Most American drivers are familiar with the process for filling their own gas tank. However, in New Jersey and Oregon it is illegal to pump your own gas. The reason for these prohibitions is the fact that pumping gas is dangerous.
Certainly, pumping one’s own gasoline can be dangerous. But driving a car is far more dangerous. About 40,000 Americans die each year in traffic accidents. Compare that to the average of two deaths per year because of fires at gasoline stations. It is far safer to pump your own gas than to drive the vehicle the gasoline powers.
The ban on pumping gas is not the only law that treats adults like incompetent children. As one example, Americans cannot legally take any medicine without the approval of the Food and Drug Administration. As another example, nearly one-third of all workers must obtain the government’s approval before entering a profession.
These laws are founded on the premise that individuals cannot make rational decisions. We are unable to determine which drugs might help us overcome an illness or injury. Individuals are unable to determine which professionals are competent and which are not. We need the government to protect us from our own foolish decisions.
Certainly, people can and do make irrational decisions. But the government can’t stop foolish people from doing foolish things. The government can, however, stop people from acting on rational decisions. The FDA can stop individuals from taking a drug that they think will be beneficial. The government can stop individuals from hiring from hiring an interior decorator, a painter, or any of the other myriad service professionals who are regulated by occupational licensing.
A secondary argument for prohibiting self-service gasoline is that it creates jobs. This may be true, but it ignores the cost that will be incurred by motorists. Further, if we banned self-service at retail and grocery stores, prohibited shoppers from loading their own merchandise, or eliminated electronic accounting, we could create jobs. But all such bans and prohibitions add to the cost of doing business, and that ultimately gets passed on to consumers.
Pumping gas is dangerous. Allowing the government to make decisions for us is far more dangerous.