...were more accident prone drivers, would it be ethical or legal to charge higher insurance premiums purely because they are black? If not, why is acceptable to charge men higher insurance premiums, or to charge young people higher insurance premiums?
2006-10-23 22:24:34 · 9 answers · asked by The Golden Child 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Would it be legal? No. Race is one of the criteria which are covered under "anti-discrimination" laws. Plus, too many people from the NAACP would have kittens all over the halls of congress if that happened.
Would it be ethical? Yes, assuming that the data backed it up and it was applied in a manner which was dictated by that data. "Ethical" and "legal" are not the same thing.
Why do men and young people get charged more? Two reasons: 1) statistically, they have more accidents than women who are no longer in their teens, and 2) there is no large political group putting pressure on the govt. to say that this practice is wrong or unjustly discriminatory.
If, somehow, there were a political action committee composed of white teenage male drivers, with millions of dollars to influence the members of congress and made enough noise about their issues to the press, there would soon be a massive drop in the insurance rates of those people.
2006-10-23 22:46:16 · answer #1 · answered by MegaNerd 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Very well phrased, couldn't fault the question on' racism' or 'political correctness' but no doubt some one will!!
The main problem you have here is that its one of those 'if' questions , and it doesn't really matter what colour a driver is, indeed why should it??
But if a black driver is living in a high risk area, or is very young then he or she will be charged accordingly!
The same would apply to an ex prisoner of war Japanese camp guard!
What IF it could be proved that overweight Americans, or Brits wth bad teeth could be proved to be a high risk??
Howmany questions could we ask on application forms for motor insurance?
2006-10-24 05:41:53 · answer #2 · answered by budding author 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I ask myself the question all the time.
Also, why can't health insurance companies charge higher premiums for homosexual men, given that their chance of acquiring the HIV virus is disproportionate relative to other population group?
2006-10-25 01:31:51 · answer #3 · answered by midwestbruin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bet Johnny Cochran is rolling in his grave. I venture to say that the insurance company who would be bold enough to pull a stunt like that would soon be out of business. I can see a 35 billion dollar law suit in the works.
2006-10-24 05:49:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If that were true.
That's what group rates do. It takes the statistical evidence and turns the frequency into a rating.
It also turns it into profits, so they ask for higher money on just about every pimple you get.
2006-10-24 05:36:01 · answer #5 · answered by justa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
none of it is ethical, but insurance companies are one of the BIGGEST controllers of this country with campaign contributions and the such. Read some articles about they are completely SCREWING over the home owners in Louisiana.
The sad fact is that big business can do whatever they want in this country.
2006-10-24 05:36:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it's possible to show this statistically if in fact it is the case. I'm dubious that it is.
2006-10-24 05:56:33 · answer #7 · answered by softenthecorners101 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is already in place.
And as you prove yourself a safer driver over the years, your rates drop dramatically.
2006-10-25 01:01:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Amen.
2006-10-24 05:33:19 · answer #9 · answered by catzrme 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋