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Op-Ed: Beware of politicians who want to ban things. | Opinion

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www.thecentersquare.com – Douglas Carswell | the Mississippi Center for Public Policy – 2024-03-29 15:09:00

What would you most like to see Mississippi’s elected lawmakers do during the current legislative session?

Action to eliminate the reams of red tape holding our state back, maybe? Further tax cuts, perhaps? With so many other southern states moving ahead with school choice, you might wish that our lawmakers would do something similar.

I doubt that a bill to ban “squatted” trucks is your top priority. Yet, that is precisely what one bill in our state Legislature aims to do.

I’m not about to invest a lot of effort into opposing this bill, but I do think we should be wary of politicians in the business of banning things.

Typically, politicians resort to banning things when they don’t have any other ideas. The impulse to ban things is driven by their search for validation and purpose.

Those in favor of a ban on “squatted” trucks are quick to tell us that action is urgent given how dangerous these trucks are. I can think of a lot of things that could be deemed dangerous. 

Do conservatives really want to get into the business of banning things because they are dangerous?  Once you start, where do you stop?  If trucks are to be banned for being dangerous, wait ’til you hear what progressives have to say about guns.

Under this proposed , anyone caught driving a vehicle whose front ends are raised more than four inches above the height of the rear fender faces a $100 fine.  Will pull people over to measure their fenders?  Should the guy with a truck raised a mere three inches expect to get pulled over every time?  

As the parent of a teenager, I’ve discovered how adding a young person to your insurance policy can make your premiums soar.  This is because the insurance system is good at assessing risk.  Higher risk equals higher premiums. 

If squatted trucks really were the danger that the detractors claim, surely it would be reflected in raised insurance premiums to the point where they became prohibitively expensive.

In a society, there must be an overwhelmingly good reason to use the state’s monopoly of force to restrict something.  It is not enough to ban something because we disapprove of it.  Or. as I fear, disapprove of the people that drive “squatted” trucks.  

Once politicians form the habit of seeking out things to ban for the benefit of the rest of us, they won’t stop.  Next will a ban on certain types of vapes.  Or, as in California, certain food additives and Skittles.  If they can ban one type of truck, why not another?

If you want to see where relentless banning , take a look at my own native Britain.  Despite having had notionally conservative governments, politicians across the pond have relentlessly banned things from certain breeds of dog to plastic drinking straws. 

From the ability to use email lists for marketing to self-defense pepper spray.  From disposable cutlery and gas heaters to the internal combustion engine (from 2035).

On their own, none of these restrictions have proved to be a catastrophe (although the ban on internal combustion cars, once it into force, may yet prove to be).  Collectively, however, the blizzard of bans has been devastating by infantilizing British society.  

Treated like , more and more people behave like children.  Denied responsibility, society grows irresponsible.  Britain today feels utterly demoralized as a consequence.  This is what happens when you put politicians in charge of deciding what’s best for everyone else.

Banning tilted trucks won’t be the end of the world for Mississippi.  It will be the end of a little bit more liberty.

The impulse to ban things, I believe, comes from what H.L. Mencken called “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be having a good time.”  Let’s Mississippi truck drivers alone.

Douglas Carswell is the President & CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

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News from the South - Georgia News Feed

Georgia officials announce $100 million relief plan for farmers | Georgia

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | – 2024-11-01 12:28:00

SUMMARY: The Georgia Financing and Investment Commission has proposed a $100 million relief plan for the state’s agriculture sector affected by Hurricane Helene. This will be sourced from the Capital Projects Fund included in the amended fiscal budgets for 2024 and 2025. The plan allocates $75 million for loans to the agriculture industry and $25 million for timber industry cleanup efforts. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones emphasized the significant losses by farming and timber communities. With agricultural losses estimated at $6.46 , this investment aims to recovery and rebuilding efforts as the state collaborates with federal partners.

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News from the South - Florida News Feed

Senate seat, amendments on the line in Florida elections | Florida

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | – 2024-11-01 16:11:00

SUMMARY: On Tuesday, Florida voters will decide on two important ballot initiatives—recreational marijuana legalization and rights—alongside a competitive U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Polls show Scott leading by narrow margins, with his trailing behind that of former . Amendments 3 and 4 enjoy strong backing, with recreational at around 60% support, and the abortion rights amendment close to 58%. Both initiatives have raised significant funds, totaling $256 million, primarily from notable and donors in the respective causes.

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News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

Tennessee students pick their favorites in mock election | Tennessee

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | – 2024-11-01 14:09:00

SUMMARY: In Tennessee’s 2024 Student Mock Election, former and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn emerged as top favorites, securing 65% and 63.4% of votes respectively. Over 43,744 from various schools participated, with Trump outperforming Vice President Kamala Harris, who garnered 35%. Blackburn surpassed Rep. Gloria Johnson, who received 36.6%. This year’s mock election aimed to engage students in the , a program initiated by Secretary of State Tre Hargett in 2016. Meanwhile, early voting for the actual general election saw a turnout of 45.88% of registered voters in Tennessee, slightly lower than 2020.

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