In my new book ” Idiot Proofing the World” (just kidding) I point out how every time an accident, tragedy, or just plain stupidity occurs we lose a personal freedom because some idiot, (probably related to someone in a accident, tragedy or stupidity, thinks we need to pass a new law for it. We can always be smarter and better prepared for boating, but the times where I have seen stupidity and especially arrogance cause the problem, well out weigh any reason for the loss of another personal freedom. I like the freedom of not wearing a life jacket, it reminds me of those beautiful summer days and joy of my youth, the reason WE became boaters in the first place. Yes there are those times where common sense dictates whereing a pfd, but why don’t we make the individual responsible for himself again, the way the world use be. I am sick of the stupid people of the world (and their legislating relatives)spoiling our life experiences. Why not make boater education courses mandatory, something most (about 90%)of boaters could definitely benefit from. At the very least it would make for more pleasant boating experience. No more muttering to yourself about some idiot who thinks he has the right of way and when he doesn’t. Our world is shrinking and common sense seems to be with it. While wearing a life jacket is a small decision,
it represents boating as a whole, let’s not hurry to give away one of the few expressions of personal freedom we seem to have left in the world. Thanks for listening. Barry Malott