🚀 go-pugleaf

Jason O'Rourke wrote:
> 
> Flagwaver  <glock1@cox.net> wrote:
> >According to the Centers  for Disease Control at
> >
> >http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/releases/01news/sports.htm
> >
> >there are 2.6 million emergency room cases per year at a cost of $500
> >million from sports related injuries. 900,000 of these cases are cycling
> >and basketball injuries.  According to the CDC:
> >
> >"Sports-related injuries are more likely than other injuries to be to
> >the brain or skull and upper and lower extremities; more likely to be a
> >fracture, strain or sprain; and more likely to have diagnostic and
> >therapeutic services provided, especially orthopedic care."
> 
> Which might sound bad unless you consider how much more expensive a
> heart attack is.  Most ER visits by athletes are not life theatening
> either.
> 
> The notion introduced that bicycles have any real expense to the state
> of CA is far more ludicrous than Perata's latest attack on gun rights.
> Motor vehicles dominate the scene.
> --
> Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com
US govt. figures show over 400k bicycle injuries/deaths per year.  If we
assume that about 15% of those are in CA (since CA has about 15% of the
population) then we have over 60k deaths/injuries by bicycles in CA
every year.  Are you saying that all of those are covered by insurance
and place no financial burden on ERs and trauma centers?  How many of
those injured suffer head/spine injuries that take months of
hospitalization for recovery?  How many of those injured are children
who will require round the clock care for the rest of their lives
because of brain stem injuries?  
I'm not arguing that motor vehicle deaths and injuries make up a large
percentage of the cases seen in ER/trauma centers.  In fact, if the
Honorable Mr. Perats were truely concerned about the red ink in ER/tcs,
he would have proposed a similar tax on fuel, tires, spark plugs, oil,
filters, etc.  Just the ticket - a 323% tax on spark plugs and wiper
blades.