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Re: The Federal Study that Finds Speed Limits Irrelevant...



Corey Alambar <corwyn> writes:
>Many traffic infractions in the US that are worth ony a couple of "points" are
>grounds for immediate revocation of license and driving priviledges.  (This is
>a key point:  Driving is a PRIVILEDGE, not a RIGHT)

Not to single out the poster, but I cringe every time I hear this
empty slogan.  There are plenty of so-called "rights" which can be
forfeited nonetheless by those who do not play by the rules.  Would it
be fair to say things like:

Freedom of movement is a PRIVILEGE, not a RIGHT
Voting is a PRIVILEGE, not a RIGHT
Life is a PRIVILEGE, not a RIGHT

My point is that there is a continuum between "privileges" and
"rights".  Moreover, the fact is that in the U.S., not being able to
drive can have a serious impact on one's job prospects, among other
things.  Places are farther apart here than in Europe, public
transportation is less extensive, and our culture revolves more around
driving--I am not celebrating this fact, but given the society we have
built we should recognize that revoking a person's driver's license is
a serious punishment, which should only be applied when it fits the
crime.

-- 
Brian R. Hunt
bhunt@ipst.umd.edu


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