From: crawford@boole.mitre.org (Randy Crawford)
Subject: Re: Tax alcohol/tobacco pay medical damages.
Originator: crawford@boole.mitre.org
Keywords: insurance costs/personal responsibility
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean, VA
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 21:03:49 GMT


In article <1992Oct4.001454.10890@linus.mitre.org>, tucker@mitre.org 
(William Tucker) writes:
> 
> There are a significant number of side effects to drinking
> and smoking cigarettes. We the people who don't either
> smoke or drink, or if we do, do so in moderation; end up having
> to pay for those side effects. 
...
> There should 
> be some way of figuring out the amount of damage done, adding a tax and 
> setting that money aside for Medicare, Hospital reimbursement, or whatever. 
> The added cost would also probably cut into some of the usage, except for 
> those who are addicted. Why not make those responsible for the damage done
> also responsible for the fixing of that damage? Is this our country or
> what? Can't we get any laws passed that help us?

There's a flip side to this that concerns me greatly (and pertains to
DC-related issues).

If some of us prefer to live our lives in a certain manner which puts us
at greater risk (such as motorcycle riding without a helmet, not wearing 
seat belts, bike riding without a helmet, scuba diving, etc) what is the
appropriate role for government in legislating such things?  

On one hand, not wearing seat belts (for example) will mean that others 
will have to contribute higher taxes to pay the extra medical costs that 
we both must pay if I crash, a cost they would not incur because they do 
not choose to take the same risk that I do.  On the other hand, the 
insurance industry has made it impossible to segregate peoples into 
different risk categories due to recent anti-discrimination rulings which 
declare such labels to be the mark of inequality.  Therefore, even if I 
_wanted_ to pay more for the privilege of taking the extra risk, the 
government won't allow me to do it.  Therefore people cry out against
having to pay higher taxes/fees so that I alone might enjoy this freedom.

This has some pretty serious repercussions in a lot of ways.  Those of us
who participate in any activity (say eating pizza) which is perceived by
the insurance industry to be injurious may find ourselves simply unable 
to do it one day.  This is not as outlandish as it might appear.  In the
past decade, all bicycle riders or motorcyclists in most states are now
required by law to wear a helmet.  Almost all automobile drivers in the 
US must wear seat belts.  I believe this is the start of something big 
and unstoppable if we wait much longer. 

What ever happened to personal responsibility?  Are we soon going to be 
restrained by an act of law from doing anything at all which is seen as 
risky to ourselves or others?  In my opinion, it's those personal freedoms 
that have made this country a great place to live.  But at this rate, what
will be left in a few years?  Will the Marlboro Man become an accountant
who takes his chances with sharpened pencils?

For those not yet convinced of the seriousness of this trend, here are a 
few more of the less threatening activities which I believe will become 
at risk:

horse riding, water skiing, football, driving lightweight sports cars or
convertibles, hunting, bicycling on public roads (try not wearing a bike
helmet some time and then riding past a cop), eating foods not "good enough"
for you, lying on the beach, and so on...

Food for thought, (low cal, no cholesterol, low sodium, no MSG, low nitrite,
of course).


Randy
crawford@mitre.org
 
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