(Don’t just sit there, pass a law! Even if it’s needless and absurd)
As is usual when a new year begins, many states will need to expand their many volumes of statutes and the myriad regulations that always accompany new laws. And this year of 2009 Anno Domini brings with it a host of new laws in dozens of states, some needed, some with a degree of usefulness, and some that are just plain stupid. But, gosh, what’s a legislator to do when all the really needful statutes already are in place?
Let’s start with a few that make sense. California, which has got to be the most law and regulation-stifled state in the country, now has made it illegal to read or write text messages while driving. Well, duh! How much attention can you pay to other drivers, me in particular, when your eyes are on your Blackberry (or whatever) instead of the road? Some other states have already made it a traffic offense to talk on a hand-held cell phone while behind the wheel. Simple common sense.
Illinois, which as we all know has had a little corruption problem with its administration, has passed a law against contractors doing more than 50K a year with the state to make political contributions to the officeholder who oversees the deal. That’s one I can get behind. The alternative is merely an invitation to good, old-fashioned graft.
But enough of needful things. Let’s have some fun. Oregon, the only state that allows euthanasia of terminally-ill patients, is on a big health kick. I guess they want to save on morphine and sodium pentothal. Not only have the Oregonians joined the growing number of states that have made it illegal to smoke in bars, but the state has banned restaurants from serving food containing trans-fats. Excuse me, but if I want to go out have a big, fat-filled Porterhouse steak, I consider that my right as a citizen of a free country, where my health is my business. If you follow the logic of health laws, you wind up in the unhappy land of mandated risk-free living – as if that were possible. And you give the state a big, fat, controlling hand in your personal life. Bah to you, Oregon! And bah again!
Then there are the laws that make some sense, but maybe go a little too far. Henceforth, in Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska and Washington state, first-time DUI offenders will be required to install breathalyzers in their vehicles, which disable the ignition if any alcohol is detected. That makes some sense, but most states with that requirement apply it to those with more than one DUI. Unfortunately, anyone can make a once-in-a-lifetime mistake that lands them a ’Driving Under the Influence’ charge. It may be just a bit Draconian to force the ignition-breathalyzer thing on first-timers. I could be mistaken.
Arkansas has passed a law, sure to bring a host of lawsuits, barring adoption by single-parent households and those in which the couples are not married. Opponents offer several arguments: children can be raised successfully by single or unmarried parents; and mainly they say the law is simply a devious way to ban adoptions by gays or gay couples.
I say, good for Arkansas. Decades of research have shown unequivocally that optimal outcomes are achieved when children are raised in stable, two parent homes consisting of parents of opposite genders who behave like parents of optimal genders. Please don’t bother me with the recent spate of specious, biased “studies” purporting to show that gay couples make just as good parents. They are so much eyewash.
Many, many more laws are taking effect around the country as the new year begins. It is virtually axiomatic. Newly-elected members of legislative bodies feel a compulsion to legislate. Isn’t that why they were elected? No, not necessarily. Most often, I believe people elect officials in the belief that existing laws will more effectively be enforced, not so they can’t go out to eat without being faced with only non-trans-fat menus. Between the environmentalists and the health-and-safety crowd, pretty soon most recreational activities except walking very carefully would be against the law. Some things are government’s business. Most are not.
What Lawmakers Do
(Don’t just sit there, pass a law! Even if it’s needless and absurd)
As is usual when a new year begins, many states will need to expand their many volumes of statutes and the myriad regulations that always accompany new laws. And this year of 2009 Anno Domini brings with it a host of new laws in dozens of states, some needed, some with a degree of usefulness, and some that are just plain stupid. But, gosh, what’s a legislator to do when all the really needful statutes already are in place?
Let’s start with a few that make sense. California, which has got to be the most law and regulation-stifled state in the country, now has made it illegal to read or write text messages while driving. Well, duh! How much attention can you pay to other drivers, me in particular, when your eyes are on your Blackberry (or whatever) instead of the road? Some other states have already made it a traffic offense to talk on a hand-held cell phone while behind the wheel. Simple common sense.
Illinois, which as we all know has had a little corruption problem with its administration, has passed a law against contractors doing more than 50K a year with the state to make political contributions to the officeholder who oversees the deal. That’s one I can get behind. The alternative is merely an invitation to good, old-fashioned graft.
But enough of needful things. Let’s have some fun. Oregon, the only state that allows euthanasia of terminally-ill patients, is on a big health kick. I guess they want to save on morphine and sodium pentothal. Not only have the Oregonians joined the growing number of states that have made it illegal to smoke in bars, but the state has banned restaurants from serving food containing trans-fats. Excuse me, but if I want to go out have a big, fat-filled Porterhouse steak, I consider that my right as a citizen of a free country, where my health is my business. If you follow the logic of health laws, you wind up in the unhappy land of mandated risk-free living – as if that were possible. And you give the state a big, fat, controlling hand in your personal life. Bah to you, Oregon! And bah again!
Then there are the laws that make some sense, but maybe go a little too far. Henceforth, in Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska and Washington state, first-time DUI offenders will be required to install breathalyzers in their vehicles, which disable the ignition if any alcohol is detected. That makes some sense, but most states with that requirement apply it to those with more than one DUI. Unfortunately, anyone can make a once-in-a-lifetime mistake that lands them a ’Driving Under the Influence’ charge. It may be just a bit Draconian to force the ignition-breathalyzer thing on first-timers. I could be mistaken.
Arkansas has passed a law, sure to bring a host of lawsuits, barring adoption by single-parent households and those in which the couples are not married. Opponents offer several arguments: children can be raised successfully by single or unmarried parents; and mainly they say the law is simply a devious way to ban adoptions by gays or gay couples.
I say, good for Arkansas. Decades of research have shown unequivocally that optimal outcomes are achieved when children are raised in stable, two parent homes consisting of parents of opposite genders who behave like parents of optimal genders. Please don’t bother me with the recent spate of specious, biased “studies” purporting to show that gay couples make just as good parents. They are so much eyewash.
Many, many more laws are taking effect around the country as the new year begins. It is virtually axiomatic. Newly-elected members of legislative bodies feel a compulsion to legislate. Isn’t that why they were elected? No, not necessarily. Most often, I believe people elect officials in the belief that existing laws will more effectively be enforced, not so they can’t go out to eat without being faced with only non-trans-fat menus. Between the environmentalists and the health-and-safety crowd, pretty soon most recreational activities except walking very carefully would be against the law. Some things are government’s business. Most are not.
This entry was posted on January 3, 2009 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Conservative Commentry. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.