Justify These
May 16, 2009 – 10:00 amJust a few things that government does “in the name of the people” that we want to see if anyone can justify.
1. Seat Belt Laws
The common justification given is insurance costs and “to save lives”. In a free society each person’s life is their own to spend as they wish. As to insurance costs, let it cost a little more or let those who DO CHOOSE to wear their seat belts contract with insurers for better raters.
2. Smoking bans in private property
The property isn’t really “private” if a smoking ban is in place is it? The justification used is “public health” and “public accomodation”. Again individual choices and private property rights are abrogated. If the nosy-nanny weenies don’t want to be around smoke they should exercise their OWN freedom to not patronize or work in places that CHOOSE (freely) to allow smoking. If there were such a market, non-smoking establishments would boom. Instead the freedom of individual choice is infringed for property owners and smokers. Sure, smoking is bad for you but attempts to legislate health are deleterious to American Freedom.
3. Police “sting” and “checkpoint” operations
This is very tough because most sane people would agree that arresting molestors, drug dealers and Organized Crime Elements as well as getting drunks off the road is a good idea. Unfortunately “sting” operations are causing free citizens to commit crimes that they may not have committed. That is a waste of citizens’ tax money and downright Orwellian. A person’s propensity, perhaps, to commit a crime doesn’t justify the State in seeking to CAUSE them to commit that crime. Checkpoints are simpler in that there are clear and specific constitutional prohibitions requiring probable cause for ANY apprehension (you are forced to stop at checkpoints), search or siezure. Both of these practices are simply government ploys used to “prove” they are doing their jobs and “protecting” us. The fact is that they are creating additional crimes/criminals and violating YOUR American Freedom.
Just three for now. Examples of the slippery slope of statism and collectivism trumping individual liberty.
2 Responses to “Justify These”
Michigan is laying off 100 state troopers, but has manpower for a new seat-belt enforcement campaign. My sympathies for the 100 laid-off troopers and their families aside, if they can cut 100 and still waste time on such nonsense, they are telling the public that they’re still over-staffed. (Funny, though, hoe the MSP Sgt. I knew who investigated kiddie porn was overworked to the point of having to ignore lesser cases…)
By ssgconway on May 16, 2009
I find #2 another Astounder
By Ger on May 17, 2009