04-01-2008, 11:56 PM
Quote: I think freedom from excessive justification is a worthy cause. (eg: Why do you need a metal pen comrade? You could stab someone with it. Better to use this safe 1 inch wax crayon instead. Or use your finger on the dirt.)
I also think there is such a thing as going too far the other way. Freedom doesn't mean freedom from consequences. There's no absolute 'law' against defecating in one's own pool either. But I'm personally not going to do it just because I have the freedom to do so.
So, you think seatbelt laws, or California's Helmet law is in excess? Does this fit into your qualifications of "common sense?" How far should our institutions go to protect us from our own stupidity?
My personal take on these issues is if *it* - whatever 'it' may be - can cause harm to others, it should be regulated; if it can *only* do harm to yourself, then so be it. There are, of course, some gray areas such as minors, internet crimes, etc.
"The true value of a human being is determined primarily by the measure and the sense in which he has attained liberation from the self." -Albert Einsetin