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From: mzal@pegasus.UUCP (Mike Zaleski)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: freedom
Message-ID: <2696@pegasus.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 31-Dec-85 13:45:38 EST
Article-I.D.: pegasus.2696
Posted: Tue Dec 31 13:45:38 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 1-Jan-86 01:06:07 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft
Lines: 49

Indented excerpts from tw8023@pyuxii.UUCP (T Wheeler):

   Why don't we just lay all of this attempt at creating a
   rationale for speeding aside and say what is really on
   your minds; you want to go fast.  If you will just admit
   that you enjoy speeding along a nice highway, we can eliminate
   all of this roundabout reasoning and get to the nub of
   the argument.

I completely agree that, despite the rationales offered by
various articles in net.auto, this is the true reason for
objection to the speed limit.

Long time readers of net.auto may remember my proposal for a
real nationwide campaign to get rid of the 55 limit - complete
with slogans, manipulative advertising, and a boycott.  It is
not that I particularly believed the ideas which I felt could
be conveyed in manipulative advertising.  I do, however, believe
that the vast number of people in this country are more readily
swayed by plausable sounding reasons then they would be by the
statement: "I don't think speeding is bad."

Rationalizations (and lies, for that matter) are a long standing
tradition in politics.  Stacked statistics are used, not just to
show that German drivers are better, but that 55 saves lives, and
so on.  It is not surprising to see rationalizations used in pro and
anti 55 articles in net.auto, we've all learned this is part of
winning a political battle.  But, it is silly, because net.auto
is read by auto enthusiasts who (whether they are anti or pro 55)
know what each other is really thinking.

   What do you tell folks who drive at a speed
   they feel comfortable at, say 60, and there is no speed
   limit?  Stay off the highways?  I don't think you want
   to do that, right?  What do you say to someone who feels
   comfortable at 85?  Have a nice day?  I suppose you could
   say that, but do you want him blowing you off the strand
   if you feel better at 70.  Where do you set the standard?

This reminds me of a George Carlin line: "Have you ever
noticed how everyone who is driving slower than you is an
idiot and everyone who is driving faster than you is a maniac?"
There is a bit of truth in this which every person who has
flamed pro or anti 55 on net.auto could learn from.

The rest of T.C. Wheeler's article was quite good.  Really.

-- "The Model Citizen" Mike^Z
   Zaleski@Rutgers   [ allegra, ihnp4 ] pegasus!mzal