The Nanny State

[JohnDB]

I'm going to rant for a bit...

Seat Belt laws are what I'm talking about.

Now I don't wear one...I drive a pickup truck and ignore the ding while going down the road...it eventually gives up.

I've gotten tickets for not wearing one...but did I learn? Nope. Not going to either.

But I believe that the risks associated with not wearing one are mine and mine alone to take. Not the Government's.

That's what we call freedom. When I can do something that won't harm others except possibly myself.

I should have the right to the pursuit of happiness so long as it doesn't infringe upon others. I should not have to purchase health insurance...but I also am not entitled to health care either.

I shouldn't have to buy a cell phone and pay for service...but I'm not entitled to it either.

Now driver's license and fishing licenses are a bit different...those are privileges. Those I can have as long as I follow the rules. (Which in America brings up the heated debate over the 2nd Amendment)
Which in Kennesaw Georgia everyone must own one and in other places even touching one is a criminal offense. But I do know that people need to be more responsible when owning a firearm...they tend to be so very irresponsible with them.

Then there's the "junk food" laws... about restricting the burgers and sodas people consume.

Next thing you know the government will be telling me whether I can have a bidet or not.

Just ranting...

 

[JohnDB]

For whatever reason...

We allow trapeze artists and gymnastics competition... daredevil jumps and people to go out and homestead wilderness areas. All of which are extremely dangerous activities...more risk than I would want to enjoin...

But when it comes to certain things the Government sees fit to step in and completely control your activities.

 

[Jay Ross]

Did not the government get this idea from helicopter parents.

Governments are very much like helicopter parents, in that they want to protect their constituents just like helicopter parents such that we become dependant on them, even in our older years.

Shalom

 

[April_Rose]

I'm going to rant for a bit...

Seat Belt laws are what I'm talking about.

Now I don't wear one...I drive a pickup truck and ignore the ding while going down the road...it eventually gives up.

I've gotten tickets for not wearing one...but did I learn? Nope. Not going to either.

But I believe that the risks associated with not wearing one are mine and mine alone to take. Not the Government's.

That's what we call freedom. When I can do something that won't harm others except possibly myself.

I should have the right to the pursuit of happiness so long as it doesn't infringe upon others. I should not have to purchase health insurance...but I also am not entitled to health care either.

I shouldn't have to buy a cell phone and pay for service...but I'm not entitled to it either.

Now driver's license and fishing licenses are a bit different...those are privileges. Those I can have as long as I follow the rules. (Which in America brings up the heated debate over the 2nd Amendment)
Which in Kennesaw Georgia everyone must own one and in other places even touching one is a criminal offense. But I do know that people need to be more responsible when owning a firearm...they tend to be so very irresponsible with them.

Then there's the "junk food" laws... about restricting the burgers and sodas people consume.

Next thing you know the government will be telling me whether I can have a bidet or not.

Just ranting...

Actually even though I think it's rather unwise for you to drive or ride in a car without a seatbelt (especially since now I'm worried about you) I agree with you that it shouldn't be against the law. It should only be against the law to leave infants and children unbuckled. Now I'm just picturing you driving down the highway, punching it, putting your shades on, and blasting this song on the radio. You and I both have rebel blood that's for sure. :cool:

 

[JohnDB]

Did not the government get this idea from helicopter parents.

Governments are very much like helicopter parents, in that they want to protect their constituents just like helicopter parents such that we become dependant on them, even in our older years.

Shalom

They even control who can buy stocks in which manner. I was shocked when I was slapped with a label "Pattern Day Trader" and then acted as if it was a bad thing.

And I was like "YES,...And how else are you supposed to do this? And what is wrong with being a day trader?"

I found out that they locked up my account and demanded enough money to bring the balance up to $25,000.

And so I fixed it...but now I'm not allowed to buy stocks on margin or short stocks anymore.

And I'm totally upset over the thing.

 

[Enoch111]

But when it comes to certain things the Government sees fit to step in and completely control your activities.

The only reasons governments became so intrusive in free democracies is because voters did not bother to carefully examine the intrusive policies of the politicians before voting for them, and at the same time politicians lied through their teeth to get elected. So now the tyrants have taken control all over the world. The term "nanny state" is now obsolete. Big Brother rules and Big Brother Joe (Stalin) actually rules, even though he is no longer around.

 

[kcnalp]

I'm going to rant for a bit...

Seat Belt laws are what I'm talking about.

Now I don't wear one...I drive a pickup truck and ignore the ding while going down the road...it eventually gives up.

I've gotten tickets for not wearing one...but did I learn? Nope. Not going to either.

But I believe that the risks associated with not wearing one are mine and mine alone to take. Not the Government's.

That's what we call freedom. When I can do something that won't harm others except possibly myself.

I should have the right to the pursuit of happiness so long as it doesn't infringe upon others. I should not have to purchase health insurance...but I also am not entitled to health care either.

I shouldn't have to buy a cell phone and pay for service...but I'm not entitled to it either.

Now driver's license and fishing licenses are a bit different...those are privileges. Those I can have as long as I follow the rules. (Which in America brings up the heated debate over the 2nd Amendment)
Which in Kennesaw Georgia everyone must own one and in other places even touching one is a criminal offense. But I do know that people need to be more responsible when owning a firearm...they tend to be so very irresponsible with them.

Then there's the "junk food" laws... about restricting the burgers and sodas people consume.

Next thing you know the government will be telling me whether I can have a bidet or not.

Just ranting...

What if you lose control of your vehicle because you don't have your seat belt on? What if you kill someone?

 

[JohnDB]

What if you lose control of your vehicle because you don't have your seat belt on? What if you kill someone?

I have never ever heard of that happening.

Off road yes...but I don't do that sort of thing. And if I did I would need a five point harness. Completely different scenario.

 

[Mayflower]

As far as a seat belt goes, if you die in a wreck from not wearing one, and it was the other person's fault, they will pay a higher price in guilt and possibly higher court costs. But I get it. My hubby doesnt wear one in town except in my car, because of the dang ding. It drives me crazy. Lol. But yeh. Some laws are just meh. We would miss you here too, so be careful. Momma Bear says that is unsafe.

 

[Irwin Fletcher]

I'm going to rant for a bit...

Seat Belt laws are what I'm talking about.

Now I don't wear one...I drive a pickup truck and ignore the ding while going down the road...it eventually gives up.

I've gotten tickets for not wearing one...but did I learn? Nope. Not going to either.

But I believe that the risks associated with not wearing one are mine and mine alone to take. Not the Government's.

That's what we call freedom. When I can do something that won't harm others except possibly myself.

I should have the right to the pursuit of happiness so long as it doesn't infringe upon others. I should not have to purchase health insurance...but I also am not entitled to health care either.

I shouldn't have to buy a cell phone and pay for service...but I'm not entitled to it either.

Now driver's license and fishing licenses are a bit different...those are privileges. Those I can have as long as I follow the rules. (Which in America brings up the heated debate over the 2nd Amendment)
Which in Kennesaw Georgia everyone must own one and in other places even touching one is a criminal offense. But I do know that people need to be more responsible when owning a firearm...they tend to be so very irresponsible with them.

Then there's the "junk food" laws... about restricting the burgers and sodas people consume.

Next thing you know the government will be telling me whether I can have a bidet or not.

Just ranting...

Your post reminded me of a meme I saw and then wrote an article about. You are welcome to read the article, but I thought you might enjoy this meme:

https://link.medium.com/un32VY2Gpdb

 

[JohnDB]

Your post reminded me of a meme I saw and then wrote an article about. You are welcome to read the article, but I thought you might enjoy this meme:

https://link.medium.com/un32VY2Gpdb

What has really gotten to me the most lately was buying and selling of stocks...

The government is trying to tell me how to do it and limiting the ways I can make money at it.

OPM for shorting stocks was free...ok so these days the brokerages are getting a cut of the free money by charging interest on the money...but you used to have three days to cover up the short.
Now naked shorting is allowed...but only if you have 25,000 in each account you short stocks from.

I used to ride the stock up and then if it had a huge spike I'd short it back on it's way down...now you can't.
I don't know how much money I have lost by not being able to ride Micron in that fashion.

That's my bottom line they are messing with.

It takes at least 30-40 hours to research one company to trade. And then more hours scouring the media, government, weather charts, and competition while engaged in trading. Just for them to cut off half of the revenue stream. Meaning I have to now work twice as long to make the same money.

Just because some people don't know how to trade stocks and lose their money...and they have ended up in debt by their blind gambling. But now the states all have lotteries...what a load of hypocrisy!

The intelligent investor/trader makes money and it's not gambling. But flat out gambling with scratch offs and powerball and mega millions is "whoever and however"?

That's true hypocrisy by our elected officials.

 

[Irwin Fletcher]

I agree, more and more of the decisions we see are impacting the rights of the individual and protecting the power of large companies. As I addressed in my article, individual independence seems to be a threat, especially financial independence. So much financial independence was destroyed in the decisions made regarding lockdowns. This meddling in the stock market has no rational backing.

 

[Rita]

The seat belt thing, blimey that became law years and years ago.....and you say that it is your right and doesn’t impact anyone else if something happens...are you married, have children ?
It affects them if you are seriously injured or killed because you chose not to wear a seat belt.......
It would affect your future if serious injuries caused a life time of pain or financial stress due to hospital treatment, so financially it could have long term effects on stress, housing ect ect
If wearing a seatbelt prevents serious injury and loss of life I would actually question your wisdom if you choose not to wear one ...not every thing that the government puts in place is harmful. If you honestly believe that the impact of not wearing one and having a crash only impacts you.......well isn’t that a bit naive !!?
The reason they imposed it as law over here was that when people are given the choice they choose not to wear one, too many people were losing their lives !!

 

[Deborah_]

This may not apply to your particular vehicle, but if the car you're driving is fitted with an airbag and you're NOT wearing a seatbelt when you crash, your injuries will likely be fatal even in a minor crash - because the airbag design assumes that you will be wearing a seatbelt.

Another argument used in the UK was that the treatment of injuries is paid for by our taxes. If you need more expensive hospital treatment because of not wearing a seatbelt, you are putting an unnecessary burden on other people.

I remember years go (before seatbelts were made compulsory) giving a lift to another medical student who refused to do up the seatbelt. I made him sit in the back (where seatbelts were not then fitted because the back seat was deemed to be safer). If in the same situation today, I'd tell him to walk.

 

[saintiaint]

I've seen the result of car accidents. People in wheelchairs. Quadraplegics. Paraplegics. Peg fed.
Anything I can do to avoid that scenario, I will do. Which includes wearing a seatbelt. But also not drinking alcohol or speeding.

 

[saintiaint]

And then you need a full time carer. Can you afford one? If not, it falls back on your family, especially partner.

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

I use a seat belt in a car because I feel it's the right thing to do, driving in a Mack truck tho I don't.

Once at a job a smoko van did not stop so I off and tried chase it down directly, I thought it would be just down the road but was not, so I came out on to the main road and bingo highway patrol got me for no belt.

Now if your car is fitted with air bags you have to have them by law, or your car is un roadworthy C'mon ! to replace all the bags can make your car a wright off just from a small crash. disconnect the fuse to the air bags and this may save you from having to of got rid of your old cheap $10.000 car easy in a small crash.

Remember when you did not need a helmet, well I always used one. I also used all the safety gear and still got hurt badly once but save getting bark ripped off me many a time, had that before as a kid many a time, I have even ripped all my finger nails off on one hand, that's real fun for a few months.

 

[JohnDB]

Seatbelts are for my protection...and not a bad idea. I agree that it's for my safety that I use one. But that shouldn't be a law in america. We don't have socialized medicine here...I pay insurance for access to medical care.
I pay a lot for it too.
But the risk is mine to either take or not take. It's not hurting anyone else but me for entertaining that risk. Drunk driving is putting others at risk and should have serious penalties for doing it.
But I can entertain much more severe risks by engaging other activities without threat of penalty from the government. And the Government will encourage me to do those things.

And what is the deal with sodas? I can't buy a big one anymore. Because they have determined what size I can buy. They have determined that obesity is against the law. So now we have the food police.

Tobacco is bad for you so now we have the tobacco police.

Marijuana is now considered a medical necessity and you are allowed to consume it at your pleasure without recriminations.

Many of the new hand held power tools have motors so strong they can definitely sprain your wrist... nothing illegal there either. (I did it a couple years ago) Not even a warning.

Climbing a ladder has more risk than driving without a seatbelt...but it's not illegal.

Gambling through lottery tickets has a lot more risk than buying and selling stocks. But you are restricted in how you buy or sell stocks.

 

[Addy]

Lol @JohnDB

Your rant list is getting longer...

 

[Addy]

I have never had a driver's license... I don't know how to drive... but if I'm not mistaken...
If someone is in an accident and it is found that they were NOT wearing their seat belt ( which is against the law here in Canada )
Insurance will not cover one red cent of any claim.