| QuestionPro Survey

My story about parents who accidentally leave children to die in cars resulted in a number of intriguing lines of discussion, including one I'll be asking about today.

The story noted that in the face of expected opposition from car manufacturers, child car safety advocates removed from a 2008 bill a provision that would have required to cars to have a back-seat monitor that would alert a driver who turned off his car if a child's weight was still strapped into his car seat. Many readers were appalled by this. It does raise an interesting question:

Let's say that by requiring just such a device in all new cars sold in America, exactly 14 babies would be saved every year from sweltering to death in the back seats of cars. If that were provably true (and a consistent number) under which of the following circumstances would you be favor of such a bill? (Please note this is all hypothetical; I have no idea how much such a device would cost.)

I would never be in favor of such a bill.

I'd be in favor of it only if the price of a new car would rise less than $100.

Only if the price of a new car would rise less than $200.

Only if the price of a new car would rise less than $300.

Only if the price of a new car would rise less than $400.

Only if the price of a new car would rise less than $500.

Even if the price of a new car would rise between $500 and $1000.

I'd be in favor of it even if the price of a new car would rise $1,000 or more.

Do you feel it is ethical to make dollars-and-cents cost-benefit analyses like this when human lives (particularly infant lives) are at stake?

Yes, it is ethical.

No, it is not ethical.

---

Radical diversion:

Do you think it is a good idea for Congress to tax the AIG bonuses at 90-100 per cent, for those bonus recipients who won't give them back?

Yes

I'm not sure.

In general, how much of the AIG bonus outrage among politicians amounts to demagoguery and opportunism?

About 100 percent

75 percent

50 percent

Less than 50 percent.

It's not demagoguery or opportunism at all.

How well do you think president Obama is performing so far?

Of the following, which do you think has been Obama's WEAKEST performance point? Choose only one.

His vetting difficulties with high-level appointees.

Excessive money given in bailouts.

Bailout plans that don't seem to involve enough oversight or accountability.

His joke to Jay Leno about the Special Olympics.

Trying to accomplish too many things in too many areas, diluting focus on repairing the economy.

Using the current crisis to opportunistically implement widespread progressive cultural and economic objectives.

His failure to end the overseas wars as quickly as he'd promised.

I don't think he has performed significantly badly in any area. He's doing just fine.