Jul 21 2008
Attention Bikers! Tracy Edge is Your Self-Appointed Nanny
S.C. Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, said he will take a stab at passing a helmet law in next year’s legislative session.
With motorcycle use - and, in turn, fatal crashes - on the rise in South Carolina, Edge said his thoughts on a helmet law have “evolved” over the past few years.
Edge said he has heard anecdotally - from hospital CEOs, ER doctors and his brother, Horry County Coroner Robert Edge - that motorcyclists who do not use helmets suffer much more severe head injuries, which leads to overwhelming medical bills, if the patient is lucky enough to survive.
I think it’s incredibly stupid to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. But you know what? That’s the great thing about America. We have the right to live our lives incredibly stupid if we so desire. Well, at least we used to. Control over your own life is becoming less and less common these days as the dumbing down of America continues and more people look to government to provide their basic needs. Edge evidently thinks that is part of his role now as well.
Edge uses the argument that the people who have these accidents helmetless and survive encounter medical bills so enormous that they are unable to pay for them and the cost is thrust upon the taxpayer. I have a very simple solution to that dilemma. If they can’t pay, don’t treat them. Sure, it’s sounds harsh, but why should I, a responsible citizen, have to pay to save some careless idiot’s ass?
I would never get on a motorcycle to begin with because I think they are too dangerous, but I respect the right of those that choose to. Riding one without a helmet though is Darwinism at work.
You’re another one of these great political minds who is probably unemployed and at best uninformed. Federal law (called EMTALA) mandates that hospital ERs treat people regardless of whether they can pay which IS why we get stuck paying the bill for these people. Furthermore if you had any understanding of what is going on in the Myrtle Beach area you would know WHY this is being proposed. Finally, you are in North Carolina where you have a helmet law so go worry about your own state. To go back to what you wrote is the best way to end: the great thing about America is that people uninformed as you get to spout off anytime you choose. By the way you can’t say FIRE in a theater. You probably don’t like that law either.
Yes, I am aware of what EMTALA is. The “if they can’t pay, don’t treat them” comment is sarcasm.
It doesn’t excuse your proposal. A grown adult doesn’t need you to tell them whether or not they should wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle A grown adult doesn’t need you to tell them whether or not they should wear a seatbelt when they drive a car. A grown adult doesn’t need you to protect them from themselves.
Your fire in a theater analogy is a Straw Man. Falsely yelling fire in a crowded movie theater threatens the safety and health of others. Me not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle threatens only me.
Furthermore, I do live in South Carolina, where Republicans control the state government and have increased spending over 40% in the past few years and have stood in the way of many government reforms proposed by our governor. Talk about uninformed.
If you don’t like being referred to as a nanny, then don’t introduce nanny state proposals that chip away at my freedom. It’s really quite simple. If you can’t understand that then you don’t belong in government.
You must be one of those wackos that wants to legalize drug use to go with your libertarian beliefs. Why dont you run for office on your platform. Oh I guess you already know you can’t win.
I have spent the last 5 years as an observer ABATE of SC meetings. ABATE is the most vocal organization in opposition to a helmet law in SC. Let me tell you, the problem is not the lack of helmets but the culture of alcohol in this group. I have not been to a single meeting that was not held in a bar. The “fun runs” all begin and end at a bar, with several stops at bars in between.
My observation has been that most of these self-proclaimed freedom fighters drink to excess, get on their bikes lidless, and then blame the motorist if they wreck. It is NEVER the alcohol. God forbid they should have to ride sober!!!!
These folks pick and choose which laws they obey anyway - driving under the influence is already illegal - so I don’t think a helmet law will make much difference.