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Your point is unclear. If someone (non-violent and intelligent though he may be) regularly puts many people at risk of death, and likely will cause many more d

by _cs2017_ 6y ago

Your point is unclear. If someone (non-violent and intelligent though he may be) regularly puts many people at risk of death, and likely will cause many more deaths if left unchecked, what do you propose to do? There is no tool available in the US (or even in less free societies, for that matter) to reform alcoholics into non-alcoholics, or to deny them an ability to drive. Installing alcohol detectors in every car sold in the US is technically feasible, but the preferences for individual freedom all but ensure this idea will be rejected (https://www.thedrive.com/news/30486/new-bill-could-force-automakers-to-install-in-car-breathalyzers-to-prevent-drunk-driving https://www.thedrive.com/news/30486/new-bill-could-force-aut...). Did you have any other proposals in mind?

sebmellen 6y ago
There definitely are many tools to reform alcoholics into non-alcoholics. There are standard treatment programs like Alcoholics Anonymous [0], there are a number of other rehabilitation programs [1], and there are cutting-edge therapies like psychedelic treatments [2]. It's a despondent (and false) view that alcoholism is untreatable. Also, as it comes to driving itself, France is a good example. There, police regularly do random spot-checks for drunk drivers [3], and IIRC every driver must necessarily carry a breathalyser [4]. [0]: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-well/201007/does-alcoholics-anonymous-work-because-its-form-cognitive-behavioral-therapy https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-well/201007/do... [1]: https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/treatment/ https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/treatment/ [2]: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/201905/can-psychedelic-experiences-cure-alcohol-addiction https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/201... [3]: https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/country-by-country/france-and-monaco https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-eu... [4]: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2104252/New-French-law-makes-breathalyser-kits-compulsory-motorists.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2104252/New-Frenc...
- _cs2017_ 6y ago
  France attemtps to prevent alcoholics from driving. It doesn't actually prevent it. The very first result on Google search: https://www.statista.com/statistics/767979/deaths-road-accidents-state-driver-france/#:~:text=In%202018%2C%20almost%203%2C300%20people,France%20but%20also%20in%20Europe https://www.statista.com/statistics/767979/deaths-road-accid...: "Drunk driving is the leading cause of traffic fatalities in France". So if you don't put someone in jail, they often keep driving and killing. What to do about that? Similarly, reform programs attempt to reform alcoholics; they often do not succeed. Jail, however unpleasant it may be, seems to be the only reliable tool to prevent further killing (at least for the duration of the jail term).

sebmellen 6y ago

There definitely are many tools to reform alcoholics into non-alcoholics. There are standard treatment programs like Alcoholics Anonymous [0], there are a number of other rehabilitation programs [1], and there are cutting-edge therapies like psychedelic treatments [2]. It's a despondent (and false) view that alcoholism is untreatable. Also, as it comes to driving itself, France is a good example. There, police regularly do random spot-checks for drunk drivers [3], and IIRC every driver must necessarily carry a breathalyser [4]. [0]: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-well/201007/does-alcoholics-anonymous-work-because-its-form-cognitive-behavioral-therapy https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-well/201007/do... [1]: https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/treatment/ https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/treatment/ [2]: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/201905/can-psychedelic-experiences-cure-alcohol-addiction https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/201... [3]: https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/country-by-country/france-and-monaco https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-eu... [4]: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2104252/New-French-law-makes-breathalyser-kits-compulsory-motorists.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2104252/New-Frenc...

_cs2017_ 6y ago
France attemtps to prevent alcoholics from driving. It doesn't actually prevent it. The very first result on Google search: https://www.statista.com/statistics/767979/deaths-road-accidents-state-driver-france/#:~:text=In%202018%2C%20almost%203%2C300%20people,France%20but%20also%20in%20Europe https://www.statista.com/statistics/767979/deaths-road-accid...: "Drunk driving is the leading cause of traffic fatalities in France". So if you don't put someone in jail, they often keep driving and killing. What to do about that? Similarly, reform programs attempt to reform alcoholics; they often do not succeed. Jail, however unpleasant it may be, seems to be the only reliable tool to prevent further killing (at least for the duration of the jail term).