I read an article today about the probable switch to allowing the FDA to regulate tobacco and got to thinking about one thing that frustrates me about this country. The USA has a bad habit of regulating things or enforcing laws that restrict human freedom to harm themselves.
Good example: Seat belt laws. I should have the right to value my comfort over my personal safety. If I am going to injure somebody else via flying through a windshield then, ok, fine me for not wearing a seatbelt. But if the only person I can hurt is myself; why is there a reason to make it illegal?
On to cigarettes. Cigarettes are horrid for your health, yet on occasion I have smoked one or two, well aware of the consequences and willing to pollute my health for that momentary pleasure. I agree they shouldn't be advertised on media outlets frequented by younger individuals and that we should have education programs to let students know the risks of smoking but all I think we need is the warning that they are harmful.
If there is a sign that says "This sign is very hot, and very likely will burn you" and I read that and still want to touch it then that's my own dumb fault. The USA doesnt need a police officer in front of that sign who will arrest me if I want to burn myself on it.
On to drugs. If there were a drug that would cause me to often make stupid violent decisions, damage public property or possibly not be able to operate a motor vehicle yet restrict my ability to judge whether I should (...alcohol). That drug should be heavily regulated if misused. As for other drugs, the illegal ones, if the only thing they do is make the user feel good for awhile with the possible consequence of addicting him and making him dependant, the user should be able to use them, as long as he is aware of all the risks beforehand.
Alcohol: dangerous to self and those around self + addictive= LEGAL
illegal drugs: dangerous to self ( not others) + addictive= ILLEGAL
hmmm...
I was just reading today how it is easier for young people to get marijuana than alcohol because alcohol is regulated by the gov't and I thought to myself, that is really quite true. Drugs should be legalized and regulated and taxed like alcohol. We could use the billions of dollars made from taxing drugs to further educate people on why they are dangerous, or possibly to treat stupid people who become addicted. WIN WIN WIN
Basically I am just tired of the USA not giving its citizens enough credit to take care of themselves. We dont need laws that force us to wear seabelts, or bike helmets, or force us to not drink bleach. We just need warning labels that explain the risks.
It's like a child who wants to make his own decisions but his mother won't let him in fear he'll make the wrong ones. The child is either never going to learn or going to make the wrong decisions on purpose to spite the mother.
4 comments:
you should watch the movie The Union.
In the United States everyone sues everyone for anything. If there aren't these laws or clear instructions/warnings Americans will look for a way to sue. An example of this was that McDonalds/Hot coffee case. I don't know all the details about it but I believe someone sued McDonalds because the coffee was too hot, or the cap wasn't on right or something. I wish this wasn't the case but it just is. There's a word for this, where countries like the United States need explicit directions/rules much more often than other countries like India or Japan, because this is just how we Americans are. I feel like there's a strong correlation between this and the fact that we are a greedy, capitalistic country.
As far as illegal drugs not being dangerous to others around us and legal drugs being dangerous to those around us... that's probably pretty debatable.
I think the term I was thinking of was "high context culture" vs. "low context culture". ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_context_culture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_context_culture ) Not exactly what I was trying to get at but similar.
Yet another example of how Americans will sue for just about anything: http://consumerist.com/5291580/white-castle-sued-for-refusing-to-serve-electric-scooter-rider-via-drive+through
One reason to legislate protective measures is because it saves money. Many who willingly harm themselves also don't care to buy themselves insurance. The other citizens of the country inevitably pay for their medical care. If only we could force these reckless folks to tattoo a message on their chest so when the EMT goes to revive them, they would see "I am uninsured and choose to deny medical assistance. Regardless of the pain I am in, let me languish here without medical care so as to alleviate the burden which I place upon this republic. Do not resuscitate." Problem solved.
Also, being overly litigious is different than being reckless, which is what the original post was about.
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