Think I'll write to my State Rep & the Editor...

[StumpysWife]

This article appeared on the front page of our local newspaper...

http://miningjournal.net/news/story/128202004_new02-n1208.asp

I love these quote from my State Rep...
Adamini said he supports the bill because of the lack of proof that wearing a helmet makes a difference in injuries resulting from high-speed crashes.

"It appears that if a person is operating a motorcycle at speeds of more than 20 miles per hour that wearing a helmet has no effect on injuries or the lack thereof," Adamini said. "Face it, most people driving a motorcycle do so at high speeds. If you're going 80 miles per hour, you're going to be hurt whether or not you're wearing a helmet."

And...

Added Adamini, "Show me the data that proves wearing a helmet will make a difference in high-speed motorcycle crashes and I'll support the current law."

OK.  He's obviosly against the helmet law, and that's his deal, but the misinformation he's spreading to appeal to this population segment is terrible.  

I'm for the helmet law, for the benefit of your friends and family or the other people involved in the incident if you are in an incident.  I don't care if you want bugs in your teeth.  I don't want to blither on about your loss when you weren't wearing a helmet and would have been fine with one.

Maybe it's true, you've got a $50 head get a $50 helmet.  You can see what no helmet equals.  ;)  Or maybe it's just good for "natural selection".  Ok, I'm getting ornery now so I'll stop.

I'm on a rant, but I just really didn't like that article.  Luckily they aren't overturning Michigan's helmet law...for now.

Heather

[Lowe119]

I had a neighbor who worked in the emergency room. He said he's seen more deaths from riders wearing helmets than those who didn't. He claimed that there is swelling in the brain on a helmet injury, where the cracking of the skull (with no helmet) relieves this pressure.

I would still rather wear a helmet. I'm sure there are many people who didn't visit his emergency room - like the guy with the helmet who went home after his wreck or the guy without the helmet who went straight to the morgue.....

[cornercamping]

I think it should be left up to the public what each person does.  Helmet, seatbelt, ect. laws should be by choice of the person, and not inforced by the government.   A person should have the right to choose if he/she wears a seatbelt or helmet.  I don't think it's right the government steps in on it.  Ask yourself this:

Who gets hurt if I don't wear a helmet or my seatbelt?

It doesn't hurt anyone but you.  So, why is it mandated by the government other than financial gain?

I don't agree with the laws, but regardless, I'll wear my seatbelt and always a helmet regardless of what the law says.   ;)  It's just stupid that it's enforced by the gov. for nothing more than financial reasons.   >:(

[TiffineyIngram]

It doesn't hurt anyone but you?  What about your wife, your kids, your mom?  And what about the people that can't afford their own funerals?  I know it's harsh, but why should taxpayers have to pay for you refusing to wear a seatbelt?  That's a financial reason for you.  I'm sure whatever the 'revenue' from seatbelt tickets will never offset the cost of numerous funerals for the people who weren't lucky enough to get that ticket in time.

[OmniGLH]

I think it should be left up to the public what each person does.  Helmet, seatbelt, ect. laws should be by choice of the person, and not inforced by the government.   A person should have the right to choose if he/she wears a seatbelt or helmet.  I don't think it's right the government steps in on it.  Ask yourself this:

Who gets hurt if I don't wear a helmet or my seatbelt?

It doesn't hurt anyone but you.  So, why is it mandated by the government other than financial gain?

I don't agree with the laws, but regardless, I'll wear my seatbelt and always a helmet regardless of what the law says.   ;)  It's just stupid that it's enforced by the gov. for nothing more than financial reasons.   >:(

Ditto.

I will always wear my seatbelt, and I will always wear my helmet.  But I don't think it's the governments place to tell me that I HAVE to.

Laws should be written to protect me from OTHER people - NOT to protect me from ME.  Helmets and seatbelts don't save or help anyone but myself.  

IL doesn't have a helmet law, and I'm glad they don't.  They DO have an eye protection law... which I *do* support.  Get something in your eye as you're cruising down the road, and you just might swerve and hit something - pedestrian, another car, etc.  Thats no good.

[OmniGLH]

It doesn't hurt anyone but you?  What about your wife, your kids, your mom?  

::)  Since WHEN is it the government's job to care about someone's FEELINGS?  Wait... It's NOT their job, and it shouldn't be.

And what about the people that can't afford their own funerals?  I know it's harsh, but why should taxpayers have to pay for you refusing to wear a seatbelt?  That's a financial reason for you.  I'm sure whatever the 'revenue' from seatbelt tickets will never offset the cost of numerous funerals for the people who weren't lucky enough to get that ticket in time.

Since when do taxpayers cover the cost of a funeral because someone can't pay for their own?  From what - social security benefits?  They'd get that when they die anyways.

Seatbelts and helmets should be a personal choice.  If I choose not to wear one, and something happens that places a strain on my family - then it was MY choice.

Take responsibility for your actions.  Don't expect someone else to clean up after you.

[cornercamping]

Sure, it hurts people in your family, and that's why I wear my seatbelt.  What I'm trying to say, is that a government mandate saying that YOU MUST regardless of what you want, is unnecessary.  Every new law is a limit on a persons right of choice.  A grown adult, should have the right to choose what they think is right for them, and we don't need the government telling us you have to do this and that because we say so.  That goes for everything.  Seatbelts, helmets, assisted death, abortion, ect.   A grown adult should choose what is right or wrong for them as long as it doesn't effect the general public.  I support the right of choice, regardless of the issue behind it.
As far as the general public absorbing costs of death or injury from a person choice, that is a mute subject regardless for two reasons:

1. More people rip off the state with bogus claims than anything, and legitimate claims have a minor impact.  If you assume that the government will pay more if people don't wear seat belts when death occurrs, your also assuming that a majority of other claims are valid.  For instance, does the goverment forking out money on a persons death compare to the millions of false injury (disability claims) make a substantial difference to overall payouts?

2. The state will lose money on tickets from no seatbelt and such.  Therefore, they lose money anyways.

More or less, what I"m trying to say is that the right of choice is what needs to be defended.  We keep losing our rights because someone is always trying to say what is right for someone else.   Ontop of that, one study says this, and another contradicts it.   My problem is regardless of what the study's say, whenever I am forced to choose by a state law on something that effects only me and my family, I'm not happy.

[cornercamping]

What casuses more deaths in one year:

1. People dying from not wearing a helmet.

2. Cigarettes and Alcohol.

Why are cigarettes and alcohol available?  Because they are taxable and a source of revenue.

Why aren't drugs like marijuana not legal? BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T TAX THEM.  The black market is too big on those substances and it's too easy to grow marijuana at home.

You think that if the government could find a way to tax marijuana that it wouldn't get legalized?  If research shows that marijuana is no more destructive than alcohol, why wouldn't they legalize it?

How many corporations make alcoholic beverages?
How many private citizens make alcoholic beverages at home?

If a private citizen could brew Vodka like they could grow marijuana, alcohol would be illegal because the government couldn't tax it.  

It's all about the $.   Always.  

Ever hear of the Uniformed Commerical Code?  The goverment is a business.   Flat out.  Anything that jeopordizes a business' ability to make money because of outside sources, has become illegal.  The goverment is also structured as a coporation.

[StumpysWife]

In thinking this over, I guess the thing that ticks me off is not the "choice" issue, but a leader misrepresenting the value of helmets!  Oh yes, helmets are much worse than bare skin.  And, no, when you wear the proper gear, you won't necessarily get hurt at 80 mph.  That's just silly.  

I guess I should add, Adamini was picked up for drunk driving in October.  Obviously other people's safety isn't a priority.  

Frankly, I'm more worried about the Patriot Act than helmets or seat belts when it comes to privacy issues these days.  

Heather

[cornercamping]

The goverment is also structured as a corporation.

Corporate Stricture of the United States Government:

1. CEO= President
2. Vice President= Vice President
3. Board of Directors =  Congress and Senate
4. Accounting = Federal Reserve, CFO = Alan Greenspan
5. Corporate Bylaws= DOJ, All of the "justice" firms
6. Corproate Auditor = IRS

That's just some of it.  The goverment is a business.  Any way to create revenue is approached as corporate strategy.   You can outline the entire government in reference as a business.  Therefore, the UCC is in act when referenced to the federal government.

[cornercamping]

In thinking this over, I guess the thing that ticks me off is not the "choice" issue, but a leader misrepresenting the value of helmets!  Oh yes, helmets are much worse than bare skin.  And, no, when you wear the proper gear, you won't necessarily get hurt at 80 mph.  That's just silly.  

I guess I should add, Adamini was picked up for drunk driving in October.  Obviously other people's safety isn't a priority.  

Frankly, I'm more worried about the Patriot Act than helmets or seat belts when it comes to privacy issues these days.  

Heather

I agree, helmets save lives, and I don't argue that.  Same goes for seatbelts, airbags, ect.  I just don't like the fact that some jackass is trying to mandate it based on his choice.   My right as an adult is to choose what's right for me and my family.   Anytime someone tries to take away my ability to choose, I get upset.  

What's next?  The government is going to tell me I can't eat salt because it's not good for me?

Choice.  That's all my beef is.  

[RAY_HYMER]

Since when do taxpayers cover the cost of a funeral because someone can't pay for their own?  From what - social security benefits?  They'd get that when they die anyways.

If someone dies that is indigent, the county (AKA, taxpayers) ends up paying for the costs.  Adding into that expense is storing the body while everyone figures out who's going (or not going ) to pay.

Helmet laws are a problem, no matter which way you look at it.  If the government creates new laws because of the psychological effect one's actions would have on family and friends, what would happen to racing, or sports in general?