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Letters, 1/13: Let those who pay say

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Sunday, Jan 13, 2008 - 12:23:43 am CST

It is time for me to submit my recurring opinion about the helmet law for motorcycle riders. It seems that every year or so, someone wants to repeal this law.

It always seems to be the same mantra, to wit, “let those who ride decide.” But we taxpayers usually end up picking up the bill for their serious head (and other body parts) injuries, because their own insurance programs don’t. So the real mantra needs to be “those who pay will say.”

In addition, I usually add that I am somewhat in favor of repealing this law, because, after all, these folk are one of our best sources of donor organs. Also, repealing the law will raise the average level of intelligence in the state of Nebraska.

So, once again, I am of two minds about it. But, overall, it costs us too much to let these folk ride around without helmets.

Y. Scott Moore, M.D., Lincoln

English should be default

Is not the United States primarily an English-speaking country? Why then, when responding to those tirelessly protracted voice mail options, should we have to “press 1 for English”?

We should not have to press anything for English! English should be the default language. Pressing a number should be for those 47 bizzillion other languages, dialects and patois we try to accommodate!

We need to push the pendulum back toward the this-makes-more-sense direction. In an effort to indulge every whim and whine, we have bent over backwards so far that we are now bending over forward!

Larry McClung, Lincoln

Apology to Niles Ford

I, for one, would like to apologize to Niles Ford, Lincoln’s new fire chief, for some of the treatment he has received since coming to Lincoln. This treatment prompted me to remember a conversation relayed to me by a fellow co-worker.

The co-worker’s daughter was struggling with a flat tire on a busy, precarious roadway, and a gentleman stopped to ask if he could help. This man was nicely dressed but proceeded to get in her trunk to get her tire changed. As the two talked, the co-worker’s daughter asked the “knight in shining armor” about his profession. He related that he worked for the Lincoln Fire Department. She thanked him, and they parted.

The young lady later learned, via the Internet, that the gentleman who stopped to change her tire was Niles Ford. Thank you, Mr. Ford; we’re glad you chose to come to Lincoln.

Mary Betten, Lincoln

Thanks for speed trap

The Lincoln Police Department deserves congratulations for setting up a speed trap on Tipperary Trail, across from Southwood Clubhouse and down the street from Hill Elementary this past week.

It is unbelievable how many drivers speed around the turns, ignoring the children about to cross the street, plus dodging around the parked cars. I drop my 1-year-old off at a daycare in that area five days a week, and daily feel anxious once turning off of South 27th and into that area.

If you live in that area of town, you are either someone who has noticed the problem or are the problem. It only takes one bad decision to cause pain and harm to someone else. I hope LPD continues to monitor that area throughout the school year and possibly save a few accidents from happening.

Amanda Mann, Lincoln

Government is all people

I must respectfully disagree with a statement made by Sen. Ernie Chambers in the Jan. 7 Lincoln Journal Star. Sen. Chambers said, “White people have done to this government what they thought I came to do …”

What Sen. Chambers should realize is that the people are the government, not just him, not just the whites, or blacks or Hispanics — all people are the government, and he is there to represent all people equally. And it was the people who voted to implement the term limits.

Gretchen Kechely, Roca


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connie wrote on January 13, 2008 6:24 am:
" Larry, While I agree that we shouldn't have to 'press one' to hear anything in English, the reason electronic phone calls are done that way is because the message begins in English. Therefore, spanish speaking people can't understand the instruction to select a language. The next language selection instruction is in Spanish, but you don't have to take the time to listen to it if you've already pressed one. Can you imagine the outrage if spanish were first?? Immigrants of any stripe should have the courtesy to learn our language, but, due to the sheer numbers of spanish speaking immigrants, this is a genii that can't be put back into the bottle. Businesses aren't going to cut off a significant portion of their customers. "
Big Chief wrote on January 13, 2008 8:08 am:
" How many head injuries do you see in the ER from motorcycle accidents yearly Dr. Moore?

How many head injuries do you see in the ER from automobiles yearly Dr. Moore?

Making helmets mandatory in automobiles also would save even more lives than a mandatory helmet law for motorcycle riders. If even one life is saved wouldn't it be worth passing the automobile helmet law? "
Hank wrote on January 13, 2008 8:21 am:
" Gretchen, if only what you say were true. The fact is that a small group of white people have dominated, and continue to dominate, our government. Democracy is a farce, and Ernie Chambers knows this better than anyone else. You should open your eyes and recognize this too. A few people and their special interests conrol our local, state, and federal governments. Your criticism of Ernie Chambers plays right into the hands of these special interests. These special interests demonize Ernie and anyone else who might actually counterbalance their dominance of our political system. It is thanks to Ernie Chambers that, at the state level, the control of these greedy, selfish special interests isn't even greater than it already is. Joining the racist and ignorant crowd that enjoys criticizing Ernie Chambers is equivalent to supporting more inequality, more oppression, and more power for the already powerful. Is the perverse joy of piling on Ernie Chambers worth letting the special interests get even richer at your expense? "
Hey doc wrote on January 13, 2008 10:03 am:
" I ride in full gear because drivers do not look for motorcyclist. someone wrote in complaining that the state misses all the funds because riders go around nebraska to sturgis. If they could come through here we would reap in millions of tourist dollars. I say if people want to ride without helmets fine, but all the tourist money that comes in should pay for the vegetable state minded bike riders not wearing a helmet.[residents of nebraska only] I am sure there would be some sort of system to determine how much more would be brought in. I'll keep mine on. Some riders find helmets a hinderance, or it is not cool to wear one. I find laying in a bed, in a coma, smashed up, kind of not cool and a hinderance myself. "
Comman sense wrote on January 13, 2008 10:15 am:
" So by the logic stated by the MD, all items used in an American behavior should be mandated to ease the cost effect on the total society. No smoking (we are working hard on that), no alcohol (leads to health care issues), no cell phone use in moving vehicles(inattentive driving leading to accidents), and a host of other issues we can come up with. The majority of motorcycle accidents are the result of inattentive driving by the automobile operator. I am at more of a risk on my Harley from those, inattentive, cell phone using, speeding 4 wheelers than any other object or situation on the road. So how do we more effectivily control that behavior and minimize that cost to society, and us bikers. My helmet is pretty useless in the long run when soccer mom and her mini-van changes lanes, while speeding, while preoccupied on her cell-phone, sending me either into the guard rail, or worse. And the usual excuse of "I never saw him" on the police report. "
stignob wrote on January 13, 2008 10:18 am:
" Mr. Moore please back up your facts. You offer insinuation and no proof that the tax payers pick up the bill. Why don't you focus on the illegal immigration and how much they cost us the tax payer (do you need proof?). Please bring back the true America, individual freedom! Stop dictating what other people can't do and let them decide for themselves. "
Rick Morris wrote on January 13, 2008 11:12 am:
" Thank you Dr. Moore for your comments. I agree completely, Nebraska probably doesn't need the increase in average intelligence that repealing the helmet law would promote. It would put us at risk of becoming a "blue" state. "
Zoomie wrote on January 13, 2008 11:32 am:
" Larry, you're right. All things are cyclical. If the technology had existed, in the 1930's we would have been offered a selection of 1 for English, 2 for German, 3 for Spanish, and so on. In the 1930's, there were over 600 daily newspapers publishing in the U.S. totally in German (for all those German immigrants who couldn't or wouldn't speak English). Today's use of Spanish is nothing new, nor is it unique to Spanish. Its just another issue people are using to frighten or fire up the anti-immigrant types (just as was done against Italians and Irish when they arrived in the U.S.). Of course, one difference. There was a sizable Spanish speaking population in the what is now the U.S. long before there was an English speaking majority! Finaly point - don't conservatives usually advocate allowing business owners to run their businesses as they wish? Even if they offer selections in other languages? "
Chief Ford is a good guy wrote on January 13, 2008 12:05 pm:
" Niles Ford is a professional trying to wrest control of the fire department away from the union thugs that have had their way for almost a decade thanks to Don Wesely and Seng. From this story it also appears that he is a nice guy...hope he is allowed to continue do his job in a professional manner and that his family enjoy their time living in Lincoln. Compare Ford with his predecessor for a stark contrast in style and ability! "
Good grief Larry wrote on January 13, 2008 4:09 pm:
" If having to push "1" on a phone when you call a company is the biggest problem you can think of to write to the editor about you have a pretty sweet life. Never mind the fact that many companies today operate in countries across the world and therefore need to be multilingual. It's not about America being an English only country, it's about America being a capitalist nation - the more customers they can reach and accomodate - the more money they make. What could be more American than that? "
Jeff wrote on January 13, 2008 4:48 pm:
" I've admired Mr. Chambers at times, but his antics and his running mouth have long exceeded their usefulness and entertainment. This past week I heard a quote on the radio of him directly insulting a fellow senator from Omaha during a legislative session. I don't know anything about the Senator from Omaha ( I think it was Friend), but there really is no place for this type of behavior, and we can and need to do better - and now you see the great benefit term limits can in fact provide us. "
l300 wrote on January 13, 2008 8:01 pm:
" Dr. Moore said it well. I would just add that if they want to ride without a helmet they should have DNR stamped on their driver's license. "
Oh stignob wrote on January 14, 2008 7:29 am:
" Here's a fact. A Harborview medical Center study showed that 63% of injured motorcyclists in their trauma center required public funds to pay for their injuries. There it is - 63%. I'm sure you might also be not aware that there are many studies looking at the impact of repealing helmet laws and that a marked increase in accidents with the repeal. So as long as the taxpayer would be paying for 63% of those increased accidents I'll be supporting a helmet law. "
Another Statistic wrote on January 14, 2008 8:55 am:
" Here's one I can prove. Over the last 40 years I've had a few motorcycle wrecks. A couple required a trip to the ER. I was not wearing a helmet in one of them. I paid the hospital bill. From this "study" one can assume that 100% of the motorcyclists involved in accidents who were not wearing helmets, pay their medical bills. This malarky about "society paying the bill" is just a smokescreen to allow more government control of the lives of the people. If that's the best argument the pro-helmet-law types can come up with, let's ban paying for health care for the generational, career welfare recipients who's only purpose in life is to breed and collect more benefits. "
Dr. Moore wrote on January 14, 2008 11:12 am:
" How many people come in with heart,liver,and lung problems? So by your logic we should outlaw fatty foods, alcohol, tabacco(which I agree with),fast food, bars, driving while talking on cellphones and soda. All have terrible effects on ones health and in the end, end up killing someone. So when are going to start on your little quest? Who foots the bill from those health effects? Your "I am intelligent because I am a doctor" thought process doesn't shed much light. Where are your letters about other health problems that effect almost everyone in the states? Number one: OBESITY. I will agree with you when everyone driving a car is wearing a helmet and everyone in the states is skinny. And if that ever happens we know that the gov't has officially won. "
Mike wrote on January 14, 2008 2:05 pm:
" I used to ride myself prior to the helmet law in NE. After three near misses (all from left turners that "did not see me") I chose to park the bike for good. My choice, as I'm sure that I would have been mortally maimed or killed had any of these "near misses". A HELMET WOULD NOT HAVE SAVED ME IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. My good friend was killed on his bike in 2006. He was wearing a helmet, problem was it did nothing to protect him from being run over by oncoming traffic. My Message:
If you ride, chances are you'll be killed sooner than later, helmet or no helmet. Living on planet Earth causes death. Sooner or later anyway. "
Grundle wrote on January 14, 2008 2:17 pm:
" I consider myself as having no vested interest in the motorcycle helmet debate because I do not own or ride a motorcycle. However, I find Dr. Moore's condescending and insulting rhetoric offensive. I also believe he should take a little bit more care in who he denigrates for low IQ...doctors kill a lot more people every year than motorcycles do. In 2003, approximately 3,700 people in the U.S. died in motorcycle wrecks, 50% of which were caused by passenger-car driver negligence. Approximately 225,000 people die from various forms of medical malpractice every year. Going to the hospital all of the sudden seems a lot more dangerous than riding a motorcycle without a helmet. "
MID wrote on January 14, 2008 2:32 pm:
" I always hear that the tax payers end up footing the bill for those who have head injuries. Is there any hard data to support this or is it just people making up statistics at random? I would love to see the Journal Star to an article and research the actual facts. "
Rxwoman wrote on January 14, 2008 8:14 pm:
" Hey, here's an idea that should make everyone happy. How about whenever someone rides without a helmet, or smokes cigarattes, or drinks, eats themselves into diabetes, or high blood pressure, we let do whatever they like, but sign a waiver? Go ahead, ride without a helmet, but, if you are in an accident, and cannot pay medical expenses, you go without. If you smoke yourself into lung cancer, or emphesema, no respiratory care, unless you personally pay, and no lung transplants. If drink yourself into kidney, or liver failure, don't expect to go onto a donor list, and so on. That way everyone recieves their right to do as they please, but nobody else has to pay for it. "
GWbiker wrote on January 15, 2008 8:32 pm:
" Please tell us Doctor Moore, who picks up the financial tab for the hundreds of thousands of medical blunders committed in hospitals and medical centers across the nation each year. Medical mistakes due to sloppy hospital sanitation, improperly prescribed medications or butchered surgery. Medical blunders that result in death for over 200,000 patients each year, at a cost to insurance companies and/or taxpayers of over $2-Billion annually. Since you're an expert in the medical field, Doctor Moore, can you give us an answer? "

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