Letter: No such thing as free freedom

Tuesday, April 3, 2007 | 7:13 a.m.

In his letter of March 31, M.C. Mills contends that it is prudent for the nanny-state to mandate the use of seat belts. The justification: "It is to our collective advantage that our representatives step up to the plate on such issues as health and safety." The "collective advantage" concerning seat-belt use is the cost of insurance.

Here I need to ask: Is there a collective advantage concerning junk food? The answer would appear to be yes, because eating such food can result in obesity. Extensive studies have shown that obesity causes problems with the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular health issues require medical attention. The resulting visits to doctors' offices affect insurance rates.

Doesn't it seem logical, then, that if the use of seat belts has a collective advantage concerning insurance rates, eating junk food would fall into the same category?

If we succumb to the term collective advantage, just imagine how long the list would be of issues that affect all of us indirectly. The resulting nanny government would put to shame all the communist regimes of the past.

Freedom is not synonymous with such a concept as collective advantage. And freedom is not free, whether it be lives sacrificed on the battlefield or higher insurance rates.

Terry E Peele, Las Vegas