Just heard on the local news that Congress is batting around legislation that would "encourage" the states to ban cell phone use while driving. Of course, when I say "encourage" I mean more strong-arming by the feds by withholding highway funds.

Yep, just what this country needs, more laws. It's just not enough to simply punish unsafe drivers. For everyone's safety we have to let the bureaucrats regulate our every action behind the wheel.

Yep, the body that's going to dictate what you can & can't do behind the wheel, still consists of the old sot Teddy Kennedy, never charged or tried for his drunken driving & vehicular homicide.

How typical of Washington today.

Guess we'll have to wait for tomorrow's news for full info.

[This message has been edited by Dest98 (edited 05-22-2001).]

How ridiculous is this?!

I mean, I DO drive with my cell phone. I DO get mad when I see people who 'carelessly' are dirivng while on a cell phone...but how many times do people carelessly drive when NOT on a cellphone?

And what about people drinking a soda, or eating a burger, or READING while driving? Why not ban dirivng period. And have everything be automated!

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Manu Narayan

"And what about people drinking a soda, or eating a burger, or READING while driving? Why not ban dirivng period. And have everything be automated!"

This "Protecting Americans" crap is getting about as old as the formulas for sitcoms. Let's be hyper-protective and hypersensitive about EVERYTHING. Little Johnny needs a helmet to ride his tricycle or bike now. Get a few "Sheepeople" to agree, and it's off and running. It's as bad as the mandate for adults to wear a seat belt in their car or a helmet while riding a motorcycle. My question is, when will the PATERNALISM stop?

Honestly, the bigger issue lies with Baby Boomers as parents and leaders today. I’m not trying to offend everyone who might be one, but I see a pervasive attitude among that generation about sheltering the world and life from their kids and themselves. They also have an arrogance or **** -sureness that THEY KNOW what’s right for EVERYONE. Passage of “feel-good” mandates and regulations and directives. You can’t plan for every eventuality or accident. If BBs don’t allow some “lessons” to be learned, how are their kids going to overcome adversity and persevere in life?

Originally posted by eanax:
"They also have an arrogance or **** -sureness that THEY KNOW what’s right for EVERYONE. Passage of “feel-good” mandates and regulations and directives. You can’t plan for every eventuality or accident. If BBs don’t allow some “lessons” to be learned, how are their kids going to overcome adversity and persevere in life?




I agree with most of your statements in principle, but I refuse to acknowledge that Baby Boomers have any more arrogance than anyone else in history. I am pretty sure that regardless of whether people are baby boomers or not, they are always, and always have been, sure that they know what is right for everyone.

I don't think this is so much a result of the baby boomers as it is a result of the big corporations using their financial muscle to pass new legislation.

State Farm Insurance has over 1 TRILLION dollars in reserve. With that kind of money, how hard would it be to find a few sympathetic senators and congressmen to help pass new "incentives" to the states to ban use of cell phones while driving. If someone presented you with a check for $100k to vote one way or another, you would probably do it, right?

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Artist formerly known as Reindeer

Originally posted by Turbostang:
I don't think this is so much a result of the baby boomers as it is a result of the big corporations using their financial muscle to pass new legislation.

State Farm Insurance has over 1 TRILLION dollars in reserve. With that kind of money, how hard would it be to find a few sympathetic senators and congressmen to help pass new "incentives" to the states to ban use of cell phones while driving. If someone presented you with a check for $100k to vote one way or another, you would probably do it, right?



I agree with that statement. And I agree the parenting does need to stop, with some things. I mean, there is a fine line, but this is just ridiculous. Like seatbelt laws, don't even get em started on those.



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Manu Narayan

OOPS
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Man — every man — is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.
Ayn Rand

[This message has been edited by Powerboss (edited 05-23-2001).]

Yeah, great bill. Once again the Democrat party trying to run our lives and tell us how to behave.


On a side note,
Dont tell me you guys advocate this unconstitutional "McCain Feingold Campaign finance reform Bill" do you?
Its horrendous and will do more to limit free speech than anything else in American History.
I will grant you "Corporations" are not PAC's who represent common folks, and that should be dealt with.



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Man — every man — is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.
Ayn Rand

Originally posted by Thutmose:

I agree with most of your statements in principle, but I refuse to acknowledge that Baby Boomers have any more arrogance than anyone else in history. I am pretty sure that regardless of whether people are baby boomers or not, they are always, and always have been, sure that they know what is right for everyone.

Thutmose: I never said that Baby Boomers have MORE arrogance than anyone else in history does, and I certainly don't believe that. Yes, there are always exceptions to the rule, but what I do think is their attitude is very PATERNALISTIC. It's a characteristic of the generation as a whole. I've observed that their attitudes and outlook are VERY different from those my parents' generation hold, who were born in the 1930s. The "Bridge Generation", as it has been called, hold different beliefs and attitudes. Believe me, there is a DIFFERENCE in attitude and outlook on how to solve problems between those born before WWII and those who were born after. Pragmatism vs. Idealism.

Turbostang: It's true that these companies, like State Farm, have plenty of moolah to spread around. These companies are also primarily run by Baby Boomers now, who are hedging their bets but they also share similar beliefs. Where was this type of legislation 25 and 30 years ago? The insurance companies weren't any less profitable or lacking in influence in Washington a quarter of a century ago.

Let me be clear. I don't care if the legislation originates from an industry’s or company's lobbying or a soccer mom petition drive. The problem is there are WAY TOO MUCH interference with our individual freedoms. And, I'm sorry, many Baby Boomers (the dominant generation) want to tell you and me how to live our lives.

The most frightening sight for me is some stupid soccer mom making a wide turn with a giant SUV while yapping on a cell phone. But outlawing soccer moms in SUV's would be a fair response rather than punishing everyone.

Yeah! Down with Soccer moms! I cannot tell you how rough it is in yuppie suburban california. I mean daily I am nearly killing by careless yuppies in SUVs...makes me sad.

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Manu Narayan

Yeah, the govt needs to step in and tell what we can drive now too. Why how dare some people who want and need the room and protection drive such a vehicle.
Im sure thats coming soon from the Democrat Party, just hang on.

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Man — every man — is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.
Ayn Rand

Did I ever say we need to BAN SUVs? Yes, I think they are stupid. Yes, they are part of the current gas situation. Yes for 90% of the people they are not neccessary/superfluous. But never did I say lets ban all SUVs!

Maybe an additional lisence? A safe SUV driving course? Cause im sorry, getting into a big V8 the size of two and a half normal cars, that rides three feet off the ground (exageration) is a totally different beast than driving a station wagon.

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Manu Narayan