This guy has a moral issue with insurance. Anyone else feel the same?

[low preference guy]

I think it's a good idea to require people to get insurance before they engage in activities that have a high chance of causing property damage or injury.

I think having insurance would encourage them to drive more recklessly.

[tfurrh]

No matter how careful you are, things happen, and that is why insurance was invented. I used to work with a guy who was driving along, entered an intersection, and suddenly blacked out (no history of this problem). Fortunately, he was fully insured and was able to cover the considerable damage he had caused to others.

Dang man, I know you probably aren't meaning to, but you sound like a spokesman for Obamacare....or maybe FEMA.

Insurance mandated by gov't = bad
Insurance entered into privately = good (or rather, I don't have a problem with)

Insurance does serve a purpose, and is probably a great thing more often than not, but it should never be at the force of gov't.

[Tod]

Isn't it immoral to knowingly engage in behavior that puts others at risk without being prepared to be responsible for damage you cause?

[brandon]

Sounds like you and the person you quoted both live by the rule of fear. I feel sorry for you. I agree with the other posters on this board. The message you missed was the "moral" issue with insurance companies. The first thing you jump into is 'Who is going to take care of me?' In the sense of 'How much money would I be paid?' Sad situation if you ask me.

I'm not even sure if you read my post? The first issue i mentioned was protecting your assets and making sure you are able to cover damages you cause to other people's property. I didn't say a damn thing about who is going to "take care of me."

[brandon]

I should be able to 'opt out' of any insurance mandated by the gov't (state or federal).

You can opt out, you just can't drive a car on their roads then. Fair enough? If you don't think they should own roads, well that that's fine but that's a different discussion. I promise you that if roads ever were privatized you would still be required by the owners to be insured.

[low preference guy]

Isn't it immoral to knowingly engage in behavior that puts others at risk without being prepared to be responsible for damage you cause?

The amount of risk changes with each driver. If you're a bad driver the risk is high. If you've been driving for decades and never had one accident the risk is smaller.

Also, should this be applied to all situations where there is risk? When I play tennis with my friends, there is a risk I would injure them. Should I buy insurance for that?

[Tod]

Dang man, I know you probably aren't meaning to, but you sound like a spokesman for Obamacare....or maybe FEMA.

Insurance mandated by gov't = bad
Insurance entered into privately = good

Insurance does serve a purpose, and is probably a great thing more often than not, but it should never be at the force of gov't.

See my post below. Specious argument; my not carrying health insurance is an entirely different animal than being responsible for damage I cause.

[tfurrh]

Isn't it immoral to knowingly engage in behavior that puts others at risk without being prepared to be responsible for damage you cause?

Isn't it immoral for gov't to steal from me to pay for your risk?

[tfurrh]

You can opt out, you just can't drive a car on their roads then. Fair enough? If you don't think they should own roads, well that that's fine but that's a different discussion. I promise you that if roads ever were privatized you would still be required by the owners to be insured.

+ rep, yeah that's totally fair enough. Good post.

[Tod]

The amount of risk changes with each driver. If you're a bad driver the risk is high. If you've been driving for decades and never had one accident the risk is smaller.

That's true and that is why insurance premiums vary from person to person.

Also, should this be applied to all situations where there is risk? When I play tennis with my friends, there is a risk I would injure them. Should I buy insurance for that?

In that case, your friend assumes responsibility by engaging in play with you. Now in the case of your tennis ball blinding a person outside the tennis court sitting on a park bench, you will almost certainly learn that a court will find you liable for paying for his injury, as it should.