The Nanny State’s Calling (Just Don’t Answer in Your Car)

The Obama Administration’s token Republican wants to make sure that no one can use a cell phone in a car :

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said using a cell phone while driving is so dangerous that devices may soon be installed in cars to forcibly stop drivers — and potentially anyone else in the vehicle — from using them.

“There’s a lot of technology out there now that can disable phones and we’re looking at that,” said LaHood on MSNBC. LaHood said the cellphone scramblers were one way, and also stressed the importance of “personal responsibility.”

The hosts of Morning Joe pushed the secretary about the possibility of requiring scrambling technology installed in vehicles.

“I think it will be done,” said LaHood. “I think the technology is there and I think you’re going to see the technology become adaptable in automobiles to disable these cell phones. We need to do a lot more if were going to save lives.”

Aren’t we fortunate to have people in government who are prescient enough to know in advance that we could never, ever had a legitimate reason to use a cell phone in a car?

This reminds of me of why I don’t fear the Nanny State. From professional misanthrope Florence King :

The Nanny State soon will need a cautionary tale, so I have written one for them: When they came for the smokers I kept silent because I don’t smoke. When they came for the meat eaters I kept silent because I’m a vegetarian. When they came for the gun owners I kept silent because I’m a pacifist. When they came for the drivers I kept silent because I’m a bicyclist. They never did come for me. I’m still here because there’s nobody left in the secret police except sissies with rickets.