SOV countdown

quote:

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Originally posted by raymond
[br]Carpooling ...makes better use of existing investments in our chosen method of transportation, ...

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And that is EXACTLY the crux of the problem. Until YOU change YOUR chosen method of transportation, the pollution only gets worse, the congestion increases, the outrageous use of fuel continues. Add a million more people to our region, and you can quickly see that a radical change is needed.

"Almost every successful change has been through a radical departure from the established norm. Some examples? How about the creation of the United States? "planned, predictable and measured steps"?"

That's why it is called the Revolutionary War! It began a long series of changes in the structure and government of our country starting with a radical departure (that, by the way, threw us into the midst of social and economic chaos for several years) followed by many planned and measured baby steps that took place over time. Please, even though our Constitution was adopted in 1787, it was not ratified until each state had a chance to digest it, and a Bill of Rights was accepted by each state, over four years later in 1791 (and over 15 years after the Declaration of Independence was written). Our country operated with out an official charter for 15 years! Talk about chaos! Is this what you propose?

Changes take time! Here's a question for you, NOSUV "the radical historian," how much time has elapsed between the adoption of the Constitution and the last amendment to be ratified?

OK, NoSUV, I agree you are an easy target.

But the answer to my question, "how much time has elapsed between the adoption of the Constitution and the last amendment to be ratified?" is nearly 200 years. Yes, it has taken 200 years for our country to reach the mature state of sophistication that we enjoy today. 200 years of baby steps, planned and measured changes working toward a utopia where opinions as varied as yours and mine are protected by laws that also allow the people of our country to express themselves freely, and enjoy a wonderfully diverse society where we are entitled to make decisions that do not conform to any one person's idea of right or wrong.

It may have started as a revolution, and it wasn't all good, but after many, many fits and starts, many baby steps, many planned and measured changes here we are. And we're not done yet!

And you think you can solve our fossil fuel/traffic/eco problems with one sweeping radical train of thought like "mandate hybrids and mass transit?"

So thanks for making my point.

raymond - the stress must really be too much for you to resort to talking to yourself.

Well, I was wrong about the hybrid drivers losing their exemption this year. A big thanks goes to the VA legislature for keeping the 'free pass' alive for another year. To the hybrid drivers: stop being a selfish SOV and pick-up some riders. Only 18 months to go before SOV's become HOV's. :)