Laws regarding seatbelts and cigarettes

[Alexmahone]

I really wish there was some level of consistency in the way the government makes laws regarding seatbelts and cigarettes. Currently seatbelts are mandatory while it's legal to buy/sell cigarettes.

Either:

1) Allow us to make poor decisions that may end up killing us by removing all laws that require one to wear a seatbelt and permitting people to freely buy/sell cigarettes

OR

2) Forbid us from making poor life/death decisions by requiring people to wear seatbelts and banning the sale of cigarettes.

Why is there a double standard with respect to these 2 issues?

[Silver]

The tobacco industry brings in the ca-ching.

[Aegon]

I agree, honestly. If I want to be stupid and kill myself by not wearing a seat belt that's my right. Though cars nowadays beep relentlessly when you don't, so you sort of have to anyways.

[Brian37]

I really wish there was some level of consistency in the way the government makes laws regarding seatbelts and cigarettes. Currently seatbelts are mandatory while it's legal to buy/sell cigarettes.

Either:

1) Allow us to make poor decisions that may end up killing us by removing all laws that require one to wear a seatbelt and permitting people to freely buy/sell cigarettes

OR

2) Forbid us from making poor life/death decisions by requiring people to wear seatbelts and banning the sale of cigarettes.

Why is there a double standard with respect to these 2 issues?

Rand Paul fan? If so, been there done that.

1. Seatbelts mandated? Why? Because even if you don't give a shit about your own life, if you get hurt everyone's car insurance and medical insurance goes up.

Smoking? At what age? I started when I was 13, hate to tell you but back then, the tobacco companies WERE marketing to kids and especially minorities in poor communities.

Cowboys and Camels are hero images. Candy cigarettes were aimed at kids. The trend with alcohol now is to give beer and liquor colors and flavors aimed at youth too.

Now in Australia you can buy both booze and smokes STILL, but what they don't do is put adult products in the same store that a kid would be allowed in, not even beer.

[John V]

I really wish there was some level of consistency in the way the government makes laws regarding seatbelts and cigarettes. Currently seatbelts are mandatory while it's legal to buy/sell cigarettes.

Either:

1) Allow us to make poor decisions that may end up killing us by removing all laws that require one to wear a seatbelt and permitting people to freely buy/sell cigarettes

OR

2) Forbid us from making poor life/death decisions by requiring people to wear seatbelts and banning the sale of cigarettes.

Why is there a double standard with respect to these 2 issues?

There's no corporate profits or tax revenue to be made from people not wearing seatbelts.

[Minimalist]

Not to mention that there is no federal law mandating seat belt usage.

The insurance industry forced that on the states.  Only New Hampshire has bucked the trend.

[Brian37]

I really wish there was some level of consistency in the way the government makes laws regarding seatbelts and cigarettes. Currently seatbelts are mandatory while it's legal to buy/sell cigarettes.

Either:

1) Allow us to make poor decisions that may end up killing us by removing all laws that require one to wear a seatbelt and permitting people to freely buy/sell cigarettes

OR

2) Forbid us from making poor life/death decisions by requiring people to wear seatbelts and banning the sale of cigarettes.

Why is there a double standard with respect to these 2 issues?

There's no corporate profits or tax revenue to be made from people not wearing seatbelts.

GOD ARE YOU DENSE, private insurance is A FORM OF SOCIALISM, just in the private sector. If you get stupid and don't wear your seatbelt, if you and I have Geico and you go through the windshield, and end up the ER, since insurance is a private pool, everyone who has Geico has to make up for everything after your deductible. Insurance companies lose money every time they pay out and pass that cost of paying for your fucking stupidity onto everyone else who has the same insurance.

[RoadRunner79]

I Liked this one; before I left Indiana. They came down against drunk driving checks, declaring them an illegal search. At this same time, they passed legislation to increase seat belt check stops. Needless to say, they where conducting a large amount of seat belt checks on after 10 PM on weekends.

[Minimalist]

Was Pence still governor?

[RoadRunner79]

Was Pence still governor?

Well before that.