Bert Dirschell
Centertown
Dear Editor:
How long is society going to put up with nanny state government rewarding irresponsible behavior while often punishing responsible behavior?
In 1973, the Supreme Court decided that the Constitution gives the federal government the authority to prevent states from saving the lives of the unborn. The vast majority of abortions are a result of irresponsible behavior. Less than 1.5 percent are due to rape or incest, according to a May 24, 2019, USA Today article. Were it not for the irresponsible behavior of people who already have control over their bodies, this would not be a major issue.
The opioid epidemic - Are we to believe that people are being forced to take opioids? OxyContin was approved by the FDA in 1996. Are we to believe that any rational person who attained adulthood in the past 10 years doesn't know that opioids are habit forming? Once again, the problem is caused by irresponsible behavior.
E-cigarettes are now in the cross-hairs of the nanny state federal government because some have chosen to lace their e-cigarette products with foreign materials. Their self-use of these self-modified products has caused them harm. I have not heard one account of an adult being injured by an unmodified, legal, e-cigarette. (I am neither a smoker nor a user of e-cigarettes.)
Every state except Pennsylvania limits youth access to e-cigarettes. The minimum legal age ranges from 18-21. Are we to believe that it is impossible to prevent young people from accessing and using e-cigarettes? Are we going to once again ban alcohol because we believe that it is impossible to keep them from illegally purchasing and consuming alcohol? We have laws to prevent young people from gaining access to e-cigarettes and alcohol. How about enforcing them in a manner that will provide adequate disincentives for illegal behavior, rather than making more laws that will restrict legitimate access by others?
We should be focusing on what has caused the devolution of our society. We have a record low unemployment rate, jobs are available. The poverty rate is near a 50-year low. Our nation ranks second in the world in per pupil education spending. Why do so many have so little regard for human life, including their own?