Say What!?!

What did she say!?!  

After Pediatrician Dr. Beth Ebel testified in a Senate Committee hearing on a bill to amend the mandatory helmet law on how motorcycle helmets save lives, and reduce injuries for motorcyclists, so that they mandatory helmet law should not be amended.  Senator Don Benton then asked her if she thought if automobile drivers should be mandated to wear helmets.  

Her reply was that "there is no evidence for that."  Odd for a Dr. to say that.  Especially when according to the CDC, the number two cause of traumatic brain injuries is automobile crashes (second only to falls).  As a physician, she should know that.  Her testimony is a prime example of the paternalistic attitude that seems to be so pervasive in much of society today,  

She is trying to "protect" those who ride motorcycles from the possible effects of their choices.  But that same protection being mandated for her, and all bets are off.  If helmets are effective enough to force others to wear them, then the people who more often could benefit from them should be forced to as well.  What is good for the goose is good for the gander.  So either let me choose whether or not to wear that coconut on my head, or strap one on yourself and see how you like it.  Either the helmets 37% effectiveness rating is good enough to mandate wearing them for everyone, or it isnt good enough for anyone to be forced to wear them.

Catch ya on the road sometime...