[pct-l] Canisters, Helmets and Seat Belts

[jmayer@rochester.rr.com (Jim Mayer)]

Hi Monty,

I share your frustration with "one size fits all" regulations, but I also
disagree with your reasoning.  The problem is that, in all three of the
examples you give, you aren't the only one affected.

Suppose you choose to not wear a seat belt.  If you get badly messed up (but
not killed) the government pays to scrape you off the pavement, then either
the government or an insurance compary (or both) pays to try to piece you
back together.  In the end, I end up paying for your carelessness through
either higher taxes or higher insurance premiums.  The basic deal is that
society agrees to provide medical and rehab services, and as part of that
deal, society puts some restrictions on our lives.  It's no different than
the government requiring a driving licence.

Same goes for helmets.

The argument for bear cannisters is similar.  It's not just a matter of you
losing your food, its a matter of the bears becomming used to stealing food
and then getting aggressive.  It's more frustrating than the seat belt issue
because there ARE alternatives that SOME people could use (stealth camping,
maybe a wrist rocket, etc.), but the fundamental logic is the same.  The
government isn't in a position to evaluate each backcountry user for common
sense, so they try to come up with a "one size fits all" solution.  In
reality, they aren't protecting you from yourself, they're protecting the
rest of us from you (take that "you" generically).

I suppose the government could require a backcountry license (along with a
food protection exam) before letting anyone camp overnight in a park; I
doubt that approach would be popular with voters though.

The whole thing is frustrating, because general rules don't always make
sense for individuals.  Also, there is always a tension in the social
compact between regulation and individual responsiblity.  In this case,
though, I doubt that there are any good alternatives.

-- Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: <Montedodge@aol.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 11:30 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Canisters, Helmets and Seat Belts


> I am not a fan of Government telling me how I need to protect myself. I f
a
> hiker wishes to carry a few extra pounds of plastic, that is their choice.
> What I don't like is being made to pack one of these Band-Aids under
threat
> of heavy fines. I choose to wear a seat belt, but do not think I should be
> made! They say seat belts save lifes. Last time I looked, seems like
everyone
> still dies whether you wear a seat belt or not. Whether you die at 40 in a
> car wreck or 90 with cancer, you still die.  Seat belts and helmets are
> choices people make and should not be cramed down your throat! Someone who
> chooses not to wear a seat belt, or a helmet on a motorcycle, or smoke, or
> drink to much, or sleep around, or eat bacon every day for 50 years, or
climb
> Mountains in the winter, or drink unfiltered water from a creek or even "
NOT
> PACK A PLASTIC BAND-AID BLANKING CANISTER" will just have to live with the
> consequences of their actions. But this is my life, and I don't need Big
> Brother telling me how to carry my food when I hike!!!      PS     And
going
> from the Park Ranger's past sucesses, they are correct in their choices
very
> few times. Yes, sign me up for the Magazine  "Mindless Government Zombie".
I
> know the Park Service can do a better job of thinking for me that I could
> possibly do!!!
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