Remove White Earbuds Before Crossing the Street

A Senator from New York (Sen. Carl Kruger) has introduced legislation to ban the use of Blackberrys and video game devices while crossing the street.

Let's take a quick look at the motivation for this legislation. To begin, Sen. Kruger claims (according to the Reuters article) that "[g]overnment has an obligation to protect its citzenry." How is this relevant here? First of all, it's not as if some foreign country is targeting pedestrians too impatient to type their next text message at the next curb. What is happening? Apparently, three people have been killed when stepping out into traffic while distracted by their electronic "device." We've managed to remove three people carrying genes that clearly have big faults when it comes to common sense. Sen. Kruger wants to preserve these dumb genes and protect so that we may have more idiots running around doing the same thing. If the public decides that listening closely to the new Akon track is more important than focusing on the rushing incoming traffic, then why should the government interfere? People make plenty of poor choices. Of course, the repercussions might spawn in a few years rather than in the 26 seconds available to cross the street.

People eat terrible food, like McDonald's. By the way, have you looked at the nutrition facts for a Big Mac? (Don't misunderstand me, you Starbucks drinkers should be weary, too). There is a diet called The Zone. Essentially, it encourages a certain ratio between protein, carbohydrates, and fat. In particular, it suggests 3 to 4 blocks of each at a meal. A protein block is roughly 7 grams. For carbohydrates a block is 9 grams, and for fat a block is about 2 grams. A Big Mac has 25 grams of protein (about 3.5 blocks), 45 grams of carbohydrates (5 blocks), and 29 grams of fat (roughly 14 blocks). So, you're getting a full day of fat in one Big Mac. Now, the 3 grams of dietary fiber means we really have 42 grams of carbohydrates (which also means that we aren't getting all 25 grams of protein--don't ask me why). We know that excess fat, and I think a shot with 29 grams of fat is excessive, is bad. Nevertheless, when was the last time you pulled off the interstate for McDonald's on your road trip? Even better, how many times have you seen the drive-thru line at McDonald's wrapped around the restaurant? People are lining up for this terrible food everyday? Has the government intervened here to prohibit people from eating this food too often or ever? No!

To summarize, the government needs to stop worrying about the decisions people make. Let them blast their iPods while they cross the street. If they choose to blindly assume that any incoming traffic can and will yield to them, then let them. These are probably the same people that refuse to wear seat belts, anyway. So, that's two good chances to eradicate those genes "prematurely."