I don't want to be here anymore...

[Zorba]

I've never not seen you complain. My goodness. You are the human embodiment of a rain cloud.

Guilty as charged! *waves* I'll own it.

Its part of my charming personality, I guess. When I was in 6th grade, we put on a class play. By universal acclaim/request/demand, I was cast as the grumpy old man! I had a boss one time tell me that I was born 50 years old, he wasn't wrong.

 

[Zorba]

I'm genuinely just interested in understanding your reasoning and how you decide where to draw the line between something the govt rightfully gets involved versus something they don't rightfully get involved. They also set speed limits. Is that right or wrong?

Good question. Speed limits would not be at all necessary if people were competent drivers - but they're not and there's zero incentive for them to be so. So I guess that comes under the category of protecting people from OTHER'S stupidity. There is no wrong greater than interference with free will. Unfortunately, you and I both know that its a necessary evil to do so sometimes. Hence governments. However, keep in mind the words "necessary" and "evil" - governments are by their very nature evil. We can't live without them at our current stage of evolution, but that doesn't make them a "Good Thing (tm)", just a necessary one. The gov't should defend the country, protect me from others, maintain the roads, and stay the the fuck out of my life. I had forgotten how regimented we are in the US.

 

[speeding_infraction]

The key word here is "other". Not "yourself".

Now you just sound like a selfish prick

 

[ColoJeep]

Approximately 18 to 20 states have no specific laws prohibiting passengers from riding in the bed of a pickup truck, making it legal by default. These states often include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Could a kid ride on the back of a motorcycle ? If yes then it would seem to be more Dem speak mentality .

 

[speeding_infraction]

and doesn't suck money out of my wallet [...] I always have the best I can afford at the time

Make up your mind lol

protect me from others

That's exactly what the seatbelt laws are trying to do. Don't you see that?


If you hadn't been on this forum so long I'd think you're a troll

 

[speeding_infraction]

Double post

 

[Apparition]

Could a kid ride on the back of a motorcycle ? If yes then it would seem to be more Dem speak mentality .

Here they do require a helmet as a passenger on a motorcycle if under 18.

 

[ColoJeep]

Here they do require a helmet as a passenger on a motorcycle if under 18.

What if you wore a helmet in the front seat of a pickup ?

 

[Apparition]

What if you wore a helmet in the front seat of a pickup ?

Probably illegal

 

[chili_pepper]

My 12 year old daughter can't legally sit in the front seat anymore, they changed the law after she had become legal. So now she has to be 13 to ride in the front.

Feck what?

 

[Apparition]

Feck what?

View attachment 672442

Prior to this my kid could legally sit in the front seat of my truck. The jeep is easy, remove the rear seat to solve that problem.

As of August 1, 2024, Minnesota law requires children under 13 years old to sit in the back seat whenever possible. This change is part of broader updates to child passenger safety, which also mandate rear-facing seats until age 2, booster seats until age 9, and strict proper restraint for all passengers under 18.

 

[chili_pepper]

Prior to this my kid could legally sit in the front seat of my truck. The jeep is easy, remove the rear seat to solve that problem.

In the interest of clarity, the facepalm is for the bullshit law, not your solution.

 

[Zorba]

Prior to this my kid could legally sit in the front seat of my truck. The jeep is easy, remove the rear seat to solve that problem.

More gov't overreach and nanny statism.

But getting back to the original idea of this thread, a dear friend of mine recently moved to Mexico's equivalent to "BFE". She says that its just amazing and humbling at how people will go out of their way to help a complete stranger. I saw this in Egypt, and years back in Greece. My wife goes on a medical mission with her church once a year to Guatemala. The people there are very kind, humble, and grateful. Not like the assholes here in the states.

 

[Apparition]

More gov't overreach and nanny statism.

But getting back to the original idea of this thread, a dear friend of mine recently moved to Mexico's equivalent to "BFE". She says that its just amazing and humbling at how people will go out of their way to help a complete stranger. I saw this in Egypt, and years back in Greece. My wife goes on a medical mission with her church once a year to Guatemala. The people there are very kind, humble, and grateful. Not like the assholes here in the states.

You’d get that most places in the US once you get away from cities.

 

[Zorba]

You’d get that most places in the US once you get away from cities.

It can be better, I'll agree.

 

[JMT]

Good question. Speed limits would not be at all necessary if people were competent drivers - but they're not and there's zero incentive for them to be so. So I guess that comes under the category of protecting people from OTHER'S stupidity. There is no wrong greater than interference with free will. Unfortunately, you and I both know that its a necessary evil to do so sometimes. Hence governments. However, keep in mind the words "necessary" and "evil" - governments are by their very nature evil. We can't live without them at our current stage of evolution, but that doesn't make them a "Good Thing (tm)", just a necessary one. The gov't should defend the country, protect me from others, maintain the roads, and stay the the fuck out of my life. I had forgotten how regimented we are in the US.

I think there is incentive to drive competently. Most people want to get to their destination safely. I was telling my 15 yr old daughter that most people are only nominal drivers. Few people ever take any advanced driving courses. It is amazing that we get around without more accidents.

If the government should protect you from others, then it should also protect others from you. That’s the point of the seatbelt.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Right now, I still think Florida is the best place in the world to live - but as this country and its citizens continue to auger in, its just the question of "for how long?". Wife says the US doesn't feel like home anymore. I've wanted to move to Greece for decades now, but Greece has also deteriorated what with the EU bullshit, etc.

Just based on your comments about the people you run into, it doesn't sound like Florida is even the best place to live in the southeast US, let alone the world. The interactions you complain about are for the most part specific to life in areas with too many people.

 

[ColoJeep]

More gov't overreach and nanny statism.

But getting back to the original idea of this thread, a dear friend of mine recently moved to Mexico's equivalent to "BFE". She says that its just amazing and humbling at how people will go out of their way to help a complete stranger. I saw this in Egypt, and years back in Greece. My wife goes on a medical mission with her church once a year to Guatemala. The people there are very kind, humble, and grateful. Not like the assholes here in the states.

I'm reasonably sure a lot of Guatemalans in small towns or villages are good folks . However I'm also reasonably sure that in Guatemala City the " asshole " ratio would go through the roof ! This is the way it is here in the USA , Go to a small town or better yet a rural area , and the vast majority of folks are really cool. Go to any city and the asshole ratio goes vertical . In my opinion , this is a rural vs. urban issue . You live in an urban area Zorba , If you lived next door to @John Cooper the people would be way nicer . ( However the belly dancing options would likely drop ) . Just my 2 cents worth man , I truly hope you find what works for you guys !

 

[Zorba]

If the government should protect you from others, then it should also protect others from you. That’s the point of the seatbelt.

I don't agree.

Do something about the FUCKING SMARTPHONES that are causing all the crashes first, then we'll talk. Until then, its hypocritical posing.

 

[Zorba]

I'm reasonably sure a lot of Guatemalans in small towns or villages are good folks . However I'm also reasonably sure that in Guatemala City the " asshole " ratio would go through the roof ! This is the way it is here in the USA , Go to a small town or better yet a rural area , and the vast majority of folks are really cool. Go to any city and the asshole ratio goes vertical . In my opinion , this is a rural vs. urban issue . You live in an urban area Zorba , If you lived next door to @John Cooper the people would be way nicer . ( However the belly dancing options would likely drop ) . Just my 2 cents worth man , I truly hope you find what works for you guys !

Problem with small towns is they often can't handle anything/anyone that differs from their baseline - which I certainly do. Mindless Conformity to Meaningless Convention.