Analysis for Critical Thinkers

On August 4, 2010, the NBC Today Show had a segment called, “Is Government to Blame for Kids’ Deaths in Hot Cars?”

This year, record numbers of children have died in this country due to heat stroke after being left in a hot car by their parents. Even one injury or death from this is tragic yet avoidable. This year, with heat waves around the country, it has been even more common. But what can we do about this to save the children and to save the parents from the horrible guilt and regret that they must feel after such an incident? The NBC report presents the question, “How many more children must die before automakers or Big Government step in and do something?” As has become typical lately, we look towards someone else to solve our problem.

A better question may be, “How many more children must die before parents learn to not leave their children in a hot car?”

It turns out that technology exists that can warn a forgetful parent that a child has been left in a car. It also turns out that auto makers chose not to offer this device as an option on new cars. Maybe the auto makers are just greedy and just want to make a profit, but the fact is, this option is not offered as of yet.

Why doesn’t Big Government require auto makers to install this device on every new vehicle sold? Wouldn’t that help solve the problem and save innocent lives? In fact, why doesn’t Big Government require that everybody have this device installed on all current vehicles as well? Why is there not a Big Government Bureacracy created to inspect vehicles and levy large fines against all that do not comply. If it would save just one life, then it would all be worth it.

Big Government  and even the auto companies  are not the answer. The way to save children from dying in this fashion is this:

1) Be a careful and attentive parent.
2) As a parent, YOU are responsible. Be responsible – take responsibility for your actions and their consequences.
3) Make sure that you do not leave your kids in a hot car.

I will admit that I am sometimes forgetful – and I often make mistakes. However, demanding that Big Government or Evil Auto Companies take responsibility is only a feeble attempt to shift responsibility to somebody else. Your child is not my responsibility, nor is it the responsibility of  lawmakers, bureacrats, or evil rich people.

 There are some who have asked me why I do not care about children and their safety. This is simply untrue. I do care – and I pray that you as a parent follow the 3 steps listed above. I give you my full support. But it is my money that is seeked as well.

“Why don’t we require everybody to pay for this new feature on cars – even if you don’t have any children? Or how about a new tax that will benefit children everywhere? We could use the money to have special Big Government Safety Spotters who will patrol parkng lots in search of forgotten children!”

Once again, this is a problem best solved by responsible parents. Here are some other suggestions that would be  life saving:

4) If you think that a safety device installed in your car is the answer, I urge you to go out and buy one. Get all of the other parents in your neighborhood to go in with you and maybe get a quantity discount. If the auto companies don’t offer one, find an after-market one.
5) Information is important. Some parents don’t know the dangers of leaving their kids in a hot car. Start a “Safe Parent” club where you write and distribute literature to educate other parents. Post signs in parking lots warning of the danger.
6) Start a collection in your neighborhood or have a bake sale  to raise funds to buy these safety devices for those parents who cannot afford one – even if you are not even a parent yourself.
7) Start a day-care plan where you agree to watch your neighbor’s kids so that they are less likely to be left in a car during a shopping trip.
8 ) Invent a new technology or technique that will prevent such accidents from happening.
9) Come up with a checklist like the ones that airline pilots use to ensure that no step is forgotten. Use this checklist on every car trip to ensure the safety of your children.
10) Form good habits and encourage other parents to do the same.

These are just some examples of things that responsible citizens can do to save the lives of our young ones. I will admit that it is much easier – and cheaper – for people to attempt to pass off their responsibility to somebody else, like Big Government.

“These are stupid ideas that will never work. It’s better just to have the government be in charge,” says a typical doubter.

Trying to guilt everybody into paying for something that is not their responsibility is understandable. But ultimately, it is you the responsible parent that must step up and be responsible.– and we’ll all be here to help you.

Rep. Charles Rangel has been charged with 13 counts of violating House of Representatives ethics rules. It is thought that if he goes to trial, things would not go as well for him as it would if he agreed to a plea agreement – or resigned. If he resigns, presumably, no one outside the House would find out what he did wrong – if he did anything wrong.

“I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served  his constituents very well. But these allegations are very troubling,” said President Obama on an interview on CBS. “…he’s somebody who’s at the end of his career. Eighty years old. I’m sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity. And my hope is that it happens. ”

One cannot end one’s career with dignity with charges of corruption pending. Let us hope that in our new “transparent” Big Government, that all is put before public scrutiny and Mr. Rangel’s guilt or innocence can be learned. If he is innocent, then he will be able to end his career “with dignity”.

But maybe that is what President Obama meant.