Look at How Many Lives it Saves
Terry L. Mitchell
July 10, 2009
"But look at how many lives it saves." That´s a common retort from many people when someone criticizes something like water boarding or mandatory seatbelt laws. In my mind, however, that´s never a justification – no matter how many lives are saved. I´m sorry if this offends someone, but I believe one should be willing to die rather than have his own or someone else´s inalienable rights violated.
The fact is – I´m more fearful of the government and the police that I am of terrorists and traffic accidents. To quote Ronald Reagan, I believe "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."
Another troubling fact about government "life saving" measures is that one can never be sure how far they will go or where they will end. We already have stuff like the aforementioned water boarding and forced usage of seatbelts in addition to mandatory motorcycle helmets and child safety equipment along with intrusive public smoking restrictions. But there´s no reason to believe advocates of government-mandated safety and security will stop there.
In the near future, individual freedom will be further eroded by forced limitations on everyone´s fat, sugar, and sodium intake. Again, the rallying cry for passage of such laws would be the amount of lives they would save. Why, it´s a proven fact, you know. There´s all kinds of medical evidence.
And don´t be surprised if, some day, there will be underwear checkpoints to verify that people are complying with local, state, and federal regulations governing such matters. After all, we wouldn´t anyone going around with underwear that is unsafe.
The fact is – I´m more fearful of the government and the police that I am of terrorists and traffic accidents. To quote Ronald Reagan, I believe "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."
Another troubling fact about government "life saving" measures is that one can never be sure how far they will go or where they will end. We already have stuff like the aforementioned water boarding and forced usage of seatbelts in addition to mandatory motorcycle helmets and child safety equipment along with intrusive public smoking restrictions. But there´s no reason to believe advocates of government-mandated safety and security will stop there.
In the near future, individual freedom will be further eroded by forced limitations on everyone´s fat, sugar, and sodium intake. Again, the rallying cry for passage of such laws would be the amount of lives they would save. Why, it´s a proven fact, you know. There´s all kinds of medical evidence.
And don´t be surprised if, some day, there will be underwear checkpoints to verify that people are complying with local, state, and federal regulations governing such matters. After all, we wouldn´t anyone going around with underwear that is unsafe.