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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!hplabs!felix!daver
From: daver@felix.UUCP (Dave Richards)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: 65 MPH?
Message-ID: <950@felix.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Mar-86 19:25:07 EST
Article-I.D.: felix.950
Posted: Mon Mar 10 19:25:07 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 06:09:21 EST
References: <152@ttidcc.UUCP> <274@hropus.UUCP> <507@nrcvax.UUCP> <9834@amdcad.UUCP>
Reply-To: daver@felix.UUCP (Dave Richards)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA
Lines: 35

In article <9834@amdcad.UUCP> phil@amdcad.UUCP (Phil Ngai) writes:
>In article <507@nrcvax.UUCP> jj@nrcvax.UUCP (Jeff Jennings - NRC-Utah) writes:
>>>But just because people don't like it doesn't mean the law should
>>>be changed.
>>
>>Gee, I thought that that was what democracy was all about.  Shouldn't
>>the laws reflect the will of the majority of the people?
>
>Not at all, the law is also supposed to protect minorities against
>"the tyranny of the majority". (this has nothing to do with 55MPH)
>
> Phil Ngai +1 408 749 5720

How does this work?  Laws, referendums, ordinances, etc. are passed every
day by a majority vote.  How can the minority still get what they want?
If I vote against a law and it passes anyway, can I disregard it?

I'll take it one step further.  I believe that if the majority of people
disregard the 55 mph limit, then by definition it is not a law.  If most
people drive 70 mph then that's what the limit should be.  How else can
such a thing be established, but by how reasonable and prudent people
react in a situation?  Is it possible for the MAJORITY to be reckless
and unreasoning?

All this aside, the new proposed bill does not attempt to raise the 
national speed limit.  It is only aimed at returning control of the
speed limit to the states (where it belongs, in my opinion).
It is inevitable that some states will raise the speed limit if the
bill passes, but it is also likely that some states will maintain
the 55 mph limit if that is what is wanted by the people of that state.

Please read the last paragraph carefully before flaming. Other opinions?
 

Dave "Democracy or Death" Richards