenues derived from tickets), a distraction for the police, and an over reach of government power. I know, I know, it's about "protecting" the citizens. After all, Americans are too stupid to think for themselves. If the government really wants to save lives why not focus on fast food? Last time I checked, cardiovascular disease was the top killer of U.S. citizens. Yet, I have never seen an ad posed at regulating the consumption of fast food on a national level. And I certainly have not seen a government-funded campaign like that of seatbelt enforcement. Has anyone received a ticket for eating fast food!
I have recently seen two ads on TV regarding this issue of seat belts. One is a general PA and the other is for enforcement awareness. The general PA is not government-funded but the enforcement ad is. Take a look:
Seatbelt Promotional:
Bravo to the director of the seat belt promo ad; he or she should get an award. And by the way, you'll get no argument from me that wearing a seat belt is smart and can save one's life. In fact, I'll require my child to were a seat belt and will model this behavior myself. But I'm not arguing seat belt safety or effectiveness. I'm frustrated because "Big Brother" is wasting money forcing adult tax payers to wear them; regardless of their personal choice. I totally support mandated protect for children as baby's don't know any better. But adults should have the right - in my view - to choose seat belt or no seat belt without government reprisal.
Again, why is the government regulating this and where does it end? I love the liberals who fight for laws like seat belt enforcement. They fight for the rights of one group, while critizing and removing the rights of another; all in the name of "protection".
Questions:
1 - What is the purpose / value from a government perspective to enforce seat belt use?
2- Why seat belts and not other "statistically" deadlier issues?
3 - How is this NOT a "gateway" policy that could very easily lead to more individual-freedom-restricting laws?
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