Safety first

50 years ago when you purchased life insurance you had to answer health related questions to qualify and most of the questions were about your health. Today most of the questions are about life style, things like smoking, drinking and weight. 480,000 die each year from cigarettes, 95,000 from alcohol and 300,000 from obesity. These things affect everyone with drunk drivers and speeding drivers to the high cost of health care which is shared by all. Today the government is considering mandating vaccination to save lives. Will other areas be next? Will people lose their jobs if they drink too much or eat too much. What about outlawing cigarettes. How far should the government go to save lives. Is a death by Covid more serious than one by smoking. Covid hopefully will be gone soon but that doesn't seem to be the case for other areas. Are these things being thought through carefully? How much control should the government have over the safety of the people. Would lower speed limits help or putting on a helmet when you buckle up. Should cost/benefit ratios determine the law? Should Medicare cover a liver transplant for a 90 year old man with a weak heart?