[canudigit]

Originally Posted by edub

Are any of you familiar with the phrase "useful idiots"? The vast majority of drivers drive safely because they fear smashing their car and injuring themselves or others. It is a pathetic view of humanity to believe that fear of an expensive ticket is the only reason one would drive safely. At any rate, traffic cops are, for the most part, tax collectors.

What we ought to be focusing on is the fact that our Government officials are wasting money on un-needed construction just so they can qualify for more funds the following year. The whole thing is a big rip off and the tax payers are the ones getting screwed. I say send the cops after these corrupt officials and not worry about people speeding through construction zones that ought not be there in the first place.

Hmm...well, you obviously haven't travelled the roads and bridges in my little corner of the state. Michigan is a wonderful place to live, but let's be honest: because of overuse, underfunding, and winter weather, the roads are in pretty bad shape everywhere you go. Is there really such a thing as "un-needed" road construction in Michigan?

[edub]

Originally Posted by Bydand

You really are clueless aren't you?

No, but anyone who sits around posting demagoguery about how we need more cops and more tickets truly is clueless. That is why I brought up the phrase "useful idiots." You ought to Google the phrase.

Since you are obviously clueless, let me help you out. Traffic cops exist largely to collect revenue and have very little impact on actual safety. Cops rarely if ever prevent crime, solve crime or afford the citizen any protection at all. When there is a problem, it is almost always exacerbated by the presence of police and when crime does occur, all the cops do is take a "report" which goes into a file and zero action is taken.

The hype and hysteria that you and so many others buy into about how the whole world would crumble if we didn't have all these cops around to save us is nothing more than a bill of goods sold to people gullible enough to believe it. Not a single one of you has ever seen a construction worker killed by a motorists and I highly doubt there is any disproportionate number of them killed or injured as opposed to anyone else involved in normal commuting.

The fact is, demagogues always seem to invent imaginary problems that need to be fixed by the Government and the authorities are always more than happy to take advantage of the situation. If you are so concerned with people speeding past an orange barrel, why don't you set an example by driving 45 in the right lane and consider that your contribution to the issue.

[Bydand]

Edub, you missed the ENTIRE point of the thread.

It isn't to raise revenue by issuing tickets. it is to raise awareness of the guys who are working just feet away from cars and trucks that bust through work zones at a high rate of speed. THAT is why you are clueless. I don't give a rats ass if a cop writes tickets, it DOES slow people down though when one is around. It is a safety issue in work zones, plain and simple. Person out there working in the sun trying to make a living for their family shouldn't have the added worry of getting killed by a dumbass who thinks they have the right to blast by at high speed.

As for not having seen a highway worker killed by a motorist, you would be wrong. I have. Not a nice sight or memory. While I've never worked road construction, I have worked repairing cut cables in road construction zones and can tell you from first hand experience that is unnerving to have a vehicle clip a cone 2' away while going WAY over the posted speed. Ever have a car tire drop into the manhole you are working in because the driver "didn't see" the cones, lights or work trucks? I have. I said it before, I'll say it again. You are clueless.

[YAZ]

I don't even change a tire on the side of the road.

People are nuts.