Moral of The Story: When You Always Put Your Own Interests First, It Can Work Against Your Interests
Oh my. Sometimes commenting on the libertarian mindset is just gilding the lily: A 55-year-old biker protesting New York State’s law requiring helmet use died at a hospital Saturday after striking his head in an accident. The Associated Press reports that Phillip A. Contos of Parish, N.Y., was riding with others through the town of Onondaga on Saturday afternoon without head protection, to protest the state’s requirement that bikers wear helmets. State Troopers told the Syracuse Post-Standard that Contos was driving a 1983 Harley Davidson when his bike fishtailed and he flipped over the handlebars, striking his head on the pavement. He was later pronounced dead at Upstate University Hospital. Police say that had he been wearing a helmet, Contos would probably have survived the accident. The ride was organized in part by ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education), according to a local ABC affiliate reporting on the accident. A spokesperson for the group said they didn’t know if Contos was a member. See, the rationale behind helmet laws is that head injuries are very expensive to treat. Even victims with insurance often end up on Medicaid after they’re tapped out, and that means taxpayers are picking up the rest of the tab. So yes, Ayn Rand fans, the state really does have a legitimate interest in mandating helmets. Sorry!
Moral of The Story: When You Always Put Your Own Interests First, It Can Work Against Your Interests
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on July 4, 2011. Filed under