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Unfair Demands On Boy Scouts
The Day ^ | 7/29/2008 | Editors

Posted on 07/29/2008 1:08:47 PM PDT by fgoodwin

Unfair Demands On Boy Scouts

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=33a46ad1-5d62-4201-98b5-dd7602900835

By The Day
Published on 7/29/2008

We are at a loss to understand why the state Department of Transportation wants to give East Lyme Boy Scout troops such a hard time over doing a good deed.

For 25 years on Labor Day weekend the Scouts have served coffee and doughnuts around the clock to weary drivers at the weigh stations on Interstate 95 in Waterford.

Drivers get a needed break. The Scouts take pride in providing a service. Donations collected help the Boy Scouts and other local groups.

Who could object?

Unfortunately, the bureaucrats at the DOT, that's who.

After a quarter century without incident, the DOT now decides it is too dangerous for the Boy Scouts to stay at the weigh station overnight - even though the Scouts are well off the road, the area is well lighted and at least two adult leaders are always present.

The DOT demands that the Scouts break camp by 9 p.m. and not return until 6 a.m. In other words, the department does not want them there when drivers are tired and could use a coffee.

The Boy Scouts say the requirement to take everything down each night is unreasonable and undermines the intended service. Scout leaders have announced that unless the DOT lifts the overnight ban, the tradition will sadly end.

This is ridiculous. Someone at the DOT needs to act reasonably and allow the 24-hour service.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Connecticut
KEYWORDS: boyscouts; bsa; bureaucrats; dot; goodturn; govwatch; scouts; waterford
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To: libstripper
Unfortunately "he" is also getting "his" revenge on a lot of sleepy drivers whom the Scouts' help. The DOT can now be thanked for a number of deaths and injuries caused by people falling asleep at the wheel who might not have if they'd received free coffee and donuts from the Scouts.

To the Liberal, no sacrifice is too great for Liberal agenda. I'm talking other peoples' sacrifices, of course. They, as usual, will make no such sacrifice.

21 posted on 07/29/2008 1:46:04 PM PDT by magslinger (Infidel, American type, quantity one (1) each.)
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To: fgoodwin

rat jackasses.


22 posted on 07/29/2008 1:58:59 PM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: fgoodwin
They'd be interfering with the truck-stop hookers business interests.
23 posted on 07/29/2008 2:00:53 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Public policy should never become the captive of a scientific-technological elite. -- Ike Eisenhower)
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To: DieHard the Hunter

perhaps the person who has the vending machine consession license is objecting to the copetition.

I could understand if the person is having their profits cut and yet they pay for the license to have the vending machines there.


24 posted on 07/29/2008 2:06:01 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: longtermmemmory

There are no concessions at any Texas weigh station.


25 posted on 07/29/2008 2:13:31 PM PDT by Eaker (The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule. (H.)
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To: fgoodwin

Who at the DOT made this decision? Are they a Democrat? Do they belong to any group that might be waging Jihad against the Boy Scouts?


26 posted on 07/29/2008 2:14:13 PM PDT by airedale ( XZ)
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To: longtermmemmory

> I could understand if the person is having their profits cut and yet they pay for the license to have the vending machines there.

I can’t. I have an inherent dislike for monopolies, particularly with a captive audience and NO CHOICE.

If their jolly vending machines are so good, let them by all means compete with the Boy Scouts. Competition is a cornerstone of Western economics.


27 posted on 07/29/2008 2:41:11 PM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: DieHard the Hunter

To be fair to insurance companies, they have to watch out for the litigious attorneys. They hate (trial) lawyers more than just about anyone, and that’s saying something...


29 posted on 07/29/2008 3:03:32 PM PDT by Freedom4US
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To: MrB; DieHard the Hunter
Probably not an insurance company.

The DOT is a state agency. It is almost certainly protected by government immunity and cannot be sued (successfully.) And even if it were not covered by immunity (usually if there is auto insurance) the state is almost always self-insured.

My money's on a disgruntled homosexual somewhere in the DOT.

30 posted on 07/29/2008 3:08:48 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chase, TTGS Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: fgoodwin

We all know the real reason why this is being done. Why the CT DOT doesn’t even give a rat’s ass about the safety of its own employees. A close relative of mine has been an employee on the highways for years. In the winter, when it snows, DOT requires its workers to work around the clock for 24 to 48 hours without going home to rest. They allow short sleep breaks but the facilities are anything but condusive to sleeping so the workers just drink coffee and smoke. The so-called employee union could care less. There are times when DOT employees are driving snow plows and sanders for 36 hours with only coffee breaks. Doesn’t that make all the other drivers on CT highways feel safe? But Oh, let’s protect the Boy Scouts.


31 posted on 07/29/2008 3:11:26 PM PDT by CdMGuy
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To: RonF; AppauledAtAppeasementConservat; Looking for Diogenes; Congressman Billybob; ...
Unbelievable petty bureaucrats.
32 posted on 07/29/2008 4:29:57 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: fgoodwin

It’s about time that people realize that the great majority of federal bureaucrats are leftist scum. That includes the asses with badges. With the exception of federal employees involved in national security, and not all qualify, we have no friends in the putrid bureaucracy - federal, state or local.


33 posted on 07/29/2008 4:35:53 PM PDT by sergeantdave (We are entering the Age of the Idiot)
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To: fgoodwin

There is something extremely Queer about this.


34 posted on 07/29/2008 4:47:58 PM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Conservation? Let the NE Yankees freeze.... in the dark)
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To: fgoodwin

This is in Connecticut.

I cut and pasted the article into Senator Joe Leiberman’s email at Senate.gov, with a personal message asking for his intervention with the State gov’t. I also asked him to show up on Labor Day weekend to give the Scouts a publicitiy boost and help inoculate them from further CONNDOT interference.

There may also be addresses for Conn.’s governor and CONNDOT that others can find.

If a few of us do this, we can help maintain this tradition, other then just moaning about the bureaucracy.


35 posted on 07/29/2008 4:51:33 PM PDT by exit82 (People get the government they deserve--and they are about to get it --in spades.)
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To: exit82

The beginning of the fall of the Roman Empire, and now they’re working on the once greatest nation in the world. Way to go Queers, keep up the good work, you’re all on your way to hell so you might as well ruin what everyone else has labored to build as well.


36 posted on 07/29/2008 5:16:59 PM PDT by cla62
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To: Morgana

The Scoutmaster is the head adult in charge of a Boy Scout Troop, Boy Scouts being young men from the ages of 11 through 18. He or she has to be 21 or older. They may also have Assistant Scoutmasters, who must be 18 or older. The boys are organized into Patrols, usually around 5 to 8 Scouts, and are led by a Patrol Leader, who is one of their peers that they have elected.

A Cub Scout Pack consists of young men from the ages of 7 (or so - 1st grade, actually) to 11. The adult in charge is a Cubmaster, who may also have Assistant Cubmasters. The Cubs are organized into Dens of ideally 5 to 8 Cubs, and are led by a Den Leader. A Den Leader is an adult appointed by the Pack Committee (a group of adults in charge of making sure that the leaders are doing their jobs and also in charge of things like running fund raisers, buying the badges, arranging the details of activities, etc.).

If the Scouts you saw are all dressed in khaki shirts and green trousers or shorts with red shoulder bands, they’re Boy Scouts. If they have khaki shirts and green trousers or shorts with blue shoulder bands and a multi-colored ribbon on their arm, they are Webelos Scouts, which is the oldest group of Cub Scouts. If some of them have blue uniforms on, they are Cub Scouts of Tiger, Wolf or Bear rank, and sometimes Webelos if the kid hasn’t outgrown his blue uniform before he got old enough to be a Webelos and Mom and Dad are waiting until he gets older to buy his khaki and green uniform (which is kosher under BSA regs). Webelos with blue uniforms have the multi-colored ribbon pinned to their arms, the Tigers, Wolves and Bears don’t.


37 posted on 07/30/2008 1:25:55 PM PDT by RonF
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To: exit82

Great idea to write Sen. Lieberman.

I don’t live in CT, but those who do, and who care about the Scouts, should consider contacting their Senators, US Rep, and state rep about this issue.


38 posted on 08/06/2008 2:05:55 PM PDT by fgoodwin (Fundamentalist, right-wing nut and proud father of a Life Scout!)
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