Red right returning?
Submitted by James on Mon, 08/25/2008 - 6:00pm
One mnemonic they teach at the Naval Academy - red right returning - is designed to help newbies remember which side of a channel red buoys are on. (The are on the right when you're returning to port.) The saying came to mind today when I spent a few hours studying the issues around Easley's veto of the Boating in the Fast Lane bill.
I've written all my representatives asking them to uphold the Governor's veto. From all I can see, the bill is just another suck-up to business interests, exactly what you'd expect from a North Carolina Senate who jumps at every chance to put profits ahead of people.
But maybe, just maybe, representatives in the House will hold the line on this egregious legislation. Why? Because it will kill people. Just ask the State Highway Patrol.
Supporters of the change say it would help tourism and boat-makers. But opponents, including the state Highway Patrol, say it would lead to increased collisions. Last year, the patrol investigated 300 collisions involving motorists towing boats, said Bryan Beatty, state secretary of crime control and public safety, said in a letter today to newspaper editors.
Hmmmm. Should we listen to the Highway Patrol on matters of public safety, or should we listen to the boating industry? This is a no brainer.
Take action
You can do it here.
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The NC Family Policy Council doesn't speak for my family
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Thank you James
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
it seems to me...
...there's a simple solution: remark the highways so that there are three 6 foot wide lanes.
this way there would always be a passing lane, so vehicles towing boats would never be a problem.
you might say: "but wait! a ten foot wide boat can't fit in a 6 foot lane"...to which i would reply: "the state passed a law allowing 10 foot wide boats in 9 foot wide lanes already--so we've crossed that boundary. now all we have to do is decide how far to take the foolishness."
which brings me to my next innovation: gunwale-mounted chainsaws!
"...i feel that if a person can't communicate, the very least he can do is to shut up." --tom lehrer, january 1965
Good catch Anglico
I read about this earlier but didn't take action. But...thanks to your post, I just did.
Stan Bozarth
Boats and Trailers
Wow
Only in America. Or are we exporting this too?
_____________________________________
The NC Family Policy Council doesn't speak for my family
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Wide berth
Demolition derbies are universal spectacles but I think the boat trailer variant is uniquely American. Here's the same race from a car mounted camera. Good training video for drivers if the veto is overridden. Race begins around 1:30.
It will be over-ridden
I don't think Hackney would have mentioned the overwhelming majority by which it passed if he didn't already know that the political will is there to return and affirm it.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke