Where is the Outrage?

Back in 2008, Nancy Pelosi was screaming about how Bush's "big oil agenda" was scamming the American people. Where is the outrage today? I've talked about this previously, but with gas prices continuing to rise, where is the outrage?

Gas was $1.81 per gallon when Barack Obama was coronated.

Where is the outrage in the media? Where are the interviews of grandmas and working class folks telling us, in their best Southern drawl, that they just can't make it to work, that they can't afford their medicine, that they are having to cut back in every area of their life, etc.? Where is the outrage? We saw these stories and interviews when Bush was President. Every. Single. Day.

Based on the February 21, 2011 weekly average of $3.189 per gallon, gas prices are up 76.19% since Obama took office. [Updated to add: AAA says the average is $3.368 per gallon today.] Let's call it 25 months. So, to update my prior post on this subject:

8 years of Bush - Gas prices up 25%
8 years of Clinton - Gas prices up 38%
2 years of Obama - Gas prices up 76.19%

Visualizing Obama's Budget Cuts

See the impressive video at the link.

You mean it's not about safety?

In South Florida, some municipalities are losing more money on the tickets than they are taking in. If this were really about saving lives, the debate would be about whether the lives saved were worth the extra costs and burdens that these cities are dealing with. They can't have that debate because the facts show that these things just don't provide an overall safety benefit. Governments spend (i.e., "lose") money all the time on things that promote well-being and safety. They give up tax revenues to build a hospital. They spend money on a new medical school. They spend money to improve roads and make them safer. They're not talking about spending money in this case to make roads safer. They are talking about spending money because they plan to make money and when they don't make money, the cameras aren't fulfilling their purpose.

It isn't about saving lives; it's about lining pockets.

Red Light Camera Company Has Facebook Poll

The traffic enforcement camera company, American Traffic Solutions, has a poll on their Facebook page that asks whether red light cameras reduce fatalities. You can go to their Facebook page and answer the poll yourself.

According to CameraFRAUD, all of the posts on their page say red light cameras are a scam, so it doesn't appear as though their Facebook presence is giving them the support they desire. CameraFRAUD also says that ATS is paying $0.50 to $1.00 to get fake Facebook friends.

UPDATE: If you scroll down American Traffic Solutions' Wall on Facebook, they post several polls from various media organizations where you can go and express your opinions on red light cameras. Here are a couple of the polls they want people to go visit. So....go visit!!!

http://wsbradio.com/localnews/2011/02/wsb-poll-79.html
http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=13946493

State Troopers Guard Against Speed Cameras

An interesting thing happened this morning while driving through Piney Flats (Bluff City). I followed a Tennessee Highway patrol vehicle, a large SUV, through the speed camera area. It was one of those times where a video camera would have been great.

For perspective, these speed cameras are placed at the bottom of a hill in an area with an artificially low speed limit. It is a divided highway that is rather rural, but has a few low-traffic businesses on the side of the road.

As the officer approached the speed camera, he (or she) jabs his brakes, gets past the camera and then speeds back up to a normal and safe road speed that just happens to be in excess of the posted (and artifically low) speed limit. This is essentially what a majority of people do when they pass this area.

So, in summary, Piney Flats, Tennessee is a speed trap. Avoid it at all costs. Take your business elsewhere. Do not patronize the businesses there.