Only a fool doesn't buckle his or her seat belt. Only an idiot rides a motorcycle without a state-of-the-art helmet. Enough said.

At least it should be enough said. But year after year we debate whether to make foolishness and idiocy crimes. And, unfortunately, each year some anti-idiocy sentiment becomes idiotic law. Each year, someone's idea of what other people shouldn't do becomes part of the already-nearly-unbearable load of government oppression.

And you and I pay for it. We pay for it in increased taxes to pay for the police to watch us to see if we're being foolish and arrest us if we are. We pay for capricious and arbitrary prosecution of crimes of stupidity. We pay for more jail space for people who shouldn't be there. We pay for the state's care for children of folks who are in jail for "crimes" many commit as a matter of course.

Of seat belt and helmet legislation, a South Dakota senator said, "It's similar to the law which prescribes innoculation of all children for certain diseases. It's a health issue."

Now, that's the kind of idiocy which should be illegal. There's a big difference. Not wearing a helmet is not a communicable disease. It will not affect me in any manner if you die of a crushed skull. The seat belt law will not lessen the chance of your running into me. It might, however, affect me if you have diphtheria and sneeze on me.

Another common argument is that we all pay higher insurance premiums because of folks not wearing helmets and seat belts, or that we pay higher taxes as a result of some government agency picking up the bill for folks who haven't adequate insurance.

One truth is that the insurance lobby wants the law because it would result in lower claims. Insurance companies have never lowered premiums in states which have the law.

Another truth is that the argument is dangerous. Once we accept it as valid, we face the truth that our whole lifestyle contains many stupid acts. Should we make them all illegal?

Should we make it a crime to smoke cigarets or drink alcohol? Should we jail people for eating chocolate-covered cherries? Should we fine folks for not putting those sand-covered rubber strips in their bathtubs? Outlaw rodeo? Skiing?

Any proposal that the federal government is extorting South Dakota to pass these laws "for our own good" is patent bovine defecation. There are elements of power hunger for the politicians and economics for large financial institutions, but there is no element of our best interest.

It would be in our best interest to tell the feds to go to hell, pay the penalty they're forcing on us in diversion of highway funds, and elect senators and congressmen to Pierre and Washington who understand the Constitution of the United States. Educate. Don't legislate.