I would be for removing the helmet law if taxes were raised to pay for the resulting carnage. Call it "responsible libertarianism". I believe that everyone has the right to do stupid things- as long as we figure out how to pay for it and spread the cost evenly.
Big Ben proved an important point yesterday- riding without a helmet is dangerous. Education is the key.
If Michigan motorcyclists who like the feel of wind blowing through their hair were hoping to persuade Gov. Jennifer Granholm to change her mind about keeping the state's helmet law, yesterday's Pittsburgh crash involving Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger came at an inopportune time.
"This is an example of why the governor is concerned about safety," Liz Boyd, a gubernatorial spokesman, said yesterday.
A bill allowing most adult motorcyclists to ride without helmets that passed the Michigan House last week - after earlier approval by the state Senate - hasn't yet made it to Ms. Granholm's desk, Ms. Boyd said, so the governor had no chance to take a symbolic stand by vetoing it on the same day as Mr. Roethlisberger's crash.
The quarterback, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered multiple injuries when a collision tossed him into the windshield of a car that made a turn in front of his motorcycle.
But Ms. Boyd indicated Ms. Granholm had no intention of signing the bill in any case.
"Nobody has given us a good reason why [the helmet law] should be repealed," the spokesman said.
The proposal would allow riders 21 years and older to go without helmets if they have been licensed to operate a motorcycle for at least two years or if they have taken a safety course, and if they carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection insurance.
Newsflash- ten grand is nowhere near enough insurance when it comes to severe head injuries. And, that provision is unenforceable anyway, especially with out-of-state tourists. Are we going to stop everyone at the border and make sure they have insurance?
Besides, this is all a big distraction from the real issues that face our state. Talk about your "special interest group". I think Saul and Craig just want to hit on the biker chicks.
