Politicians Have Run Out of Intelligent Actions to Take

Now that I have your attention let me clarify. In the scheme of life there are rules and regulations that are fairly obvious and useful. These laws were inacted when the country began and existed before that in England and other places. I am thinking of things like no robbing, no murder, no rape, etc.

After several hundred years the opportunity to enact new intelligent laws starts to be a bit thin. Advances in technology or societal changes will bring about new rules but these don't occur daily. In order for politicians to feel useful and have something to do besides spend out money they come up with mediocre or downright awful regulations.

My favorite law to pick on is the Seatbelt Law. The use of a seatbelt is not stupid, not using one is actually fairly unintelligent given the trade off, live through an accident or die. That isn't the issue, the issue is that the politicians felt they had to make a law to force individuals to use a seatbelt when the cost of not using one is shouldered by the one not using it.

Granted some individuals will be severely injured in a car wreck as opposed to killed and thus end up on the public dole but I have to think the number here is fairly small. If someone wants to not wear a seatbelt go ahead and let them.

On the flip side of this discussion is smoking. Smoking kills those who do it and according to all the hoopla can kill those simply in the area of those smoking. I think 'area' is relative, if you are in a smoky bar it sure can kill you, if you are on the street it is more likely simply annoying as all get out as opposed to seriously deadly.

The politicians have passed laws making it illegal to smoke under a certain age and banned smoking in public places and on an on but smoking is still legal. So here we have seatbelts that really only effect the person in the seat versus smoking that kills all. Spock would be catatonic trying to figure out the logic in these rules since there is none when taken together.

Perhaps he would be able to figure in the $$$ doled out by the cigarette firms to politicians and paid in taxes and come to an understanding. If something provides the politicians with more money to spend as well as campaign funds it is OK even if it kills people.

If you want further evidence of the lack of intelligent things to do in politics start reading the US Tax Code. They will tinker with this time and time again but make it simple and logical - not a chance.

I wonder if the law stating a job will expand to fill the time alloted to it has come into play in politics? They really have nothing to do so they make up stuff to fill the time and look busy.