First, I think some of you have come down on Teddy Lancaster a bit
hard. Maybe she could have been a bit more tactful in making her
point, but her point is a valid one.
I find a line of reasoning set out in some of these posts to be very
dangerous. That is the one that says: If a choice you can make may
result in your being injured, and then we (taxpayers) have to pay for
your care, that gives us (taxpayers) the right to force you to make
the choice we consider to be the safe choice.
That sounds reasonable on the surface, but think it through. That
same principle can be applied to every action in our lives. If the
government can force us to do things "for our own good" on the
grounds that the government must care for us if we get hurt, then we
have lost all our freedom. We could soon find ourselves in a police
state the likes of which the world has never seen.
I *ALWAYS* wear a seal belt when I drive, no exceptions -- but I
oppose seat belt laws. I always wore a helment when riding a
motorcycle but I oppose helmet laws.
Children are a different matter. Children do not have the same
rights as adults, and should not, because their judgement and
experience is not mature. As an AERC Director I supported requiring
Junior Riders to wear *approved* helmets, but absolutely opposed any
similar rule for adult riders.
I believe it is clearly good judgement to wear a good helmet when
riding, even while training or "just hacking around." I also believe
in personal freedom, which includes the choice to not wear a helmet
if someone chooses. Yes, a few people may be severly injured due to
their choice and become "burdens to society," but that is just part
of the cost of freedom. The fact that you might have to pay a few
pennies toward my health care if I get hurt does not give you the
right to dictate my actions!!!!!!! Nor does it allow me to dictate yours.
I believe Ben Franklin said something to the effect "Those who would
sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither freedom nor security."
--Joe Long Rainbow Connection Arabians PC/LAN Manager home of Kahlil Khai Calhoun Community College AERC Hall of Fame horse jlong@hiwaay.net 11,475 miles completed