Democrats versus Republicans

[sck5]

PB

werent you ever a teenager? they routinely do self destructive things that if they live to think about it, they would never do later in life

[ssneade]

well, it is sorta strange the national max speed limit is what, 70 -80 mph? why do we have vehicles on public roads capable of easily doubling that? only a few years ago the firestone corporation got in a heap of trouble over all terrain tires exploding as a result of not only poor craftsmanship, but idiots who think an suv is a race car, and can be driven on the highway at 80+ mph. when they make an all terrain tire rated for high speeds, then we all are that much safer. insurance companies are in the business of making money, just like a bank or any other corporate entity. i'll side with the insurance companies every time. one of the main things that drive insurance rates up is frivolous lawsuits............

p.s. 55 would be fine with me.

[PBzeer]

And they do them regardless of any laws sck. And that doesn't count the ones who remain teenagers all their life.

[craigimass]

Yep, PB, good point.
We should make cars and bikes illegal - which is a main tenet of the liberal strategy.

I knew you were gonna get to the bottom of this sooner or later. After all, such a great mind can only end up at ONE possible conclusion.

[craigimass]

Now the far right wants to abolish insurance companies!
In their quest for individual responsibility, they believe that if someone gets in a accident which ends up costing a million bucks or more, that person should be indentured for 20+ years to pay the bill.

Big bad insurance companies. Big bad government. Everyone is coming to get me. Arm up. Pass the ammunition. Paranoia strikes deep.

Where's the cave, guys? I am wanting to crawl back in it. I'm sure I'll meet you there.

[bubb2]

The far right has a better insurance system!
New Page 1

[PBzeer]

Who the hell said anything about doing away with insurance companies ..... besides you? In fact, the whole point was to let the insurance companies provide the incentive to act responsibly, rather than government forcing it. Just a tad hard for that to happen if you do away with the insurance companies. But then, as usual, you never let what somebody ACTUALLY says get in the way of yet another one of your ineffectual lame sarcastic responses.

Aside from that, even if your patently moronic statement was correct, I don't speak for The Right. And you shouldn't have any trouble finding a cave, after all, it's a favorite habitat of trolls.

[erps]

and byways of this country are for public use, but not many folks have respect for the other guy any longer. i guess the only way to make the roads safer is tougher regulations.

just an observation. I watched a documentary on road safety and actually one theory that was proving out was that the less safety features a road had, the more careful the drivers drove on them. I guess they did some studies/experiments where they took out all the traffic warning devices, stop signs and stuff like that, the drivers didn't feel as safe as they used to and slowed down and paid more attention. The results were contrary to what the common notion was at the time, but I think traffic engineers are aware of the study. Wanna save a life? Pull out the stop signs and speed limit signs?

[craigimass]

Originally Posted by bubb2

The far right has a better insurance system!
New Page 1

Actually, by forming a collective, those Amish have gone communist on us.
Stamp 'em out before it spreads, right?

[craigimass]

Originally Posted by erps

just an observation. I watched a documentary on road safety and actually one theory that was proving out was that the less safety features a road had, the more careful the drivers drove on them. Wanna safe a life? Pull out the stop signs and speed limit signs?

Tis true to some degree.
Same type of studies showed that Dope smokers actually drove their cars safer...no kidding! It was because of how stoned (and paranoid) they were!

There is definitely an effect of the type you mention.

However, that is more of a localized effect. You can measure it, but over the course of 300 million people it does not turn into a fact. It's just that a certain amount of education and experience is needed to turn the new safety features into second nature.

When people feel too safe, some are likely to try dangerous things...witness the way some fools drive in rain and snow - with the attitude that since the car makes them feel safe (until something happens), they are going to ignore the laws of physics.

In my sons case, that is exactly what he did. It was the first light coating of rain which turned to ice in late october and he was coming home from school and rounding a turn - ran right off the road into a telephone pole. Such a crash would normally main or kill, but he walked away and called up. We went to the hospital and he was OK.

We should all thank Nader each day. There is no single person who is as much responsible for our automobile safety.

Of course, for his efforts he had GM mounting incredible attacks against him.

"GM President James Roche was forced to appear before a United States Senate subcommittee, and to apologize to Nader for the company's campaign of harassment and intimidation. Nader later successfully sued GM for excessive invasion of privacy. It was the money from this case that allowed him to lobby for consumer rights, leading to the creation the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency‎ and the Clean Air Act, among other things."

That is the kind of hero we need more of in America (and the world).