Derek Kieper Knew What He Was Doing
Dec 18, 2008 Everyday People, Historical
Derek Kieper was one of those idiots that rejected seat-belt laws. As a college student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he wrote an opinion piece arguing why everybody should join him in rejecting seat-belt laws. For one, he complained how much states were spending in enforcing the law. However, Kieper left out how much the state gets back in fines. He also mockingly pointed out the low number of lives saved due to seat-belt enforcement: “But the kicker is this: It is estimated, by researchers for Congress, that only 6,100 lives are saved per year because of new seat belt wearers.” Only? ONLY? Derek Kieper was either Death himself or was a real asshole. “Pssh…6,100 lives saved. We shouldn’t spend a single dime on these losers.”
Kieper was a victim of his own idiocy. In 2005, the Ford Explorer Kieper was riding in flew off an icy road and he was ejected from the SUV. He died. The drive and another passenger wore seat belts and sustained non-life threatening injuries. Libertarianism is based on the idea that people can make rational decisions on their own. Well, wake up. People are seldomly rational. Look at Dr. Phil. This guy is doling out “common sense” and millions watch him to find out how to wipe their ass. I’ve also heard people, whom I will call assholes, say that people stupid enough not to wear a seat belt deserve to die anyway–a survival of the smartest, if you will. Hey, I don’t like idiots, but I’m not an douchbag monster either. Kieper should be alive right now and enjoying the holidays with his friends and family.
JournalStar.com: I-80 crash claims UNL student’s life
Photo by sirwiseowl, (CC)-by-nc-nd
Tags: Derek Kieper, law, libertarian, nebraska, seat belt
February 11th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
For being a supposed man of wisdom, you’re not much of a man of grace. Derek Kieper was a dear friend of mine and I’ve just come across your article…I think you’re out of line for speaking about Derek the way you did in your article, especiallly considering he lost his life. Do you understanding honoring people in their death? Humility? You’re outta line dude, and I feel bad for you in all of your “wisdom” there seems to lack a bit of character.
April 10th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Ironically, I hope that with his death he has inspired some “die hard anti-seatbelt-wearers” to reconsider their stance, because it IS idiotic.
In that case, maybe Derek has actually saved some lives.
April 20th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Derek was a good friend of mine as well, as were the other two guys in the car with him. First off, one of the other guys DID suffer a life-threatening injury (pneumothorax), but he lived. But that’s not the point of my post. What you failed to mention was that the crash took place before dawn, while Derek was stretched out and sleeping in the back seat of the car. He might or might not have been wearing his seatbelt had he been awake, but how many people have taken off their seatbelt to lay down and sleep in the backseat after driving for 6 hours? Derek wasn’t against people wearing their seatbelts; he was simply against the government forcing us to wear them. Whether you agree with his opinion or not is really a moot point; this was a tragedy, and while I’m glad you don’t think you’re a douchbag monster, check your facts before calling my boy idiotic.
May 13th, 2010 at 7:37 am
You friends of Derek had better keep up the smothering web defense. I’ve checked three websites that allow commentary and he is universally decried as an idiot who most likely deserved what he got. I know that’s probably unfair, but when one puts themselves out into the public domain with such strong and controversial opinions like Derek’s and then dies an incredibly ironic death, it’s to be expected in this day and age. Get used to it or don’t get online, those are your choices.
BTW, when I sleep in a moving car, I’m sitting up with my belt on and head splayed back in a most uncomfortable way. Because a sore neck in the morning is way better than being a corpse for your family the next day. RIP
May 13th, 2010 at 7:42 am
FWIW, he really does sound like an asshole here…
“But the kicker is this: It is estimated, by researchers for Congress, that only 6,100 lives are saved per year because of new seat belt wearers.”
Just sayin…