I hate it when educators let political bias pollute their instruction. I hate it no matter which side of the political spectrum it comes from.
Several simple solutions: install radar cameras at lights and stop signs. Install “smart” speed bumps that rise only when someone is speeding. Roundabouts at intersections also slow traffic. These “traffic calming” measures could free cops to take care of violent crime. Noise violations could be dealt with by the DMV: if someone “snitches” you off (via an 800-number) then next time you register your vehicle, it must pass a state mandated noise test, or no registration is issued.
Another simple solution: DON’T fix potholes! And “accidentally” leave roofing nails in the middle of streets which have speeding problems. Park large cars on both sides of the street. Loud vehicle? Follow the guy home, and blast a boom box, outside his house, at two a.m.! Okay, the last two would be socially unacceptable, but hey, loud cars and motorcycles are the bane of suburban life.
"I’ve read a lot of good points, but instead of increasing the number or adding a sole “traffic cop” force, maybe there’s an alternative."
The alternative I was thinking of was a little different. Why not give every child who could be tomorrows criminal, a chance at a lifetime education based on qualification and work ethic and not financial backing. Why not also make jobs available to those potential criminals by eliminating all the incentives to move those jobs over seas.
Maybe it’s just “cheaper” mentally to build bigger jails for all offenders lest they ever repeat their mistakes. Like the John Carpenter’s “Escape From New York”, there could be them and us instead of we.
It certainly isn’t cheaper financially. Just another bleeding heart who thinks that criminals are made, not born.
So you know I am not B.Sing when I tell all this is what is being taught. They are not teaching me writing skills (and everyone knows I need that).
My single Human Resources class was not so bad in the racisim/gender bias catagory but it sure was bad in telling us to never let the employees know that your “casual conversation” with them is really an intelligence gathering mission,everything is done by manipulation with human resources.
I certainly like the way you think, but the incentive to send jobs overseas is based on lower wages. How are you going to keep those jobs here? No American could live on the wages we pay overseas workers in third world nations. When you adjust for inflation, American wages have already been stagnant since the late 1960s. If we work for any less to keep those jobs from going overseas, we won’t have any standard of living left at all.
Here’s one quick and dirty solution: Systematically entice the people who whine about speeders to go out of their way to make everyone else miserable!
http://www.mesaaz.gov/transportation/pace_car.aspx <–Meza AZ Government
Times a hundred. It is spreading.
http://www.google.com/search?&q=“neighborhood+pace+car+program” <–Google “Neighborhood Pace Car Program”
Here is a list of studies that suggest that red light cameras cause an increase in rear-end accidents.
http://blog.motorists.org/red-light-cameras-increase-accidents-5-studies-that-prove-it/
Some select recorded red lights for running:
http://jalopnik.com/387162/mooning-speed-cameras-are-quickest-way-to-get-your-ass-in-trouble <–idiot mooned RLC
I agree with the third worlds…but locally, Canada has a higher average wage and is drawing jobs from our state and the auto industry at large. The impact is small comparably, but only through higher education available to everyone can we begin to compete with nations like India whose wages are lower but educational opportunities improving. Our wages have been stagnant along with our views on our relative imperialism, free market responsibilities to our own populous and health care. 30% off the top for costs of HC have driven mill and manufacturing jobs (auto as well) to Canada. The list is growing on developed nations whose gross wages are higher, job and educational opportunities greater and with lower crime rates.
How are you going to keep those jobs here ? Start by not being the only industrialized nation in the world with employer based health care. Look at Japan and Germany whose economy WE helped to rebuild and theirt not for profit, health care system that is govt. regulated (as is ours) but not govt. run and give our manufacturing base a break.
I suppose I should have said “lower wages and benefits costs.” You are right about Canada having an edge because companies don’t have to pay for their workers’ health care.
Canada was smart when they reformed their health care system. Instead of socializing medicine, they socialized health insurance and kept health care private. When you look at the overall benefits that created for their economy and job attraction and retention, it seems like it would be a common sense choice.
My experience ran the gambit of raciam/social Darwinism/sexual orientation/class/sexism…you get the idea. White men are evil is the outcome. I cannot deny I benefit from White Privledge, but it was a harsh, one sided lesson. Still better to know then go through life ignotant.
I never got to the area your are refering to. I can see where your class would cover that though. Do you find you are actually learning some new perspectives, or is it really just a political beating?
I would like to think that more than the two of us think it’s common sense. I’m not holding my breath though, waiting for insurance company profits to dry up along with their influence on those who could legislate the difference. They have manage to make government a four letter word, until it works to their advantage.
When freeways were new in my urban area, there were a lot of rear enders in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic until drivers got smarter and learned to pay attention.
The same learning curve can apply to red light cameras.
We draw it somewhere around what you want to pay in taxes for the services you want.