Gordon... just like in the armed forces, there will be losses of "assets".
Wearing seatbelts reduces those losses. That seatbelts cause casualties is
up for argument.... some MVAs are unsurvivable PERIOD. I have yet to see
proof that being ejected from a fast moving vehicle is a good thing. Your
chances will always be better if you are "wearing" a metal skin replete with
crumple zones and other shock reducing amenities.

Someones chances of surviving an incident are increased with seatbelt
use.... after all, there is no way to plan which accident is going to go
which way..... indeed, does anyone "plan" to have an accident at all.

While we are on the subject of basic rights... what about the rights of
those charged with cleaning up the mess left behind. Those of us dispensing
emergency services (for the most part) do so out of some innate desire or
need to give care to those in need.By and large, the trauma that we see does
go home with us... we are forever changed by those things we see and the
reaction we see from the general public (and a lot of you folks are friggin'
ghouls). Shovelling folks into body bags.... having bodily fluids sprayed
all over me..... listening to screamers while I try to peel their car from
around them, trying to keep leakers from leaking..... I do this because
someone has to and it is one way I can give back to my community. What would
happen if someone chose to spread themselves down a quarter mile of highway
and no-one chose to clean up the mess..... At least the ravens would enjoy
it.

Laws are made to protect people from themselves. Common sense has absolutely
nothing to do with IQ. Hang up a sign that says "WET PAINT" and watch.....

One final point..... if someone has gotten themselves into a bind and has a
real need to accurately control their car..... ill it be the guy bouncing
around inside the cab or the guy firmly attached to the chair?

I can see it now... entenched in the charter of rights... "I reserve the
right to enter the Darwin award competition at my discretion...".

I can't say I agree with you.  I know the arguement, if what I'm doing
doesn't hurt anyone, then why should anyone care?  I've got a right to
privacy.  The point of seatbelt laws is to save lives and prevent injury.
And yes, people not wearing seatbelts do have an impact on others and
society.  Our tax dollars pay to scrape these individuals off the pavement.
Those that are injuried and have insurance contribute to our ever increasing
health insurance costs.  Those who don't have insurance receive medical care
that is paid for by government and/or subsidized by those with insurance.
And I'm sure there are many more effects on society by those not wearing
seat belts.  We all play by rules to live in this society.  Heck, we
wouldn't have one without rules.  Anarchy wouldn't be pretty, much less give
us highways to roll our explorers on.
As to the state having no right to play with the lives of its citizens,
seatbelt laws should probably be the last thing on your mind.  What do you
think of the little (mis)adventure the US government is doing in Iraq?
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead.  Nearly 1500 citizens dead because the
state sent them there based on a lie?  (Remember WMDs?  It just bacame
official this week, they didn't exist!)  That is one hell of a dice game
with citizens lives if I've ever seen one.
More on point, if you think that a choice to not wear a seat belt doesn't
have an effect on anyone else, think again.  Judging by his writing, Mr.
Kieper thought playing chicken with the Grim Reaper didn't really have
consequences.  Someone, paid by your tax dollars, had to scrape him off the
road.  A funeral, which someone has to pay for, had to be performed.  There
is always a cost.  Ignorance and stupidity might be understandable.  But not
this.  Mr. Kieper didn't give a damn.  And the price of his selfishness was
his life.