Government Regulation

[gcarter]

Guys in my industry I find the best way to avoid gubbiment sticking their mitts into a situation is to be pro active. If there is nothing to fix then theres nothing for gubbiment to get involved in.
The only issue as I see it is getting those in charge of the various certification agencies to agree and set in place a fixed set of standard requirements -self governing if you will.
The way I see it its like a driving school-a driver must pass certain tests to proove his competence.
THAT is the minimum standard. Should a driving school or dive instructor decide to go waaay beyond that requirement then great good on em.

How cute. As if having nothing to get involved in would stop them

---------- Post added December 30th, 2013 at 08:09 PM ----------

"I thought your definition of liberty or freedom is what a lot of people would say, but it is a popular misconception. The "I'll do what ever I want" mentality easily becomes a pretext for ignorance, arrogance, stupidity, recklessness, laziness and selfishness. There is often little consideration of the longer term consequences of the behaviour. Ironically, this is precisely the kind of behaviour that necessitates government intervention and laws. I'd redefine liberty as doing whatever you please providing you always do what is right and good. "

Much ignorance, stupidity, laziness and selfishness are not illegal, and some recklessness is not, either.

A government that tried to legislate people to the point they only had liberty to do what the State thought right and good would be seen as a fascist state, I believe.

In fact, 'rights' are often formally recognized so as to provide protection when you do things other people don't agree with, rather than when you do. Who needs liberty to please other people? It's when you want to do things that tick them off that you may need a 'right.'

Richard.

As my Momma always told me, "Consider the source". He has redefined every issue he has commented on, usually beyond recognition.

 

[Foxfish]

Like others, I'd like to keep government intervention in scuba diving to a minimum. I'd suggest the best way to protect the relative freedom we enjoy in the sport is to be behave responsibly ie. do what is good and right, rather than demand the right to do as we please.

 

[Subcooled]

Riding a bicycle should be regulated first.

There are more bicycle related deaths and injuries. A bicycle is especially dangerous in the winter, in rain, in stormy weather, in traffic, after a few drinks and so on.

I can already see a certification scheme:

Cycling for kids $300
Elementary cycling $500
Advanced cycling $300
Night cycling $300
Cargo specialty $300
Road specialty $300
Technical: winter cycling, level 1 $600
Technical: off-road... $600
Technical: in-traffic... $600
...

Then we could have health checks too: vision, hearing, balance... and insurances... and... life would just suck.

_________________________________
This post constitutes prior art, so don't try to patent this.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Riding a bicycle should be regulated first.

There are more bicycle related deaths and injuries. A bicycle is especially dangerous in the winter, in rain, in stormy weather, in traffic, after a few drinks and so on.

I can already see a certification scheme:

Cycling for kids $300
Elementary cycling $500
Advanced cycling $300
Night cycling $300
Cargo specialty $300
Road specialty $300
Technical: winter cycling, level 1 $600
Technical: off-road... $600
Technical: in-traffic... $600
...

Then we could have health checks too: vision, hearing, balance... and insurances... and... life would just suck.

_________________________________
This post constitutes prior art, so don't try to patent this.

Don't forget the added technical specialties of
Winter riding at night
Proper Water bottle sharing and S-drills
Mixed bottle liquid blender
Advanced liquid use (up to 100%)
And then of course overhead environment riding (in a tunnel)

 

[spectrum]

What about:
Road shoulder naturalist
Equipment specialist
Mixed gas tire inflation
Stunt rider
Altitude biker

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Then of course you'll get all the old vintage bikers who will swear that the old leather seats, knickers, pedal straps, and sew ups were the best and still are the best, dammit!!!

 

[Tom Winters]

Life in the United States is just so much better when the government is involved. I know that there are hardcore recidivists who decry the implementation of government in our everyday life, but every society has these nattering nabobs of negativism. Marshall Kim Jong Un in North Korea solved this problem with his recalcitrant uncle by feeding him to starving dogs which demonstrated great compassion on the Marshall's part in easing the suffering of hungry canines.I do not know or claim to know what caused so many people here to rail against the government. Maybe it wasn't enough fluoride. It bothers me, though, to see so many disgruntled lonely lost souls floundering in the miasma of their own suffering.Maybe I'll come out of retirement and help them to The Light of True Inner Peace.In one of my lives, I questioned the enemies of our way of life about what exactly caused them to act like irresponsible, capricious hooligans and get me intimately involved in their pitiful, lost lives.I'm sure that I can help so many of the Lost Souls of The Scubaboard once we get to the bottom of things. It won't be easy, and it will cut into my time cruising the Black Sea, but hey - no one really needs all ten toes or two kidneys to get through life.Naaaaah... just kidding.... too much work at this point in my life. Have fun!

 

[cocoajoe]

Can't believe what I'm reading. The government screws up everything they come in contact with.

 

[DevonDiver]

Riding a bicycle should be regulated first.

Are you saying it isn't?

Genuine question, because I don't know the laws in the USA. In England, bicycles are counted as 'carriages', along with cars, trucks, motorcycles etc - and thus, regulated. You can't take a bike onto a freeway (motorway). You can get arrested for DUI with a bike. You have to use designated lights and reflectors at night on a bike. You can be prosecuted for dangerous operations (driving) of a bike. You cannot cycle on a pavement (sidewalk), You can be prosecuted for speeding or running a red light on a bike. You can be charged with manslaughter for cycling related accidents.. etc etc etc

UK Cycling - Lighting Regulations defined by the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations.

Cycling and the Law

Information on cycling law in England and Wales - includes discussions on regulation, sufficiency of laws and applicability, with references to actual legal cases.

The existence of laws and regulations in England has lowered "bicycle related deaths and injuries".

Specifying where and when you can go on your bike, prudent safety measures and accounting for liability - kinda similar to the concept of designating where and when a diver can dive (in line with qualification), prudent safety measures applicable to different environments...and applying liability for the conduct of dives...

 

[Rhone Man]

That's the thing about regulation - people often don't realise that so much of life is regulated already.

Talking of regulation of the scuba industry - it also occurs to me that anyone who provides breathing gases is probably also regulated in relation to that as well, which catches most dive shops.