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Re: Whiners




In article <Mike.1045.00585C2A@Geary.com> Michael Geary wrote:

>My use of the word "elite" was not stupid, and it was not whining.  Look up 
>the word in your dictionary.  Mine says "a powerful minority group".  That is 
>exactly the situation with which we are faced.  The will of the people is 
>obvious--we have voted with our feet.  However, elitists (you can look that 
>word up, too) in our government have decided they know better than the people.
>
>I am stating facts here, and I used a word that seems to have upset you.

Mike.....

I appreciate your post, but you will have to keep the chronology of
posts a little better.  I was NOT responding to your post, was I?
Your posts came AFTER I posted "WHINERS", therefore, your
unbrage was not appropriate.

As for your regard for "Elite" though, YOUR definiton does NOT
cover the usage as posted.  You describe it as a "minority"....
The government that has decided to set laws (speed limits for example)
to protect me from others is no minority....next to the population maybe,
but IN CONTEXT, the MAJORITY of State governments have
set these laws.  It is not small elite.  But, since I agree that the speed
limits SHOULD be raised, and your "elite" should still be there to enforce
them....THERE is the discussion.

>
>Regarding my statement about the highway laws making people crazy, I explained 
>that further in my other message.  

My students and people I talk to on the air are HARDLY crazy.  They are
rational people who make an informed decision to break the law.  I am,
and I do when I go my 62mph and break CVC 22349, so as not to be a hazard
on the freeway.

.  
>Surely, as Mr. Traffic, you are aware of the personality changes people go 
>through when they get behind the wheel.  People who may be perfectly friendly 
>in person may become the rudest drivers.
>This is no accident.  Our highway laws insult people.  When you insult people 
>continually, day after day, you do them psychological damage.

Mike....this is true EXCEPT that the main reasons people turn into rude people
behind the wheel (which is a subject I talk about in EVERY class I have taught for
the past 8 years....I ask them..."Why do YOU think people drive the way they drive?")
has LITTLE to do with drivers feeling insulted by laws....and more to do with
human values like   Control....frustration with congestion....poor time management....
making $$$ pressures....and way too many to name.  Insult by unfairly set
speed limit is WAY low on the list.  This is the canard that advocates for
our roads to be Autobahns fly, and it doesn't.

>So, I was NOT insulting YOU.  I was responding to a specific group of
whining posts.  Watch the dates on the top of posts before you leap to
conclusions.  

Respectfully thanking  you for the thoughful post.

Kenny Morse
"Mr. Traffic"
responding to>-Mike
>
>




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