I'll go along with that. Myself I wouldn't think of rideing without a helmet but thats my choice. I don't believe the govt. has any right telling me to wear it.
I know the argument about the cost to the taxpayers/sociaty etc. But, if you accept that. then there is no limit to what the govt. has the right to mandate regarding your personal behaviour.
The argument about the cost to taxpayers and society is itself specious because it assumes the same lack of individual freedom which you are properly decrying. The "cost to taxpayers" only occurs in a society where laws...
... prohibit healthcare providers from turning away people in need for any reason deemed valid by the provider. If the government has no right telling people they must wear a helmet (a statement with which I agree) then it also has no right telling healthcare providers who they must treat.
... create an entire class of people whose healthcare is 100% detached from its cost. I'm referring to the Medicare/Medicaid/VA group.
... create another class of people whose healthcare is *mostly* detached from its cost. I'm referring to people with "normal" insurance, who simply show their card, pay their copay, and receive treatment without evaluating its cost/benefit.
I suppose I've offended nearly everybody with these two groupings!
... pay for treatment with tax dollars.
We are afflicted with these laws and policies, resulting in monopolistic healthcare on both the finance and provider sides, ridiculous outsized prices, and an unsustainable price hike rate.
Don't listen to the "cost to society" baloney from moralizers who themselves lack the ability to see the beam in their own eye while pointing out the speck in yours.
I think riding a motorcycle (or bicycle) without a helmet is just plain stupid. Just yesterday we had "Biker Week" at our church, and afterwards the bikers gave free rides to anybody who wanted one. A woman living with us right now took one. I inquired as to whether she wore a helmet, to which she replied "None was offered." I asked her why she would do that, to which I received no answer. Our pastor, a man I hold in high esteem, rides his Harley with no protective gear of any kind, particularly sans helmet. My opinion about that is unswerving: such a choice is simply stupid.
But do I favor laws about helmets? NO! If you want to ride without a helmet, please do so. I hope for the day when I may align myself with an insurer and/or healthcare providers who are not prohibited by law to turn you away when you whack your helmetless head on the pavement.
