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I was caught doing 74 in a 45 in Hamakua. I wasn't paying attention on a straight stretch of road, and the popo popped over the hill coming the other way and flashed me. I was already pulled over to the side when he got turned around and pulled up.
I apologized and admitted to not paying attention. He let me slide on the speeding, but explained he HAD to cite me for my expired license. I thanked him and we both smiled and went on our way.
I'm pretty sure if I had decided to play the irate victim of County Revenue scamming it would have turned out differently. I also suspect my Veteran tags were an influence.
Be safe out there! Buckle up; and smile at a cop!
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Some of you do not seem to understand that the law is the law is the law, and it does not matter if makes sense to you; or if you think it is stupid. I have never said whether I wear a seatbelt or not to see if people would grasp the Constitutional issue, not whether it saves money or makes sense. A good Constitutional attorney( I am not an attorney by the way, but lived with one for over 20 years) argues the law, not feelings, intelligence, emotion or opinion. I never claimed to be arguing for against or wearing a seatbelt, just whether it is constitutional to make laws that violate the constitution. Or does that scared document mean nothing to you? Everything this country stands for is based on that document. Freedom is protected by that document and that includes stupid and intelligent people.
The law and whether you wear your seatbelt are two separate issues.
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From "Another Roadside Attraction":
"He's a symbol junkie."
"A what?"
"A symbol junkie. People like him — that is, the majority — is strung out on symbols. They're so addicted they prefer abstract symbols to the concrete things which symbols represent. It's much easier to cope with the abstract than with the concrete; there's no direct, personal involvement — and you can keep an abstract idea steady in your mind whereas real things are usually in a state of flux and always changing. It's safer to play around with a man's wife than with his cliches…Laws are the most obvious example. Laws are abstractions. Laws symbolize ethical arts, proper behavior toward other human animals. Laws have no moral content, they merely symbolize conduct that does. These symbol junkies are always yelling about how we've got to respect the law, but you never hear one of them saying anything about respecting fellow beings. If we respected each other, if we respected animals and we respected the land, then we could dispense with laws and cut the middleman out of morality. Here in Washington the government has a slogan, have you noticed it, 'Drive Legally'. If this were a concrete, realistic (as opposed to a civilized) society, the bumper sticker would not say 'Drive Legally' but 'Drive Lovingly.'"
"What can we do about the symbol addicts?"
"Do about them? Marx, you do react to things in a peculiar way. Why, for goodness sake, should we do anything about them?" [Robbins, 1971, pp. 227-228]
Cheers,
Kirt
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Kirt,
I always enjoy a good Tom Robbins quote, thanks!
And while we're on the subject (of Tom Robbins), and Hawaii's seat belt laws, and since horses have previously been mentioned, I hope you don't mind if I add another quote, this time from Cowgirls Get the Blues:
“I believe in political solutions to political problems. But man's primary problems aren't political; they're philosophical. Until humans can solve their philosophical problems, they're condemned to solve their political problems over and over and over again."
#8213; Tom Robbins, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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My personal favorite quote of TR always seemed very apt for Puna:
“Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business.”
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Funny I never said I agreed with the law, or that I am symbol junkie. Just wanted to bring up a point for people to talk about. I have no invested interest in the Law, and I have operated a bonfire charity for the past 30 years and have never received one dime. So, if that isn't caring about people and feelings, I do know what is ? Do you donate any time to charity, oh spouter of human feelings ? I spend every waking moment helping others, it is my life blood. So, do not judge others with preconceived notions, perhaps that could be construed as a symbol junkie ?
I merely suggest a topic to discuss as adults and sometimes emotions can get in the way of making clear decisions; and even makes some people resistant to further facts in order to make an informed decision. Which is why I have neither mentioned about whether I wore a seat belt or whether I am for the law, I was merely suggesting another parameter to the conversation, and boy did I get some interesting knee jerk reactions. I was even called stupid in a round about way without ever declaring what I personally believe in either way with either subject, seat belts or laws.
I thought this crowd liked a healthy debate ? What is stupid about that ?
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Thunderfoot:
"the law is the law is the law, and it does not matter if makes sense to you"
That is what made me think of the TR bit. Nothing more.
"I merely suggest a topic to discuss as adults and sometimes emotions can get in the way of making clear decisions"
We are all in the same cage, mon. I meant no disrespect.
Cheers,
Kirt
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Thank you, sometimes typing on a computer makes it hard to be clearly understood because we can not hear the tone in a voice or see facial expressions. So, I try to be clear, but sometimes things are easily misunderstood. I really appreciate your last post [  ]
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That's where you get into the whole "driving is a privilege, not a right" argument. There are a lot of things that are illegal on public roads--speeding, throwing things out of your car*, DUI, driving erratically, and ... not wearing a seatbelt. Are ALL of them unconstitutional?
*a friend in California got a ticket for blowing bubbles from her car while at a dead stop in a traffic jam--because the only things allowed to leave the vehicle in Cal are "plain water and chicken feathers". Guess the chicken farmers have a good lobby.
quote:
Originally posted by Thunderfoot
<snip> I never claimed to be arguing for against or wearing a seatbelt, just whether it is constitutional to make laws that violate the constitution. Or does that scared document mean nothing to you? Everything this country stands for is based on that document. Freedom is protected by that document and that includes stupid and intelligent people.
The law and whether you wear your seatbelt are two separate issues.
><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >o>
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Perhaps I am guilty of jumbling things a little, am I bad?
I was trying to speak like how an attorney would think to make a point, but then added the mix up about the two topics in someone else's response to me earlier. I am very busy running three organizations right now, so have a lot on my plate. I donate all my time for free because I do care about people. So, I think I am allowed a little jumbling [8D]
Does that clear it up for you Hun ?
I can not see good either so I expect the spell nazis to comment on that too, but guess what, don't care, can not see good. I still have a right to talk in here without round about insinuations that I am stupid, shame on you
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