Quote:
Originally Posted by kutulu
No offense, but that seems like the typical Libertarian response - don't do anything about a problem until after the problem has gotten out of hand. How are we supposed to make a judgement call on whether a person is a safe driver under your proposed system? Do we wait until the driver causes a wreck and then do somehting about him?
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I'm not offended. That is the typical libertarian response. What I'd really like to see is a complete retraining of every driver in the country, but I doubt that it's going to happen. Without knowing my full thoughts on the subject, it does seem naive, and almost idiotic. What I think should happen is that we should overhaul our interstate highway system, with the basics being that two out of every three exits/entrances are closed, entrance/exit ramps are lengthened to the point that even a fully laden yugo can get up to speed to merge safely, and implement a drive-right system that is strictly enforced (if you're not passing, move right.) I think that if people are forced to be more considerate in exchange for the privelege of using a more efficient highway system, the overall situation will improve. As for how we tell someone is a safe driver, we can take the cops who were handing out tickets that do nothing to solve the problem, and have them patrol in unmarked cars, watching the fast lane for people who can't control a car properly at high speeds, fail to take the presence of other cars into account, and observe drivers instead of ticketing them for doing something that may or may not be safe.
Of course, there are some things on which only the most extreme libertarians (anarchist types) would dsiagree with me. I feel that anyone who speeds or drives recklessly through a construction zone or school zone (when there are students present) should be greeted with an immediate license revocation for a minimum of three months in addition to a high fine (which must be paid in full before teh license is reissued. The same goes for drunk driving. If you are observed driving errtically, and a test confirms that you have been drinking, it is logical to assume that you are too intoxicated to drive safely and your license should be revoced for a while ("Go sit in the corner and think about what you did.)"
Hopefully, after some explanation, you'll think I'm a bit more reasonable than you did before. If not, my self-applied label of "asshole libertarian" is well-deserved.