This country in general, and Oregon in specific has a sever lack of perspective with regard to the laws we let our representatives discuss and pass. We’re passing bills left and right and the public mindset for some reason seems to be “the more laws, the better”. I feel like I’m the only one in Oregon that thinks congress should just stop passing laws. Period. Stick to solving our current budget crisis.
I cringe when I hear someone say we need a “bi-partisan effort” and get this legislation passed “for the good of the people”. Or “Congress needs to work together on this”. No they don’t. There are very few laws in the past 20 years that have actually been for the “good of the people”. Honestly, we’ve passed thousands, and I really can’t think of one off the top of my head that is actually beneficial.
Our state and federal reps routinely use rare one-off events as excuses to change huge facets of our way of life.
One person gets mad in traffic and shoots someone else, so we draft sweeping road rage laws. Is road-rage really a problem? Of course not. The incidents are extremely rare. But it’s a good excuse to pass a law.
A careless biker gets hit by a car, so we pass tight restrictions and stiff fines for drivers who look at a cycler wrong.
Give a job to someone who is not an “approved” government sanctioned minority and you could face prison time.
One kid in some rural town accidentally gets shot playing with their father’s gun so let’s make it illegal for anyone to own a firearm… till the end of time.
No Smoking in public; No talking on cell phones while driving; No bike trailers carrying children under 6; No eating fattening French Fries; No guns – ever; No walking people to the airport terminal; No liquids on the plane; Red light cameras at every intersection; On-star tracking in every car;
Isn’t it time we just STOP making laws?
The Oregon House approved a bill Thursday that would remove legal protection for parents who choose faith healing over medical intervention when treating their children.
The bill passed unanimously, though two Republican representatives raised concerns that the legislation was taking the issue away from juries and sending the state down a slippery slope.
The legislation comes in response to an Oregon City church, the Followers of Christ, that has a long history of child deaths even though the conditions from which the children died were medically treatable.
Oregon House unanimously votes to end faith healing exception | OregonLive.com
I hate it when these fringe churches and Christian sects do stupid things that make the rest of us look bad. I can’t stand the thought of people letting their children die of very curable illnesses. I think it’s stupid, irresponsible and shows the gospel in a very negative light. But really, that’s beside the point. This legislation is potentially dangerous if walked out to it’s logical end and ultimately infringes on the religious (and ethical) rights of all US citizens.
I agree that this is a bad situation. But can’t we find a better solution to this isolated incident of stupidity than making a state-wide law?
Am I way off here?
sending...