Policies and laws

Posted on 01.30.06. Tagged with , , , All

"Are we as adults so incapable of controlling ourselves that we cannot be trusted to walk out our front door without being policed? Should we be treated like children for the rest of our lives?"
- Blood & Treasure on policy manuals

Just playing devils advocate (from a US law perspective)...isn't making a law to wear seat belts, social security, and even drug & weapon laws treating us like children as well?

Society, as a whole, apparently *are* incapable of controlling themselves (or atleast our gov't thinks so)

8 Comments

Brett
01:23 PM on 01.30.06

Yes, but what do YOU think?

Taylor
03:30 PM on 01.30.06
The Author

I think people should be responsible for themselves. Let me die without a seat belt, blow my retirement on hookers, and smoke pot in the comfort of my house.

Violence, on the other hand, should be controlled I suppose.

Jon
03:50 PM on 01.30.06

"Violence, on the other hand, should be controlled I suppose." ...How? Restricting access to weapons? Wouldn't that run counter to your previous paragraph?

Taylor
05:27 PM on 01.30.06
The Author

I meant more along the lines of let people do drugs, but if they hurt someone because theyre high then they can lock em up.

Both fall back to responsibility. I am responsible enough to smoke crack in my house by myself, but if I am on crack and kill some guy, the gov't should hold me responsible (as should I).

Brett
05:35 PM on 01.30.06

I like the sentence "I am responsible enough to smoke crack in my house by myself." I know what you mean, though.

Paige
10:47 PM on 01.30.06

No one wants to be told what to do unless they aren't told what to do.

"WAH! Someone make a law about drunk drivers!"
"WAH! My kid was kidnapped, someone make a law about saving the children!"


Etc. Most of the people who whine about the government being too involved in our private lives are the same ones stomping their feet when they want someone impeached or they want lower property taxes or they want or don't want something in front of their courthouse. My favorite is the Ten Commandments drama whores: "The government has no business deciding what sort of religious imagery we see. Therefore, the government should decide to outlaw it."

I mean, DUH.

Stephen
10:18 AM on 02.01.06

Not to be a pessimist, but you're making the assumption that "responsibility" is something we all share equal amounts of. Go work in some entry level jobs and see people angry over a cop who gave them a speeding ticket in a school zone.

Society is getting rather fragmented and the laws must cater to the lowest denominator. You don't want to be treated like a child, but a significant portion of society needs to be for everyones safety.

Think drinking and driving.

But I'm just playing devil's advocate too - I'm a big fan of taking liberties with some laws. ;)

Taylor
11:49 AM on 02.01.06
The Author

Good points Stephen. Glad to hear you are still alive n kickin in the online world too :)


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