Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amdahl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!sun!amdahl!gam
From: gam@amdahl.UUCP (gam)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: PISSED OFF (seatbelts)
Message-ID: <932@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 14-Jan-85 03:48:12 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.932
Posted: Mon Jan 14 03:48:12 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 16-Jan-85 04:43:37 EST
References:  <236@calmasd.UUCP>  <245@calmasd.UUCP>
Organization: Blue Mouse Trailer Resort, Hellmouth, CA
Lines: 40

> In article  jlh@loral.UUCP (Aiken Drum) writes:
> >If you want to wear a god damned, mutha ****n, sh****s, SOB seatbelt feel
> >free, but DONT YOU DARE TELL ME TO WEAR ONE OR ELSE!!!  It's my face going
> >through the windsheild...
> 
> My point is that it's not only your face going throug the windshield.
> Someone has to clean up after you and live with the disruption it
> causes. Why should we have to put up with that when all it takes is
> 10 seconds maximum of your time to put on the belt?
> -- 
> Cheryl Nemeth

That argument ("saves us a bunch a trouble if you just do what we
tell you") can be used for all sorts of controls on the individual.
I disagree with it.  We have enough laws regulating our individual
lives; a seat belt law would be just another intrusion.

(I just got a new car and the only think I hate about it is its damned
seat belt buzzer *even though I am going to put on the seat belt
anyway.*  It's like having your Mom reminding you to eat your
vegetables, even when you've already decided to eat them.)

I wear my seat belt *all the time*, because I want to, not because
someone ordered me to.

There is the counter-argument "well, it DOES cost all of us when
you don't wear your seltbelt, because of socialized medicene...."
I don't think I should be paying for "socialized medicene" either,
so that argument doesn't move me.

On the other hand, my auto insurer will discount my insurance
by 10% if I agree to wear a seatbelt and ask my passengers to
do likewise.  This is a much preferable solution: providing
*incentives* for those who choose to, and giving *them* the
rewards of having done so.


(My insurer is CSAA - Calif only).
-- 
Gordon A. Moffett		...!{ihnp4,hplabs,sun}!amdahl!gam