Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ut-sally.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!ut-sally!riddle
From: riddle@ut-sally.UUCP (Prentiss Riddle)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Fast driving and hypocrisy
Message-ID: <799@ut-sally.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Jan-84 13:38:12 EST
Article-I.D.: ut-sally.799
Posted: Thu Jan 19 13:38:12 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Jan-84 01:31:38 EST
References: <496@pyuxa.UUCP> <846@ihuxl.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 25


 >> Question for you: if the majority of people support 55, then
 >> why do the majority drive faster than 55, breaking the very law
 >> they supposedly support?
 >>				D.A. Seifert
 >>				ihnp4!ihuxl!seifert

Because most people are quite willing to support a law to restrict the
actions of  o t h e r  folks, and then happily turn around and break it
themselves.

I don't know myself whether or not a majority of people support the 55
mph speed limit, but other examples of this principle abound.  One came
from my home state of Oklahoma, which in 1959 was the last in the union
to repeal prohibition.  Most people wanted to drink, but most people
also wanted to see a law against alcohol on the books.  The only reason
prohibition was ever abolished was that a pro-alcohol governor came to
office who was smart enough to actually start enforcing the law for the
first time in decades.  Within a short time the legislature realized
that Oklahomans preferred their liquor to their law.
----
Prentiss Riddle
("Aprendiz de todo, maestro de nada.")
{ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!riddle