Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/5/2010 Posts: 2,061 Location: Nairobi
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tycho wrote:quicksand wrote:tycho wrote:quicksand wrote:tycho wrote:Accidents don't happen because people are drinking and driving. They happen because people's needs aren't being met easily enough to sustain caution in life.
So when police are set to find people who are 'intent' on killing themselves then people will grow more creative in their death wish.
If the government is keen on having the citizenry alive then it should focus on maximizing markets and market efficiency and effectiveness for all. This entails promoting a culture of collaborative innovation, ubiquitous and affordable capital, maximization of ICT and the promotion of fair division of wealth and power among citizens. Then it will be possible for people to drink responsibly, obey laws and generally be mindful of others.
Otherwise people will now taking more of other non alcoholic drugs. And soon we'll have bangi-blow, glue-blow and the like. And policemen would be so greatly encumbered carrying a gun and a dozen other 'blows'. Some accidents happen cause of drunken driving. That is an irrefutable fact. If even 5 deaths can be averted, that is progress,...then we will move on to the more comprehensive offerings that you have proposed, if such things are possible. Alcohol is the among most suitable drugs to commit suicide with. Alcohol abuse is a lifestyle problem. So when people lose lives on the road due to a lifestyle problem you look at the root cause otherwise substitutes to restricted habits can always be found. For example, in the last 3 months I have heard of at least two people who fell from the balcony and died while being drunk. Or thugs take alcoholic concoctions before going on their missions. How does one then prevent these deaths? By blaming it on alcohol? Morality is hard to legislate; But it is easier to say that you cannot interfere with the freedom of others, or place them at risk by your actions. Alcoblow falls within boundaries such as these. Drunk drivers are a danger to all. Alcohol itself is blameless, the desire that leads one to alcohol will likely lead to something else if alcohol is eliminated. Just that alcohol is the most common, legal and cheap way to intoxication and hence a methodology to fight it off the roads cause of its ubiquity has been found - the alcoblow. But the principle remains the same, if you are intoxicated (under the influence of a substance), you shouldnt drive. The other point is sensitization and steering society towards responsible use of alcohol is not the domain of law enforcement. This rests elsewhere, social services, churches, schools and the education system perhaps. Still, punishment for deviation cannot be avoided - actions/consequences is a powerful concept in the human psyche. Without it any positive reinforcements would be hollow. The threat of punishment, regardless of flaws, must remain even while we know there are deeper problems. @quicksand, I have found that force doesn't cause change in behavior. Instead costs and revenues rise for the main players. And things remain the same. The pub owner wants to sell as much as possible and client to spend as much as possible on happiness. That's how the market is currently operating. And that's why people are dying. Threat of force can be effective when all aren't law breakers. But what if all are law breakers? Laws backed by force are inadequate and limited. @tycho: All true but what is the substitute? In an ideal situation, such as you find in rich, developed economies, they throw different solutions at the problem, all at once or in some order of sorts. But force is still there, its the last resort but they have this luxury ..thats why have rehab, cautions, being stripped of licenses to operate businesses or drive etc etc with frameworks in place to operate these smoothly. What do we have? Much as force is ineffective, removing it would lead to anarchy. Also why all governments, even the most civilized and peaceful have police and armed forces. God Himself promises a fiery hell and eternal torment for those who disobey him. See? It really can't be helped. Do not place your hopes on enlightment of society. Left to its own devices, it wouldn't exist. Our little discussion here is digressing the thread. Apologies.
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