Sarah Says, “Seat Belts are for Sissys”

Sarah Palin is notorious for saying that the government should “Get out of the way.”  Most conservatives that heard this and agreed were probably not considering the fact that the government is responsible for providing such necessary services as national defense of the country, ensuring the safety of our food and drugs, providing police and firefighters when needed, and even providing air traffic controllers to guarantee the safety of our flights. One of the most basic of laws that the government provides is the regulation of American highways. From setting speed limits to mandating the use of seat belts, the government serves a vital function regarding our highways. Sarah Palin objects to even laws regulating speed and use of seat belts. In Sarah Palin’s Alaska, she flaunted the lack of use of seat belts or car seats by her son, grandson, and daughters. Even when Todd was driving and wearing his seat belt, Sarah was often riding along totally unrestrained.

In his book Blind Allegiance ,Frank Bailey explained:

“ In distrust for rules, Sarah mirrored Todd. For Sarah, less government extended to liquor, gun, helmet, cigarette, and even seat belt laws.”

Sarah said:

“Heck,I don’t even agree with Click-it or Ticket seat belt laws,…” (Pg53-54).

To say that she loves her family and loves the people of Alaska, but doesn’t support seat belt laws is contrary to the law and to logic. Accidents are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. Automobile accidents account for the largest number of these accidents. Use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts use are critical to limiting these deaths. State Farm is the largest insurer of autos in Alaska and in the nation. State Farm has raised its car insurance rates in Alaska due to an increase in automobile accidents. State Farm explains that “car crashes are the leading cause of death and injury to children, but using car-seats appropriately can greatly reduce the risk. Palin’s children are at risk for many things, and injury in an automobile is one.

Sarah Palin is openly defiant of laws she doesn’t like. From seat belts to hunting and fishing licenses, we see a form of rebellion and arrogance that is inconsistent with the notion of loving America. Palin’s bus tour has reinforced this image. The bus is accompanied by two smaller SUVs. All three speed, the bus and the two SUVs, run red lights and stop signs. They often don’t signal, and change lanes at the last minute, without signaling in an effort to avoid being followed by journalists. Those journalists trailing her on the “One Nation” tour bus describe the experience as harrowing, a rolling menace careening up the East Coast in hot pursuit of the former Alaska governor who declined to provide any advance itinerary of her tour.

Admittedly there have been times in American history when people we now identify as “heroes” (e.g. Rosa Parks, ) intentionally broke the law.

The difference between Rosa Parks and Sarah Palin is that Rosa was riding the bus to demand equality of treatment, and when Sarah Palin’s bus ignores traffic laws she demands to be treated better than the “average” American. Palin complains about the “elite” in this country. From celebrity attention to a net worth of $12 Million Dollars, Palin IS part of the “elite.”. Even the “elite” have to follow traffic laws. Bill Gates’ chauffeur follows the traffic laws, and I bet Bill wears his seat belt. Palin seems to have an attitude of “in your face.”

In Anchorage, it appears she controls the police, causing them to issue press releases whenever her attorney determines that one is needed.  Alaskan government officials seem to be unaffected. They even allowed Palin to make $2,000,000.00 from the filming of Sarah Palin’s Alaska, even though it was admittedly a political advertisement and detrimental to the people of Alaska . Now her outright defiance of the highway safety laws is evidence that she thinks the law doesn’t apply to her, and that she is unconcerned about the safety of her children. When she was described as “going rogue” that may have been a more accurate description of Sarah Palin that we knew.