How Dare You Tell Me What To Do?????

No sooner had the weather turned decent than the local newspaper declared "Return of motorcycle season in Connecticut kickstarts old helmet law debate." And just as predictably, the online comments kickstarted the usual "evil nanny Government" responses.

Here's how I responded:

"You don't want to wear a helmet, jacket, whatever? Fine. But hear this: when you hit the road, your skin will be destroyed along with your limbs. Sound too dramatic?

My husband and I were involved in an accident last week when a car turned left in front of us. My husband, the driver, "laid the bike down" and we - and the bike on top of us on its side - went skidding down the rode. My ankle is broken, his leg was badly broken (requiring surgery).

The good news? Had we not been wearing helmets, reinforced jackets, heavy-weight pants and boots, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that we would have suffered much, much worse - trauma to our brains and internal organs, not to mention hideous road rash on our arms and backs.

You don't want to wear appropriate protection? Fine. Be an idiot. But if the government is willing to help me protect myself, I personally welcome the opportunity. If you happen to be protected as well, that's all the better. The only "right" you lose is the right to destroy yourself and involve others in horrendous tragedy.

The government also tells you not to cross the street on a red light - is that too much interference, too?"

My post received several responses. One person said that her helmet was uncomfortable (to which I reply: then go get another one at a reputable store - the only thing that should hurt when you're wearing a helmet is the thought of having to rewash/style your hair when you take the thing off).

But the others were your ROTM evil Government bile:

- Perhaps the government should supply you with a live in safety monitor. He can follow you around your house to make sure you don't do anything stupid like sticking a butter knife in the toaster to get the toast out. This nanny state garbage is sickening.

- From the comment in your first post it sounds like you welcome others to take care of you and make decisions for you. Not me. I do just fine without big brother interfering.

My favorite:

As of now, we riders still have the freedom to decide which flavor of freedom we'd like. I'd like to keep it that way. We give up too many of those freedoms and soon we'll be goose-stepping and sieg-heiling and calling each other "comrades." *shudder*

The bottom line is this: we have become a paranoid nation where way too many of us have drawn a straight line from structure/law to dictatorship to the place where Ayn Rand meets Emma Goldman.

God bless America - unless of course you think God's out to get you. In that case, have a nice day.