Strib Letters: Dear God, Spare Us

As much as I hate it, I love reading the occasional letter to the Strib's editors. Just look at yesterday's Letter of the Day.

One winner? It doesn't have to be that way

You don't even need to continue. This guy's skirt is billowing up so far over his face it is in danger of ripping off.

Can't... resist... gravitational... pull... of... Diversitiville... Must... reach... utility... belt!

Why the obsession with "winners" rather than many outstanding talents each worthy of recognition? The "winner-take-all" perspective permeates our cultural entertainment, from "Survivor" to athletic championships and TV game shows...

Douglas Allchin
St. Paul, Minnesota

I suppose this nonsense with spelling bees should come to an end, too. (Go watch the 2002 documentary "Spellbound"... great film.)

I don't even want to imagine a world where every Jeapoardy contestant goes away with the same amount of money.

Communist Jeapoardy! With host Alex Trebekanov who tests the contestants' knowledge of Party History, Party Philosophy, Party Popouri Party Potent Potables, and Lies of the West... everybody wins, even the losers who win an all expenses trip to Gulag in Siberia for re-education.

Here's another fun letter from today's Netlets.

The Law, Not a Suggestion

The May 15 letter on the MNPass Lane highlights the flawed thinking of most Minnesota drivers.

The posted speed limit on Minnesota's roads and highways is not merely a suggested guideline. The posted speed limit is the maximum speed permited [sic] on our roads for highways. People driving their vehicles at the posted speed limit are not, "slowpokes," who cause accidents. These people are following the law, doing their share to reduce fuel consumption, and being safe.

Impatient drivers who speed to appease their own selfish needs are the real danger on Minnesota's roads and highways.

BILL HOFIUS, MINNEAPOLIS

Here is the May 15 letter that Hofius responds to.

MnPASS LANE
Give us another 5 mph

I never use the MnPASS lane if the fee goes above $2. But MnDOT could lure me back if it raised the speed limit by 5 miles per hour. This would:

• Get me through my commute faster.
• Eliminate that "trapped" feeling I get when I'm in the MnPASS lane, following someone at 55 mph, while regular-lane drivers are passing us.
• Remove my fear of being pulled over for going 62 mph, near Dunwoody, by an eager officer stationed there to watch for MnPASS cheaters.

More accidents? Maybe. But slowpokes cause accidents, too.

Confusing? Well, we used to have dual speed-limit signs on every freeway, if you remember.

ROGER DUMAS, WAYZATA

The Kool Aid Report likes Bill Hofius, and who can blame Dementee for liking him. What's not to like?

First, let me say that Bill might be too young to remember the dual speed-limit signs that Roger mentions. The second speed was the minimum... which might suggest that the slowpokes Roger's thinking of are going slower than 45 mph, as opposed to the slowpokes that Bill's thining of (who, for example, are just merely slower than the posted limit).

Second, Bill doesn't seem to realize that the speed Roger is talking about (62 mph) is the rate above the posted limit that cops tend to start handing out tickets. I actually consider four miles per hour above the posted limit my ceiling, but I might be too gunshy to hit seven mph above.

Third, Bill probably doesn't recognize that the left lane is actually a passing lane. Believe it or not, there are some signs in the metro area that note this... in fact, I think it was Governor Turnbuckle who requested more of these signs. Now, while we know about the maximum speed limit, when someone comes up behind you running 70 in a 60 mph zone the law doesn't really give you badge to prevent others from going at a higher rate of speed. The cops get that privilege, pally. Standard road courtesy says you should move right to make way for faster traffic. Your job is to drive, not to police other drivers... as tempting as that may sound. (I believe it is Jason Lewis who warned folks to watch out for law-and-order liberals.) By the way, the law is not there for you to make someone else conserve fuel either.

Finally, accidents are not simply caused by high speeds... I remember hearing a cop say that a wider spectrum of speed tends to cause accidentns, meaning that a greater difference in speed like 75 mph versus 45 mph (that's a 30 mph difference, Bill) is a much more dangerous condition than 75 mph versus 60 mph (a 15 mph difference).

Oi gevalt!

Of course, there is the George Carlin therory to the two kinds of people who cause car accidents... everyone driving slower than you is an idiot, while everyone driving faster than you is a maniac. I'm sure a lot of us are going to go with Carlin on this one. ;)