by William Riker

Created on: December 11, 2007

"Yes!" was my first reaction about having a requirement for hands free devices such as cell phones, navigation assists, dicta phones, coffee jugs while driving because I have seen the morons holding cell phones to their ears and not driving well. I have personally swerved while reaching for my coffee and was lucky to have not hit someone in the nearby lane.

But then, I got to thinking about government requirements of motorcycle helmets, seat belts, child seats, gun restrictions even in dangerous cities, allowing religion into our government and giving religions grants and tax benefits, government use of torture, denial of access to courts, illegal wiretapping without a court warrant, searches at airports of law abiding citizens versus the government and the bush administration refusal to catch the criminals of 9-11.
So the real issue is whether we should surrender more of everyone's individual actions to government because some people are irresponsible. Should all be punished because of one or two wrongdoers? Or should irresponsible actions of driving erratically by some people be punished rather than punishing everyone?
I can remember driving my car way over the speed limit before there were seat belts. I have ridden motorcycles without a helmet before laws were passed requiring that. I shot weapons when gun control was simply having a good and steady aim and not shooting your hunting companions in the face or anywhere else. I ran with scissors in my hands. I talked with strangers when I was a child. I climbed trees and sides of steep mountains without ropes and swam in the ocean outside of the lifeguard areas. Of course, I was never stupid enough to climb straight up mountains, though. I noticed that some people like Blacks or Polish or Mexican people prefer music which is different from other groups of people before there was political correctness and before we all had to like everything and everyone the same.
So, what should really be mandatory is a demand by everyone for government and all of the people who want to make life safe and uniform for us from cradle to grave to get the hell out of our individual and collective lives. Oh my gosh, I wonder if I will be chastised for writing "hell?"

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