3 ms·

On the other hand, when it comes to alcohol and, to some extent, tobacco, one can at least make the plea that most of the damage isn't external. I can't kill an

by weland 13y ago

On the other hand, when it comes to alcohol and, to some extent, tobacco, one can at least make the plea that most of the damage isn't external. I can't kill anyone other than myself if I drink too much, whereas if I'm speeding on the road, chances are I'm going to kill whatever I smash into, not only myself. Of course, there's the added penalty related to the social consequences of alcohol consumption (e.g. alienating those around me and wrecking a couple of lives). Don't get me wrong -- I agree with your premise and with the point you are making -- but I think that, as far as the legal and public safety systems are concerned, traffic issues don't go into the same category as alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption is primarily self-destructive, whereas dangerous driving is not (arguably, someone wearing a seatbelt and protected by airbags is probably safer than someone riding a bike when they get hit by a car). A good first step would probably be to discourage the superfluous use of cars. I passionately hate people who absolutely have to drive their cars over a distance they could cover, on foot, in thirty minutes, when they aren't really rushed by anything. Seriously, get off your lazy ass and walk, or at least take the bus...

Terretta 13y ago
> most of the damage isn't external There are real dollar costs to our overall quality of life from society's health self abuse expense. Excuse the graphic image, but a car accident is generally walk away or dead, while health care for the long term unhealthy keeps bleeding once it starts. "The motorist advocacy group AAA said accidents cost $164.2 billion each year, which based on the methodology used in the report comes to an annual per person cost of $1,051." (2008) By comparison, some other systemic costs: - $190 billion in annual medical costs due to obesity (2012) - CDC reports excessive alcohol consumption cost the U.S. $224 billion (2006) - Total annual public and private health care expenditures caused by smoking: $96 billion - Taxpayers yearly fed/state tax burden from smoking-caused gov’t spending: $70.7 billion - Productivity losses caused by smoking each year: $97 billion Obesity alone or alcohol alone cost us all more than accidents. I for one have other "quality of life" things I'd like to do with my money than subsidize "self destructive" choice. > I passionately hate people who absolutely have to drive their cars I clock under 4K miles a year, mostly long distance trips with four or more passengers. But I'm fortunate enough to live near NYC and use public transportation. It's a lot harder in most of the US. Comparing communities across the US and Europe, it seems the best way to affect driving culture is with community layouts that put food (groceries and restaurants) within easy walking distance.
- weland 13y ago
  > There are real dollar costs to our overall quality of life from society's health self abuse expense. Excuse the graphic image, but a car accident is generally walk away or dead, while health care for the long term unhealthy keeps bleeding once it starts. Agreed. But there are other factors at stake in alcoholism or obesity, too. Excluding drunk driving, which is in a league of its own (and alcoholism definitely plays a factor there!), most of the people who drive dangerously are simply jerks. Many alcoholics have legitimate economic, social, personal or even psychical problems that lead them on this track, and many obese people are obese as a result of, or partly due to underlying conditions (e.g. endocrine system problems) or simply due to not being able to easily get the amount healthy food and exercise they need. Whereas a lot of people involved in accidents like this one are just idiots.
- king_jester 13y ago
  > There are real dollar costs to our overall quality of life from society's health self abuse expense. People are not obligated to be healthy or to have habits you consider healthy.

by weland 13y ago

Terretta 13y ago

> most of the damage isn't external There are real dollar costs to our overall quality of life from society's health self abuse expense. Excuse the graphic image, but a car accident is generally walk away or dead, while health care for the long term unhealthy keeps bleeding once it starts. "The motorist advocacy group AAA said accidents cost $164.2 billion each year, which based on the methodology used in the report comes to an annual per person cost of $1,051." (2008) By comparison, some other systemic costs: - $190 billion in annual medical costs due to obesity (2012) - CDC reports excessive alcohol consumption cost the U.S. $224 billion (2006) - Total annual public and private health care expenditures caused by smoking: $96 billion - Taxpayers yearly fed/state tax burden from smoking-caused gov’t spending: $70.7 billion - Productivity losses caused by smoking each year: $97 billion Obesity alone or alcohol alone cost us all more than accidents. I for one have other "quality of life" things I'd like to do with my money than subsidize "self destructive" choice. > I passionately hate people who absolutely have to drive their cars I clock under 4K miles a year, mostly long distance trips with four or more passengers. But I'm fortunate enough to live near NYC and use public transportation. It's a lot harder in most of the US. Comparing communities across the US and Europe, it seems the best way to affect driving culture is with community layouts that put food (groceries and restaurants) within easy walking distance.

weland 13y ago
> There are real dollar costs to our overall quality of life from society's health self abuse expense. Excuse the graphic image, but a car accident is generally walk away or dead, while health care for the long term unhealthy keeps bleeding once it starts. Agreed. But there are other factors at stake in alcoholism or obesity, too. Excluding drunk driving, which is in a league of its own (and alcoholism definitely plays a factor there!), most of the people who drive dangerously are simply jerks. Many alcoholics have legitimate economic, social, personal or even psychical problems that lead them on this track, and many obese people are obese as a result of, or partly due to underlying conditions (e.g. endocrine system problems) or simply due to not being able to easily get the amount healthy food and exercise they need. Whereas a lot of people involved in accidents like this one are just idiots.
king_jester 13y ago
> There are real dollar costs to our overall quality of life from society's health self abuse expense. People are not obligated to be healthy or to have habits you consider healthy.