Is it the responsibility of government to protect people from themselves?

Should government protect people from themselves? Some examples of this are, laws requiring you to eat a healthy diet, laws requiring workers to wash hands, no phone calls while driving etc...

I say no because this is a violation of personal freedom. People have the right to be complete idiots.

 

What you speak of are laws to protect the public from ignorant citizens who often cause preventable harm on others. Often ignorant americans put others at danger by their own stupidity.

When accidents happen laywers make a lot of money, and people are injured. When people are unhealthy or injured, pharmasutical companies and the medical industry make big fat money.

Without some laws, the lawyers would be out of money, and if more people die, the medical industry and pharma corporations would be out of a lot of money.

When people do not follow laws, insurance companies decline payment so they don't pay for the screw up.

Hence the government needs to protect the ignorant ones so they can continue to make others wealthy.

 

If it benefits society as a whole then I'd say yes, government should protect people from themselves.

 

The government needs to stay out of my life in all aspects. Out of my wallet, out of my diet, out of my own d### household and out of my car! Out of business all together.

That is about the most ignoramus statement I've ever read thus far. So this means the government can arbitrarily deem some if not all people are ignorant thus they need to control every aspect of their lives in a true police state fashion? With that dangerous mindset the government can pretty much lord over people's lives unchecked and unopposed because it is for their own safety. Why not do away with voting or letting certian people not vote because they're ignorant? That is a gateway to fascism my friend. YOU are ignorant!

The only thing that would benefit a free society is to declare statements such as this as part of a deranged dictator memoir from an insane asylumn. Try reading Mein Kampf when you get the chance I'm sure you'd agree with 80% of it at least like a good national socialist.

I'd prefer to read and adhear to the US Constitution which does not state it is the government's responsibility to control every aspect of your life.

 

First of all, I never suggested that the government should control every aspect of our lives. My opinion is that if government controls on specific conduct benefits society in general then I'm all for it.

For example, outlawing smoking in commercial buildings such as restaurants and stores. That directly benefits society by eliminating the dangers of second hand smoke. There are many other examples of government controls benefitting us.

 

Of course not. It is rare that when people say, "I'm doing this for your own good," that it is actually for your own good. People should be as free as possible to make decisions and have choices.

 

No.

Except that "laws requiring workers to wash hands" protects me from the unhygenic health practices of others, yes? That's not so much people being protected from themselves, as people being protected from eachother. I think it could reasonably be argued that this is indeed the government's responsibility.

 

The government has a basic standard to go by and the rest is none of their business. The government should keep its nose out of the People's business when it doesn't belong there.

 

No one should forced you to eat a healthy diet, but you should be denied certain services if you don't.
Talking on a phone while driving should be illegal as it has the potential to cause an accident and kill an innocent bystander.

And if you go to the dunny without washing your hands, you are one sick puppy.

 

Washing hands...... that impacts others when they get food poisoning.

Phone calls while driving...... that impacts others when you crash into them.

 

What services should an obese person be denied simply because they're overweight?

 

When does it stop? What you are talking about is totalitarianism. You have to draw a line somewhere. If someone causes an accident because of cell phone use, they will be help criminally liable. Letting the government regulate what you do with your life on such a specific basis is EVIL. You cannot let a government have this much power! And intentionally denying services because someone is fat is just as prejudice as denying a black person rights.

 

Oh bull(*)(*)(*)(*). Your rights end where they endanger mine.

 

ALSO bull(*)(*)(*)(*). Me being obese would have nothing to do with endangering you. Neither would most of these other laws social communists want to use to control our everyday lives.

 

How can they be held criminally liable if, as you say, government shouldn't regulate cell phone use while driving?

Doesn't government have a responsibility to prevent accidents because of cell phone use while driving?

That is patently stupid.

Are you seriously suggesting that denying certain services to a obese person because they refuse to lose weight is somehow prejudicial?

 

What laws? Examples please.

 

Absolutely spot on!

 

Oh yes, I said endanger and you think I'm talking about being fat. Nice logic. I'm obviously talking about you driving down the road like a retard in a 1 to 2 tonne vehicle because you're talking on a phone and not paying attention. That endangers me.

 

I'm a centre left libertarian.

You want to do something dumb and kill yourself? Go right ahead. You want to take me with you? Go (*)(*)(*)(*) yourself.

 

Actually I REQUIRE my phone while driving in order to work. I believe there should be certain light restrictions, and HEAVY consequences, but without the use of my phone during work I could not successfully do my job. Neither one of my jobs! I have a clean record too- no accidents, no tickets. But you still want to force me to not even look at my phone while driving? What about the statistics they put out about people messing with the radio causing accidents. SHould I just drive in silence? What about eating? That takes your focus away, should I stop eating when I go on 8 hour driving trips? WHEN DOES IT END?

 

Boo hoo. Pull over.

 

Read...

http://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cell-phone/statistics.html

Only an idiot would suggest that cell phone use is safe while driving.

 

So, you don't read your own posts then?

 

Sounds like you need a new job: you're obviously no good at the one you've got.

 

Pulling over would actually cause a road hazard, far worse than me glancing at my phone a few seconds while Im stopped at a red light. Of course you are probably the same idiot that doesnt even realize the seatbelt law is unconstitutional