Pork for Elizabethton

Elizabethton leaders are crowing about how a USDA grant of $8,000 will help downtown Elizabethton. Basically, money was taken at the threat of gunpoint and imprisonment from Americans all over the country so Elizabethton could get brackets and banners for 36 poles. People are "liking" the story on Facebook because apparently they fail to grasp that someone has to pay for this lunacy. Meanwhile, our country runs up an incredible debt. Every dollar counts. Someone has to pay for your stupid pole banners, Elizabethton!

More evidence that red light cameras are all about the money

The State of Illinois tried to hide all of its enforcement data in an encrypted/locked Excel file so that those freedom-loving people who requested the data under a Freedom of Information Act request would get useless data.  Why don't they want the liberty-minded to see the data?  Could it be that the data proves that red light cameras make intersections less safe?  Isn't that really the only logical concluision? Here is the story.

It's about revenue, not safety

This article really does "say it all" about red light cameras.  Money quote:

A comprehensive report conducted by the Federal Highway Administration found that the presence of red light cameras at traffic intersections increased the likelihood of rear-end crashes by 14.9 percent and the number of injuries in traffic intersections by 24 percent. Red light cameras also do little to prevent “T-bone” accidents, where the side of one vehicle is impacted by the front or rear of another vehicle, as those accidents often occur when the driver is not paying attention, and not simply disregarding a red light.

Simply put, these people do not care a whit about your safety.  It is all about the bucks in their coffers.

Rear-end wrecks up 44% at intersections with cameras

But yet the St. Petersburg council really doesn't want to do too much about it.  They could lengthen yellow times, but that would lower their "profits."

Another town to dump the cameras

Residents of Monroe, WA fought tooth and nail to put an end to this unconscionable assualt on liberty. And they won.

Redlight Camera Contractor at Center of Bribery Scandal

When I told you these things were all about the money, I wasn't joking.  http://www.voiceofoc.org/oc_central/article_61a2f12c-9d34-11e2-b390-0019bb2963f4.html

Red Light Camera Company Payola?

"Redflex allegedly had a few associates giving lavish gifts to a Chicago city leader to get a contract extension for their red light cameras. "

Is anyone really surprised by this. I've been saying for years that these cameras are all about the money.  Anyone who supports them ought to be summarily ran out of office for even being associated with these scams.

Why Republicans Should Consider Punting on the Minimum Wage

It's simple. Low information voters are too ill-informed to understand the outstanding, rational and logical arguments against raising the minimum wage. You can't tell these people that when you increase the price of labor, people buy less of it. They look at you like you are crazy.  Their understanding of economics is abysmal. When you tell them businesses will increase prices, they think you are insane.  These people, who have obviously never had to make payroll, say things like "if a business can't afford to pay $9 per hour, it shouldn't be in business."  I guess the guy mowing lawns should just shut down and fire his 5 employees. 

Or they will say that increasing the minimum wage will make the person that earns the minimum wage more productive.  Really? How?  They are utterly clueless. When you ask them, "why not raise it to $25 or $50 or $100 per hour," they look confused.  I mean, if $9 is good, $50 must be better, right?  These people will never get it. They lack intelligence, which is why they are in the minimum wage zone to begin with.

Republicans should just punt on the issue and let these idiots reap the consequences of their actions. It's a losing issue. It allows the Democrats and their fellow travelers in the media to paint Republicans as non-caring, evil, etc. It allows them to do it on a periodic basis.  By increasing the minimum wage and indexing it to the low level of inflation that social security payments are increased, the issue is taken off the table for good. Let the Democrats own the higher unemployment that comes from it in the short term, and in the long term, the issue goes away. 

Alternatively, the Republicans might want to just go all-in and propose a $20 per hour minimum wage.  Then, let the Democrats explain why that would be a bad idea. Put them on the ropes and make them explain the logical limits of their proposal.  If it passes, blame Obama and the Democrats when unemployment goes through the roof.  It will be painful in the short term, but prices will ultimately increase across the board and equilibrium will be reached once again.  As Jesus said, you will always have the poor.

I'm no Republican strategist, but what they are doing isn't working. Republicans are, as usual, battling the media on this issue and it just isn't worth it. There are bigger fish to fry. 

Who is the Traffic Safety Coalition?

It is a non-profit group that wants to save Riverside's traffic enforcement program.  "Spokesman David Goldenberg said its mission is to focus on measures that improve road safety, with a specific focus on traffic cameras.  He also acknowledged the group’s largest source of funding is Redflex Traffic Systems, the company that runs Riverside’s camera program." (emphasis added)

Oh yeah, there's that.  Why do the politicans even give these people an audience?

What he said!

Red light cameras are all about the money.  The politicans have forgotten that they work for the people and not the other way around.  Money quote:

Where are the studies and data that show the cameras increase safety? And better yet, where is the list of alternatives and the studies on those? Why weren’t these things presented to me? Don’t tell me I should have investigated these myself, that’s what I pay you for. Would you go to your boss at your private-sector job with a new idea and nothing to back it up?


OK, I have some alternatives; replace the yellow light with a strobe light to blind people, pop up spikes, swing down gates. Ridiculous? No, I have the studies to prove these will reduce accident. I’ll show them to you at some later date.

I haven’t even heard from you just exactly what you’re trying to accomplish. Who runs red lights? Lunatics and people who didn’t see the light. Cameras aren’t going to prevent that.

Enforcement Camera Companies Get Their Butts Handed to Them

Last year, the Tennessee legislature changed the law so that red light enforcement cameras could not be relied upon for the issuance of tickets for "rolling rights on red" unless an officer actually witnessed the infraction.  As a result of that, the number of tickets from the red light cameras dropped precipitiously.  Redflex and American Traffic Solutions, the two companies that build and profit from these cameras challenged the law's constitutionality.  They lost. The interesting thing is that, after the law changed, accidents (and particularly rear-enders) declined.  The idiot cop in the article attributes the decline in the accidents to the photo program "instill[ing] better driving habits."  Apparently, the idea that people do not slam on their brakes irrespective of safety to avoid a camera ticket for a close light never crossed his mind.  He may has well said "this program gives the people who write my paychecks lots of money to spend and I will give up every shred of credibility to keep it in place."

The judges were right

This retired news editor laments that a panel of judges unanimously threw out a $425 red light camera ticket on the basis of the fact that the officer did not see the infraction.  The judges ruled that the photographic evidence was hearsay and was therefore excludable.  Hearsay is inadmissable unless there is an exception.  There is no exception for photographs.  Even Wikipedia has a decent explanation of hearsay and explains that hearsay applies to more than verbal statements.  Why do we have hearsay rules?  The primary reason is so that the trier of fact can evaluate the credibility of the statement.  The trier of fact has no way of evaluating the credibility of a camera.  You don't have to spend too much time online to figure out that videos and photographs are both easily faked.

Apparently, it is more important to the author that California's $16 billion deficit be addressed than for people to get a fair and constitutional trial.

What is the difference between a bailout and a rescue?

Apparently, Money Magazine thinks it depends on your political party.  On page 104 of its April 2012 issue (yes, some of us still read paper magazines on occasion), it has a headline entitled "The recession boosted spending" in reference to the federal budget.  It talks about increased government spending and closes with this jewel: "There was also the bank bailout (begun under President Bush) and the auto rescue (mostly on Obama's watch)." (emphasis added). 

This is a prime example of how slight changes in words demonstrate the bias in the media.  If a Republican did it, it is a bailout for big money and cronies.  If a Democrat did it, it is a "rescue."  Cronies do bailouts; heroes do rescues.  Crooked politicians bailout their buddies, but people of strong will and great courage do rescues.   By simply using a word with pejorative overtones when dealing with a Republican while using a word with positive overtones in dealing with a Democrat, the media shows its true colors.  This is very subtle, but a very real demonstration of media bias in favor of Democrats in general and Barack Obama in particular.  They coronated this empty suit once before.  Let's not let them get away with it this time.

Johnson City Rear-end Crashes Up, Revenue Down

The headline says it all:  "Rear-end crashes up, revenue down." Unfortunately, you cannot actually read the article unless you are a paid subscriber, but you can see the headline and get a short summary of the article.  I read the article in the paper version that I found and really, the headline does say it all.  There was a statistically insignificant decrease in other accidents, but rear-end crashes were up markedly.  The reason that revenue is down is that Johnson City is no longer able to screw people with a violation for a rolling right on red unless the police actually see the violation and, as a result of the lower amount of fines, Redflex gets a bigger piece of the blood money. 

Johnson City has long had a problem with rear-end crashes.  According to a senior police official, Johnson City has historically had one of the highest accident rates in the state and most of them were rear-enders.  This was stated prior to the installation of the red light scameras, which easily leads to the conclusion that these cameras were never about safety and always about revenue.  These cameras frequently malfunction and are being used for surveillance of citizens in addition to revenue.  I have personally seen these cameras flash when cars weren't even in the intersection. Unbelievable.

Bill Cosby Lacks Thinking Skills

According to Bill Cosby, "When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody." Really, Bill? Is that the best you can do? So, do all of the cops patrolling the streets who carry a gun mean to "harm somebody, kill somebody"? Do the millions of holders of concealed carry permits mean to "harm somebody, kill somebody"? Mr. Cosby, your statement just does not comport with reality.

"Tis better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt." ~Abraham Lincoln

Consequences

It has been said that one of the great gifts to mankind is "consequences." Consequences teach us and mold us. Justice Steven Breyer dissented from the majority opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller, the case that confirmed what reasonable people have known for over 200 years - that the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitition protects an individuals right to keep and bear arms. Reports are that Justice Breyer was robbed by a "machete-wielding intruder" at his vacation home in the West Indies. I assume there is no constitutional right similar to the 2nd Amendment in Nevis, but perhaps Mr. Breyer may have a different opinion on the right to keep and bear arms after his ordeal. There are consequences to his votes. If one more justice had voted with him, the Supreme Court would have essentially deleted the 2nd Amendment from the Constitution. While it is unfortunate that Mr. Breyer had to go through such a harrowing ordeal, it might be a good reminder to him that our forefathers saw the need for individuals to be able to protect themselves against thugs such as the one who robbed Mr. Breyer. He should keep that in mind in the event he votes on a similar issue in the future.

Hunker Down

Charitable donations are down and firearm sales are up, this year. It's almost like people are hunkering down....like they are afraid something bad is about to happen. Why on earth would people believe that? I mean, after all, we have Obama: The Greatest President in the History of Everything. It's almost like people are losing faith in Obamessiah. What this man stands for is no surprise to anyone who was paying attention in 2008. I'm glad the rest of the rubes are starting to catch up.

What liberal media?

If you don't believe the media has a pro-Obama agenda, take a look at these headlines at The Right Sphere.

Most Democrats Don't go to Church

So sayeth Gallup. Well, duh. It would be pretty tough to spend a lot of time in church and then vote for candidates who support this. (WARNING: Graphic video at link)

Do it for the children

So says Rahm Emanuel. According to Rahm (aka the "Godfather," whose motto is to never let a crisis go to waste), revenue cameras are all about the children and are part of an overall strategy to protect the children. He wants us to believe that it's not about the revenue. Ok, so why aren't you using that money to, well, actually do something for the children. Nope. Gotta burn that money on some other big government scheme!

Who will protect our children from a government run amok? Who will protect our children from someone who would trash the Constitutional right to confront an accuser? If you want to do something to protect the children, how about giving them a country that values freedom and Constitutional rights.

Hey, it's Unconstitutional!

Bluff City has responded to the class action lawsuit against it. It sounds like, while the plaintiffs made many arguments, they did not address the constitutionality of the fines in Bluff City. As I stated before (in much greater detail here), I believe there is a good argument to be made that their fine structure was unconstitutional under the Tennessee constitution. Article VI Section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution plainly states that "No fine shall be laid on any citizen of this state that shall exceed $50, unless it is assessed by a jury of his peers." The original Bluff City ordinance charged a $40 administrative fee on top of a $50 fine and that administrative fee was nothing but a fine by a different name. GO GET 'EM!!

Camera Scam Might Prevent you from Buying a Home

Governments are now turning over unpaid traffic scamera tickets to collection agencies. This can have a significant adverse impact on your credit score. It could keep you from buying a home, cause you to pay higher mortgage rates, etc. Since most insurance companies check your credit score, it might also prevent you from getting good rates on your car insurance.

Aren't these all things that are great for local economies so the local government can have a few more bucks in the short term? Isn't it good news that your local housing inventory continues to build due to fewer and fewer buyers who have good credit? Won't it be great when you get into an accident and learn that you (or your UIM carrier) will have to pick up the tab because the other guy cancelled his insurance because he could no longer afford it.

The use of these cameras is so short-sighted. We get the government we deserve.

Roads Being Made Less Safe to Increase Revenue

Yet another report shows that red light cameras increase accidents. That's no surprise. PennDot has raked in over $21 million for their portion of the revenue from the cameras. So, do you think they care if you get in a wreck? Have they taken the cameras down? Nope. Despite this study, they will keep the cameras and make the roads less safe so that they may have more money to spend.

It's all about the money.

King Barry Sounding More Like a Dictator

President Obama (aka King Barry at this site), said "I've told my administration to keep looking every single day for actions we can take without Congress. . . . And we're going to be announcing these executive decisions on a regular basis." He says that, where Congress won't act, he will. One could get the impression that he is setting himself up to be a dictator. After all, we have an emergency. . . . a crisis. Congress is doing nothing, so he must take charge.

If this country is given the opportunity to re-elect this bozo and chooses to do so, we deserve what we get. If the emergency / crisis gets bad enough, he may just decide that elections should be suspended until times improve. Does suggesting that make me an alarmist? Maybe so, but considering that trial balloon has already been floated by one of his cronies in NC (Bev Perdue), don't be surprised to hear more about it if the economic crisis "unexpectedly" worsens.

Why no one in Bluff City stood up to the camera clowns

Well, the Bluff City speed cameras are about to be turned back on, the speed limit will be reduced and the length of the speed trap will be extended. The city "leaders" continue to maintain the incredulous position that the extension of the speed trap is for "traffic calming." In any event, some of my non-local readers might be interested in knowing why no one in Bluff City would bother showing up at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting to complain. It's simple, really.

1. Very few people actually live in the speed trap. It's in a commercial area.


2. Very few people live in Bluff City to begin with and, those that do, benefit greatly from it because nearly 100% of the violaters are from outside of Bluff City. Bluff City has a population of under 1,700 people, but yet they pull in millions from these two speed cameras. You do the math. It allows the citizens of Bluff City to have a much larger government than they otherwise would and they don't have the burden of having to pay for it.


3. The area of the speed trap is essentially strip-annexed into Bluff City. The center of mass of the population of Bluff City is well outside of the speed trap. Depending on the direction of travel, many residents of the area that has been historically known as Bluff City can partially or entirely avoid the speed trap, particularly if they are traveling toward Elizabethton or Bristol.

In other words, why should the citizens of Bluff City care? You're paying for it! It's the new American way - get others to pay for stuff that you want. Whenever one group gets all the benefits and pays little of the costs, what do we expect will happen? It's the same thing that we see happening when over half of the citizens of this country pay no income tax....but that's an issue for another rant.

The Bluff City Rip Off

Not surprisingly, Bluff City is moving to extend their speed trap "north to the Charlie Worlie Bridge." This is probably over two miles from the speed camera. So they have used the camera law as an excuse to extend their speed trap for an additional two miles. For the uninitiated, the Charlie Worlie Bridge is at the bottom of a rather large hill. Look for the police to set up at the bottom of the hill or at the pull-off next to the flea market.

As I predicted, they are using a "traffic study" as justification for this, one that is likely rigged. "[Interim City Manager Judy] Dulaney said a recently completed traffic study of the area showed that most vehicles, northbound and southbound in all lanes of travel, pass through at an average of 66 mph." This is in a 55 mph zone on a 4-lane divided highway in a generally non-congested area. The flea market brings in a fair amount of traffic on the weekend, but commuter traffic is less on Saturday so the net effect is probably de minimus. My guess is that they put their speed trailer on the hill going to the Charlie Worlie Bridge on the northbound side and near the other side of the hill on the southbound side so they would get a higher speed reading.

You people who elect this pathetic group of misfits called the Board of Mayor and Aldermen need to get on the phone and cut this off at the legs. Before this becomes effective, they have to have a second reading that that is scheduled for October 13. Let your voice be heard. You are allowing a government to grow out of control. In no circumstances should so much of any government's revenue be dependent on extracting money from motorists in a speed trap.

Of course, Delaney claims that the speed camera "isn't the primary reason for extending the 45 mph speed limit to the bridge." If you believe that, please contact me about a bridge that I have for sale that is a real money making opportunity. That is such a complete and obvious lie that I cannot believe any bureaucrat is dumb enough to actually say it.

Bluff City's Next Attempt at a Traffic Camera Scam

Here's a warning to folks who travel 11-E. In light of the recent shut-down of the speed camera in the southbound lane, the "city" of Bluff City wants to expand the ridiculous 45 mph speed zone further up the highway so they can keep their traffic scamera alive. As part of this process, it appears that they may be doing a traffic study, using the little trailer that records people's speeds and shows their speed on a sign board as they pass. Traffic studies are required for all new speed cameras under the new Tennessee law and it may be that they are doing this as part of their plan to extend the speed trap and "reinstall" (or re-activate) the speed camera.

Here's the trick - they have located the trailer just a few yards inside of the current 45 mph speed zone, but are measuring speed outside of the 45 mph zone. They basically placed their trailer right behind the sign where the speed limit changes. The sign on the trailer shows 45 mph and it is "inside" of the speed zone, but is set to measure cars that are clearly outside of the speed zone. That way, they can say "we set up a traffic study in the 45 mph zone and most people were exceeding the speed limit." They won't bother telling anyone that they were actually measuring speed in a 55 mph zone. THESE PEOPLE WILL STOP AT NOTHING WHEN IT COMES TO STEALING YOUR MONEY!

I note that this speed measuring trailer was turned off yesterday, but look for a rigged traffic study to go along with the expanded speed limit. This should be illegal. If that camera is turned on, anyone who gets a ticket should challenge the validity of the traffic study that may be being prepared with this speed measuring radar trailer.

Better yet, Bluff City should be disbanded and have its charter revoked. It is a dysfunctional government that seems to exist primarily to keep jobs for a few bureaucrats and few policemen.

Tax Life Insurance and Manufactured Homes

Glenn Reynolds (aka Instapundit) asks for reader suggestions on specific tax proposals that would hit Warren Buffett personally. Rather than rely on email, I'll post my suggestion here - tax life insurance from every direction and put a natural disaster tax on new manufactured homes. Warren Buffett's companies make a ton of money from selling life insurance. One of the reasons the wealthy buy life insurance is because life insurance proceeds can be exempt from income tax and estate tax, when structured and owned properly. As pointed out here, Buffett's companies make a fortune from the estate tax and repealing the estate tax would do away with a lot of Buffett's wealth. But since we'll likely never see the end of the estate tax (because guys like Buffett keep lobbying for it), this may be a good way to hit Mr. Buffett where it hurts.

Life insurance is still important for middle class families and many of them buy a large amount of it. Accordingly, I would propose that all income from life insurance proceeds in excess of fifty times median household income, as adjusted for inflation. This would exempt approximately $2.5 million in proceeds which would provide more than enough insurance for all but the richest of households. Anything above that threshold arising from the death of any individual would be taxed as ordinary income. Additionally, any insurance proceeds arising from the death of any individual shall be included in that person's gross estate for estate tax purposes regardless of whether the beneficiary of the proceeds is a person, trust or other entity other than a charity. This disincentive to buy life insurance would likely have a big impact on Buffett's cash cow business.

But maybe that's too complicated. If so, how about a natural disaster tax on all manufactured homes? It seems that these homes often do not fair very well during some types of natural disasters. Buffett's company owns Clayton Homes and I believe it also owns a company that finances manufactured homes.

Do these clowns really want to play the class warfare game?

Obama Hates Blacks and Poor People

So suggests this post which uses census data to show how the poor and poor blacks in particular have suffered under this administration. Imagine for a moment how this kind of analysis would be touted from the rooftops if a Republican were president.

This comment is golden: "Obama is winning the War on Prosperity."

(h/t Instapundit).

More Carter County Insanity

In Carter County, TN, the local government owns its property and it apparently thinks it owns your property, too. Here, the City of Elizabethton's water department has put a 12 inch waterline across a citizen's property on a supposedly temporary basis, apparently without paying him any compensation for it (Look for link to disappear, as money hungry local paper sometimes disables free links. Backup link here.) Rather than remove the line or pay him what could be an unlawful taking of his property in violation of the U.S. Constitution, they are apparently threatening to arrest him if he messes with the line. Meanwhile, the property owner claims that the line is leaking and regardless of whether that is true, it is most certainly an inconvenient eyesore.

This is a county that, within the last ten years or so, adopted an ill-conceived zoning ordinance that borders on ridiculous in its application and enforcement. This is a county where the new county mayor, Leon "Boss Hogg" Humphrey wants to cut the size of the county commission so he can more easily railroad his own proposals through the local government. One letter to the editor in the local newspaper actually said that they should cut the size of the commission by just eliminating any commissioner that did not agree with the mayor. Why not just make him king? This is a county where untold millions have been sunk into not one, but TWO, ill-fated jail projects over the years. Clearly, this is a county with a dysfunctional government. And they wonder why businesses don't want to locate in Carter County.

They Don't Call Him President Zero For Nothing

So sayeth the Blogfather, after ZERO jobs were added in August, for the first time since WWII. I'm sure King Barry's upcoming jobs plan will consist of more platitudes than jobs. I just hope that, in 2012, he will join the unemployed.

A lawyer to love

As dispicable as some lawyers are, you just have to love a guy that defends people against these unconstitutional traffic scameras for free. That's right, attorney Aaron Delgado is defending those who have received tickets for free. He says he has gotten more than a dozen tickets dismissed and generally attacks them based on them not being regularly tested for accuracy.

If I gave a "This Bud's for You" award, this guy would earn today's award, hands down.

Casey Anthony Lesson - Don't Talk to the Cops

Here is further evidence that Glenn Reynolds' quip that the lesson from the Casey Anthony trial is to not talk to the cops. If she had been tried in federal court, she would have possibly received 20 years for the same conduct.

Remember, Martha Stewart was also convicted of lying about a crime that they could not prove she committed.

Calling for Congressional Investigation

Considering oil prices had already fallen over 16% in the two weeks prior to the release of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve, Congress should find out who knew about this release in advance of it happening and how they knew. Key people who were "in the know" have made a fortune off of this. That doesn't even include today's slide of several more percent.

Didn't King Barry say just a few months ago that he would not be releasing oil from the SPR? This oil release is nothing more than a coordinated, world-wide effort to manipulate the price of oil. Be scared. Be very scared.

We're watching you anyway, SO GET OVER IT!!

That's the fair implication of The People's Republic of Farragut's photo enforcement enforcement manager's words to the "TEA Party" members at a meeting regarding the Republic's red-light camera system. According to Ben Harkins, the photo enforcement manager, "Love or hate red-light cameras, surveillance has been with us for many, many years."

Not surprisingly, he also thinks Tennessee's new law that prohibits traffic cameras for citing right turns on red is "misguided." Considering how the vast majority of these red light tickets are for "rolling" rights on red (that cause nearly no accidents anyway), I suppose Mr. Harkins sees the writing on the wall and realizes that his job could be in jeopardy. Well, BOO HOO.

Maybe he should have been a little more direct: "Dear subject, the government is watching you. We want to know your every move. We want to know where you go and who you associate with. It's in your best interest. Trust us. Nothing bad can come from this. We will take care of you. If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. This is for your protection. We know what's best. Bwaahaaahaaahaaa."

There Was Once a Day

There was once a day when endorsement by a Russian president would be the kiss of death for someone seeking the presidency. Anymore, I'm not so sure.

A few questions that the rubes who supporte Barack Obama should ask themselves:

1. Do you think it is in Russia's best interest for the U.S. to be a strong nation?
2. Do you think the leaders of Russia want the U.S. to be a strong nation?
3. If they wanted the U.S. to be a weak nation, who would they support?

Rest assured that Medvedev's support of King Barry has nothing to do with "improving ties" and has everything to do with further weakening America.

Winnipeg Results Show Red Light Cameras Aren't Working

The number of people killed at intersections in Winnipeg, Manitoba is basically unchanged for years after the enforcement cameras came into use. While I really believe the statistics shown in the article are to erratic to mean much, they certainly do not show that the cameras provide any material safety benefit. If they can't show a benefit, then why have them? The purpose of these cameras is to take money from your pocket and use it to enrich companies with powerful lobbyists and to give play money to politicians so they can buy votes. DON'T BE FOOLED.

Mindless Culprits

After a speed camera in the U.K. was set on fire for the second time in a few weeks, a spokesperson for the Safer Roads Partnership "blasted the 'mindless culprits', claiming the damage put motorists and pedestrians at risk." She then goes on to lament that the "irresponsible perpetrators should realise the cameras are put in place to protect road users."

Meanwhile, John Danneskjold, spokesman for Americans Who Love Liberty*, blasted politicans who install speed cameras and red light cameras as "mindless culprits" who would rather defecate on the Constitution than actually read it. He stated that "their appetite for revenue and the corresponding ability to use that revenue to buy votes and thereby cement their political power is a sad statement on American politics and culture. We have allowed ourselves to be ruled by a political class that is more concerned with cementing its own power over the populace than with liberty and the freedoms entrusted to us by our founding fathers. It's time for that to change."

*No, Americans Who Love Liberty does not exist as a formal organization....but perhaps it should.