Texting - Should Behavior Be Legislated?

Well of course behavior is legislated all the time.  That's what laws are all about.  So a ban on texting while driving?

After hearing a report on the news last night where recent tests have found texting while driving is more dangerous than driving drunk, it makes me wonder about the disconnect.

I recalled reading that our state, one of only 16 that does not have a law against texting, missed the opportunity due to trying to make a law difficult to enforce, more difficult and the  legislative session ran out of time.

Thank you to our now U.S. House representative, Raul Labrador, for throwing a monkey wrench in the process.  I find it appalling that one man can hold the fate of legislation in his hands when the majority have ruled against him.

That being said, the problem still exists and studies continue.  The one reported in Car and Driver tested drivers' reactions while both sending and reading a text. Then they got them inebriated to the legal limit and tested their reaction times without texting.  The results found the reaction times worse while texting than being under the influence.  I don't know about you, but it scares the living daylights out of me.

I know texting is the latest fad that people of another generation seem not to be able to do without.  Even the penalties were to be no more than a slap on the wrist compared to a DUI.

Consider a first violation fine for texting of $50 versus a first DUI conviction of up to 6 months in jail, a $1000 fine, license suspended from 90 to 180 days with restrictions possible after 30 days plus the possibility of having to undergo alcohol evaluation and treatment.

There is definitely something out of whack here.  One is why police, fire and emergency workers would have been exempted.  Like they're better at it then we are?  They're enough of a menace on their cell phones.  As are the rest of us.  If a person is killed, they are dead.  Dead.  It doesn't matter if it was alcohol or texting related.  Dead.

When a group of sixth graders and their teachers research the subject and join with the AAA to support the ban, I have to wonder at the wisdom of one legislator in particular along with the others who tried to gut the legislation.  The school project  took place in 2010.

How many texting related accidents have occured since and how many ended as fatalities?  Difficult to enforce?  Only because the legislature wanted to make it such.  Toothless?  Only because the legislature wanted to make it such.

But the kids know, as does this old lady, you can't look down to text, or read one and watch the road at the same time.  As one twelve year old said, "People aren't going to stop unless it becomes a law."  Let me add, one with teeth in it.  Just in case law enforcement figures it out.

Lucky New Jersey

Yes.  New Jersey is a very fortunate state.  It has a governor who really cares for the state and it's people.  A governor who put his love for his state above ego and pressure.

Unable or unwilling, I'm not sure which, the Republican powers are still looking for an ideal candidate to pit against Obama.  Chris Christie won't be the one and I couldn't be more happy.  Mainly because he hasn't disappointed me.  He has remained a man of his word.

I think it takes a great deal of control and a good dose of humility to resist the pressures to run for President that Mr. Christie faced.  It will be interesting to see if he enters the field in 2016.  There are a lot of good young Republicans waiting in the wings, but I can't help wonder about their fate.

Consider what is happening to the current field.  With the exception of Ron Paul, who to my way of thinking, is too extreme, all of them could handle the job.  Some better than others.

What troubles me is the lack of positive reporting on them and the extremes of negativity.  Romney - Massachuttes Care and Mormonism.  Bachmann - a bit foggy on historical truths and reactionary.  Santorum - too far right.  Gingrich - too much baggage.  Cain - he's a racist and can't win anyway.  No foreign policy, no political experience. Perry - what more need be said.  Huntsman - where the heck is he?  Never mind; he's Mormon and too moderate.  Buddy Roemer and Gary Johnson - did you even know they are running?  Isn't there anything good and positive about any of them?

As much as I like to watch politics, I know I'll never understand it.  Mostly because politicians today have defined themselves differently than our founding fathers intended.  The media, too, is complicit.  They no longer report all sides of an issue, just those that agree with the philosophical bent of their owners.  They no longer serve the public well and haven't for far too long.

At least today, as far as I'm concerned, will be  remembered as bright spot in national politics.  A good man has remained true to his word.  What a breath of fresh air.  While his absence in the race may be considered our loss ~ it is really our gain.  And his.

Christie Revisited

Awhile ago I wrote a post about finding Chris Christie interesting.  I still do.  But I hope he continues to say no to running even though the pressure is intensifying.

Those who are applying that pressure are not doing Mr. Christie any favors. The outcome, however, will say one very important thing about him.  Is he or is he not a man of his word.

He has said numerous times, "No."  He has said he isn't ready.  He has yet to complete his first full term as governor of New Jersey.  It's a tough state filled with tough people.  I lived there awhile many years back.  He has his hands full with that alone and he owes his constituents his full, hands on attention.

I can't help thinking about Sarah Palin resigning the governorship of Alaska for the siren's call. Money.  He isn't as flighty as she and wouldn't be playing games, but his experience level at governing is about the same.  Then too, we have one in the White House who had no experience in much of anything and you see what we've gotten!

Much is beginning to be made of his weight.  It is a worry.  The stress of running is enormous. Think of how Hillary looked at the end.  And think about how tough playing catch up would be entering this far into the game, let alone going the distance.

Funny, Obama was encouraged to run because he was so new to politics he had no baggage.  That may because he didn't do much.  Most of his time as Senator was running for office, not legislating.

Mr.  Christie has baggage, if you will. His views.  His views on gun control and illegal immigration, for example, will not sit well with the conservatives.  Nor will his aggressive tell it like it is demeanor.  I personally like it and think the country needs it; needs a strong leader but seeing him in someone elses face is one thing, in your face may be something entirely different.

Should he decide to run, areas where he differs from the conservatives and tea partiers will leave them wondering what they've done.  It would then make Mr. Christie wonder the same thing.

He planted the seed himself by admitting he isn't ready for the national stage and the worldwide spotlight.  There is no shame in that.  It goes to his character, not pretending to be something he isn't.  He's said he doesn't have the fire in his belly.

I hope he keeps that foremost in his mind.  He will not succeed without it and doing it because others have that fire for him certainly won't work.

Let him finish out his term and let's see what kind of a leader he really is.  How his health holds up.  And quit looking for the perfect candidate ~ there isn't one.  Let's too look at all the candidates that are running; there are some good ones getting little or no attention.

And please, can we quit calling Herman Cain racist. Can Romney and Perry grow up and discuss issues rather than their relentless nitpicking at each other.  Will moderators at the debates give equal time to all the candidates.


Will Sarah Palin please go home.  And Mr. Christie, this time, for the sake of your future, please stay home.

Fudging The Numbers

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  Or so they say.  It is also the reason so few of us trust anything the government says.

The September jobs report is due out this coming Friday and according to Reuters the numbers are due to show some improvement. Like 60,000 new jobs. That is no where near enough to put a dent in unemployment, but never-the-less, they'd have us believe there is progress.

But is there?  I think not.  It seems included in that figure are 45,000 striking Verizon workers who returned to work!  Is it fair to consider strikers unemployed?  When they strike of their own volition?  Or their union bosses volition? Absolutely not!

I'm sure there are 45,000 unemployed out there that who would have loved to have had a crack at those jobs with a promise not to strike.  The Verizon workers went back to jobs they left on a temporary basis to gouge their company for more.  And they wonder why so many people are anti-union.  Especially in this day and age of fierce unemployment.  Just like the union targeting Ford for a strike because they didn't take bailout money and, thanks to the President, they own a hefty part of the other two of the big three.

Trust government to be straight with us? I don't think so.

Where Have My Birds Gone?

For years, after having read The Birds by Daphne Du Maurier, I had an aversion to them.  That's powerful writing.  Or a very weak mind! Probably the latter in my case.

Slowly and thankfully I finally got over it and came to love them.  All kinds.  Song birds. Birds of prey.  It doesn't matter.  Perhaps it has come from caring for injured ones I'd find on occasion.  I was enthralled with the raptors I'd see when visiting Washington State when Bacchus was a regular at the vet med hospital.  Members of the Raptor Club would have them in the lobby quite often.

Every spring I can't wait to see the first Killdeer and of course the Robins.  The Quail can keep me amused for hours. The meadow larks cheer me.  Even the non-descript brown and black birds I couldn't readily identify cheered me, especially when they'd converge on our pond for their Saturday nights baths.

So what happened to them?  It's fall, yes, but they've been gone for weeks.  It's so quiet it's eerie.  Even the hawks are gone.

I've read where they are pretty well protected.  Fines are being handed out in North Dakota  for the deaths, no matter how inadvertently, of ridiculously small numbers. To the tune of $15, 000 and up to six months in jail per bird!  No, I don't think my birds went to North Dakota to feel safe.  Actually no self-respecting bird would be party to such an obvious witch hunt aimed unproportionately at oil and gas exploration companies.  Of which this administration has little use.

No.  I fear it's more likely they're  an unintended consequence of the highly vaunted wind power.  You know, the great green industry that's so not yet ready for marketing only the government is gambling big bucks on it.  Those giant wind turbines kill thousands of birds a year, including  golden and bald eagles! Has that been the fate of my birds?  Do their migratory paths cross these turbine fields making an impact on their populations?  Funny, none of those companies are being fined even though it's known there is a problem! A huge problem when you consider the numbers.

I don't know.  The government can't even stay out of the lives of our birds for it is government who decides who to fine and whose technology to invest in.   I had to make some sort of political connection out of it.  Politics impacts everything else, why not our birds?  Ah, that's probably a stretch. It probably has something to do with solar flares or something like that.

All I know is one more aspect of my life, that makes it wonderfully enjoyable, has for the moment gone silent. So what has happened to my birds?