The newest entry for right wing nut jobs opinions that make normal folks wonder why anyone pays attention to them is courtesy of one Tucker Carlson. In fact this one is so far out there that we must seriously consider the possibility that Carlson is auditioning for a position as a writer for The Onion.
During Fox News panel discussing the accident that has left Tracy Morgan hospitalized in critical condition a lawyer named David Schwartz speculated that the driver of the semi truck that rear ended Morgan's limo may be subject to jail time if convicted of reckless driving, which seemed to bewilder Mr. Carlson:
“Absolutely, 5 to 10 years in jail for death by auto, which is an act of recklessness,” Schwartz explained. “So, if he did fall asleep at the wheel, that’s one of the ways that you could commit reckless driving in New Jersey. And certainly the fact that a death occurred, 5 to 10 years in jail.”
“I’m not trying to take anything away from the tragedy of this,” Carlson replied. “But 10 years in jail for falling asleep? It strikes me as very different from taking drugs, drinking. Has that ever happened? Has anybody ever actually gone to jail for falling asleep?”
“For falling asleep and causing a death?” Schwartz asked. “Absolutely.”
“But, I mean sometimes people — and I’m not defending anyone here,” Carlson continued. “I’m really struck by the idea that someone who falls asleep — which is something that everybody does every day, not necessarily considered an act of recklessness — does it unintentionally, nods off is a criminal.”
Now I realize that Tucker and his libertarian conservative fellow travelers rail against the evils of government regulation 24/7. We get that they hate motorcycle helmet laws and seat belt laws and so on. But I think it is safe to say that allowing truck drivers to sleep while driving as something that we should just let slide is a bit extreme... even if sleeping is a standard part of our every day lives.
Of course Carlson does specify sleep driving is not reckless presuming it is done unintentionally, so we know that drivers who write down their intention to sleep drive, or in some other way express their intention to sleep drive are liable to endure the full weight of the law for reckless driving, if they cause an accident.
Why would anyone with such an obviously absurd mindset be allowed on any self respecting news or opinion program?