# Gavin Andresen
# 2010-12-02 13:54:35
# https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2041.msg26202#msg26202

I'm mostly libertarian, although I'm sure the more pure libertarians here would call me a fuzzy-headed socialist. @p{par}

Anyway, for seatbelts: @p{par}

Be careful comparing rich, Western countries to poorer countries.  As we get richer we value personal safety more, so we demand things like seat belts and air bags in our cars. @p{par}

I believe that our politicians see that demand, then jump on the bandwagon and pass laws that basically everybody thinks are a Good Idea, and then take credit for making us safer. @p{par}

I'm not 100% certain that is true for seatbelts; I haven't actually looked at the graph of traffic fatalities over time, to see if there is a bend in the curve when seatbelt legislation is passed. @p{par}

For smoking:  we shouldn't be allowed to do things that hurt, or have a "reasonable" chance to hurt, other people.  Personally, I waffle back and forth over whether second-hand smoke imposes an unreasonable chance of harm on others. @p{par}

I've looked at the evidence, and it seems that only people exposed to repeated, long-term secondhand smoke have an increased risk of death.  Like spouses or children of smokers.  And the smoking bans NEVER apply to private residences.  So again, I think politicians may just be jumping on the bandwagon and passing feel-good laws that do no good (although in the last couple of days I read that it looks like grotesque images on cigarette packs ARE measurably effective at reducing smoking). @p{par}

For vaccinations:  "herd immunity" from vaccinations is a true "public good,"  in the strict @p{(link}economic definition of "public good."@p{link)}  I think it is fine and dandy for the government to provide true public goods, either directly or (usually better) by supporting/subsidizing private industry.  Follow @p{(link}this link@p{link)} for a reasonable, very-smart, mostly-libertarian perspective on public goods. @p{brk}