Editorial
Seat belt use should be
left to personal choice
The mandatory seat belt bill proposed in the Oregon
Senate is yet another attempt of government to infringe on
the public’s right to choose. Oregonians should be able to
decide for themselves whether to wear seat belts.
Senate President John Kitzhaber has called the issue one
of "sound public policy vs. personal freedom." Although
the policy may be sound, the value of personal freedom out
ways it.
If the bill is passed, supporters say Oregon could save
$40 million in medical costs and lawsuits. Death rates
would also go down.
Almost everyone agrees seat belts do save lives;
numerous studies have proved the point. But simply passing
a law making it mandatory to buckle up does not mean peo
ple will wear them.
The big question remaining is; "will the benefits claim
ed by supporters actually occur? And does this give govern
ment the right to infringe on an individual's liberties?"
Seat belt law proponents say driving is already
regulated through drunk-driving laws and the speed limit.
But these laws exist to protect people outside the car as well
as the driver. The seat belt law is an individual protection —
nobody else is endangered if the drivers choose not to wear
their seat belts.
This is very important because the seat belt law issue is
not a question of saving lives — that is a given. It is an issue
regarding personal choice. The government should not
place restrictions on a person when his or her actions do not
harm another.
Rep. Bob Brogoitti, R-La Grande, said Oregonians
would be living in a “police state” if the law passed.
America prides itself on the freedom it gives individuals.
We have the ability to choose our medical care, our religion,
and make other decisions about our lives.
In keeping with these freedoms we should be allowed to
decide whether to wear our seat belts. When the government
starts making laws that invade these personal decisions, it
undermines the basic concepts outlined in the Constitution.
Because the benefits of the bill stem from more people
wearing seat belts, the enforcibility of the law is an impor
tant aspect to consider. Current laws only affect people
under 16. The current law holds drivers responsible for
young passengers because they are not old enough to drive.
However, the driver can only be ticketed if stopped for other
reasons.
The Senate Bill carries a fine up to $50. It is unclear
whether violators are to be pulled over specifically because
of the law or are ticketed in conjunction with another viola
tion. In either case, the enforcement seems flawed. The
method opens up possibilities of abuse. Police could pull
people over for not wearing a seat belt if they suspected
them for another crime.
America has upheld a laissez faire attitude toward
government throughout history. The rights professed in the
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution represent
a government for the people, by the people. Regulations and
restrictions have become an inherent form of the system in
order to avoid an uncontrollable state of nature. When
government starts to tread on the individual’s freedoms,
however, that cannot be accepted.
r
i
s
I
"IT'S ANOTHER EXTORTION NOTE ROM 600. THIS TIME HE WANTS SMALL BILLS?"
Letters
Seat belts
In her article on safety belts.
Shawn VVirtz demonstrated in
sight and courage in addressing
the reason more people are
buckling up and the possible
passage of legislative mandate.
I say courage because it's
about time someone put seat
belts in the context we can all
reckon with: economic impact.
Seat belt advocates (I am a
belated member) have too long
centered their argument on the
very subjunctive “quality of
life.” In the meantime, the
ACl.U and its following harp
about government intervention
into human rights. I want to
know if the right to die or be
maimed for life falls into their
so-called humanitarian Bill of
“Rights".
I didn't buckle my seat belt
five years ago. The economic
impact on me has been
astronomical. I’ve also learned a
lot about the quality of life. 1
was fortunate enough to enjoy
life to the fullest, to laugh and
to cry and enjoy life's little
ironies. I no longer do.
1 don’t enjoy the distinction
of being recognizable. Perhaps a
few of you have shared classes
with me. I don't talk well —
because I can’t. I don’t walk
well for the same reason. 1 am
Oregon Daily
Emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday
through Friday except during exam week and vacations
by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the
University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. 97403
The Emerald operates independently of the University
with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union
and is a member of the Associated Press
The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal
or use of papers is prosecutable by law
General Staff
Advertising Director Susan Thelen
Production Manager Wayne Michael Lottinville
Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons
Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey
Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur / Sales Manager
Teresa Acosta. Brent Collins. Beryl Israel. Janelle Heit
mann, Laura Goldstein, Catherine Lilja, Rick Martz,
Joseph Menzel, Peter Miller. Joan Wildermuth
News and Editorial
Display Advertising and Business
Ctassitied Advertising
Letter Perfect Graphics
Production
Circulation
686 5511
686 3712
6864343
686 5511
686 4381
686 5511
Editor
Managing Editor
News Editor
Spectrum Editor
Spectrum Assistant Editor
Editorial Page Editors
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Spectrum Photo Editor
Graphics Editor
Night Editor
Associate Editors
Community
Politics
Higher Education I Administration
University Affairs
Student Government
Student Activities
General Assignment
General Assignment
General Assignment
Michelle Brence
Lucinda Dillon
Michael Rivers
Stephen Maher
Stanley Nelson
Michael Drummond
Angie Muniz
Capt Lynn
Michael Wilhelm
John Giustina
Lorraine Rath
Stanley Nelson
Jolayne Houtz
Nick Reed
Chris Norred
B J Thomsen
Carolyn Lamberson
Sarah Kitchen
Karen Creighton
Dennis Fernandes
Scott Maben
Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Mary Courtis. Gary Henley
Janet Paulson
Photographers: Shertyn Biorkgren, ShuShing Chen,
Marla Corvallis, Derrel Hewitt, Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler
Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator
Kelly Alexandre. Elizabeth Asher, Ronwin Nicole Ashton,
Virginia Bamaga, Sandra Bevans, Sara Briscoe, Shu
shing Chen, Janet Emery, Lisa Haggerty. Donna Leslie
Curtis Lott, Kelli Mason, Mike McGraw. Rob Miles
Angelina Muniz, Julie Paul. Ingrid White, X Kang Xie
old enough to be your mother.
Five years ago 1 had grabbed
the “brass ring” and was on my
way up the magabucks
category. Now. I'm just another
student. I belong to the Oregon
Head Injury Foundation. I pray I
never meet any of you there.
BUCKLE UP - I didn’t and
wish to hell 1 had.
Kristi Svendsen
Pre-Journalism
Disarmament
The nuclear test carried out
by the Pentagon on Feb. 3 has
sent a resounding message to
the people of Europe: The
United States under the current
administration is opposed to
arms control.
Beginning in August of 1985,
the Soviet Union voluntarily
halted its own nuclear weapons
tests and urged the United
States to sit down at the
negotiating table and sign a test
ban treaty. Knowing full well
that the USSR would end its
1 8 - m o n t h unilateral
moratorium with the Feb. 3 ex
plosion. the Reagan administra
tion went ahead anyway, effec
tively blasting any chance of
such a treaty coming into ex
istence in the near future.
President Reagan’s attempt to
militarize outer space is further
evidence of his administration’s
opposition to the cause of disar
mament. Although SDI or “Star
Wars” will probably never
shoot down a single missile, it
has proved remarkably suc
cessful at shooting down disar
mament proposals. It alone was
responsible for shooting down
the summit at Reykjavik.
Letters Policy
The Emerald will attempt to
print all letters containing fair
comment on topics of interest to
the University community.
Letters to the editor must be
limited to 250 words, typed,
signed and the identification of
the writer must be verified when
the letter is turned in. The
Emerald reserves the right to edit
any letter for length or style. Let
ters to the editor should be turn
ed into the Emerald office. Suite
300. EMU.
When the American people
sit down in mid-February to
watch ABC’s Nazi-style pro
paganda series "Amerika,”
they may be advised to consider
the events of the last six years
and ask themselves which of the
two superpowers is really en
dangering world peace. For the
people of Europe the answer has
become increasingly clear.
Christian Gunther
West Berlin
Powers
Human beings as members ot
the animal world and being of
such high intelligence must
have a higher power other than
man. The need for a god that
has power over the most power
ful humans has always been im
portant to the betterment of
societies.
1 think it is too bad that our
intellect has evolved out of the
Dark Ages only to discover that
we invented God “the
almighty, thrower of lightning
bolts, creator of Satan and the
fires of hell.” Now we fear no
retribution and behave as we
please.
Sure, being free of guilt that
once was really fear of hell-fires
is fine, but can we let our
children play alone in the park?
So what are we to do now that
we know the Bible was written
by mere men, claiming to be
speaking for God? Do we let
people like Pat Robertson and
Oral Roberts, and their
followers like William Moore,
Brian Frary and Micheal Cross
dictate to us that the humans
that wrote the Bible were not
really creating helpful myths to
humble wicked men, but really
meant ail they said as fact?
Of course not; not when it
means letting egocentric,
authority-hungry humans
represent God, our higher
power. The Bible as myth and
not as fact is fine but the idea of
trusting a human to speak for
God is pointless. The spirit of
God speaks to us by way of our
love for life, not by words on a
page.
Patrick Clancy
Eugene