Posted on 07/26/2008 10:17:58 AM PDT by Entrepreneur
Liberals say Iraq is another Vietnam; conservatives say Barack Obama is Jimmy Carter redux. ABBA's a mega-hit and Elton John's going to be performing at Madison Square Garden. Had enough of these '70s flashbacks? Brace yourself for another: the return of the national speed limit, courtesy of one of the country's most venerable politicians.
Senator John Warner (R-VA) — elected in 1978 — recently expressed interest in the idea of a national speed limit to conserve gasoline. Warner, who is not running for re-election this year, wrote to U.S. Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman, asking "at what speed is the typical vehicle traveling on America's highways today most fuel efficient?"
Warner told TIME his concern is for "the many millions and millions [of Americans] of limited means, sitting around their kitchen table trying to figure out how to make ends meet." Unlike long-term alternative energy sources, Warner says, a speed limit would work to bring down gas prices immediately. "Maybe some guy's got a better idea," he says. "But I haven't seen it."
The National Maximum Speed Limit of 55 mph was created in 1974, when Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Energy Highway Conservation Act. Prior to that, states had been free to set their own speed limits, but the new law threatened to strip Federal highway funding from any state straying above the national standard. The ostensible purpose of this limit was to keep down gas prices, which had been driven through the roof by an OPEC embargo touched off by the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. And with gas-prices once again sky-high, Warner isn't alone in talking up a cap on speeding.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
Warner should get back to drooling on his bib, crapping in his Grampers, and pulling his chubby while he dreams of Liz 35 years ago. Leave the real work to Senators, like Coburn or Sessions, with a spine.
But your not thinking about all the revenue that will be generated for all the small towns that are on your route. All those fine and bribes and kickbacks will really help those honest small town cops and justices of the Peace. Just think about that great movie "Nothing But Trouble".
Designing a modern car that got its peak mileage at 45 would be stupid. We didn’t buy an econobox for a reason.
I didn’t drive 55 last time around....given the expanse of this nation it’s asinine.
Libs love it....they never go anywhere and if they do they drive like mice anyhow.
how libs drive reflects their neurosis...scared little pups clutching the wheel wanting it to be over
Bingo!
Yes, but remember you could only wait in line to fill up if it was your odd/even day
it sure matters to those of us who have to drive long distances for business
i drive 75,000 miles a year on business
that’s over 9 weeks extra driving time annually
not to mention loss of productive business time to get things done
Same..I’m lucky if I get up to 55 anymore...
I drive 2-3 miles over the speed limit so 57-58. On the Interstate it’s 65.
When not on the Interstate, people *do* get ticked and ride my bumper when doing 57-58. They they take chances on double-yellow, hills, etc. Whatever.
Better yet have the states make it much harder to purchase a drivers license or easier for law enforcement to deny the right at the side of the road. Idiocy should not be awarded the opportunity to burn road fuel...that might take care of about 55 percent 8^)
I'm with you. I drive 55 twice a day, nonce when accelerating and once when slowing down!
I drive 80 between Grants Pass and northern Oregon all the time, the roads are made for those speeds.
I would never drive 55, it takes forever to get from my house to PDX at that speed.
Ed
Do does my TR7.
The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 was about the best thing that came out of Bill Clinton’s time in office.
National speed limits are silly. Let the states and local areas decide what is best.
Besides there is plenty of oil if the Demonrats will let us drill for it. And Al Gore’s global warming crusade is nothing but a hoax. There is no reason other than road conditions to limit speed to a crawl on highways.
Drill Here! Drill NOW!!
I got in back of a new VW Beetle going 40 mph on I-5 from Grants Pass to Medford!
The guy was a total traffic hazard, people were slamming on their brakes, zooming around him, it was really stupid and dangerous.
When I got around him I saw he was a goofy dreadlocked greenie who was proud of doing his bit to save Gaia.
In Oregon it’s illegal to go that slow, it represents a traffic hazard.
Ed
Wait a minute, I thought we ran out of gas and oil back in the 70’s during Jimah Caatah’s regime.
You mean we still have oil and gas? Where have I been?
What’s the percentage of gasoline used up in daily commutes and slow city driving? 95%? 98%?
On the interstates or highways, I like to put it on cruise control, turn on the music and open the beer, wine, chips and salsa and just take it easy.
Which would be negated by cars idling in traffic jams.
The highway patrol was anointed as royal tax collectors back then. Driving anywhere of distance was miserable. They want to tax your very existence, people. Don't get into these stupid arguments over gas mileage. We've cut consumption like crazy, but just listen to them. It isn't about that.
That the people selling this are using a putrid Rino on the way out tells you they know how unpopular this would be, so the true reasoning behind this won't see the light of day. They are sticking Orwellian cameras all over remote areas of highways. They are walking all over us.
This is about money, power, and control. It always is with these socialists.
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