These things go in waves. Its very much a generational thing. Its like drugs. In the sixties and seventies it was the norm. By the eighties, it was no longer so much fun and people saw the downside. The Boomers kids were bombarded by adds and they more or less worked. In the nineties though, drug use went up again as the real life examples of why this was a bad idea (crack houses and such) faded out of view.
http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/80477002.html"Arizona's 16 DUI task forces around the state made more than 14,000 driving-under-the-influence arrests in 2009 including nearly 4,500 from Thanksgiving to New Year's.
Those figures are up from 2008 when the task forces made some 10,500 DUI arrests but only about 2,700 from the Thanksgiving-to-Jan. 1 holiday span."FQ 13 is right on the money here. In Arizona we have some of the toughest drunk driving laws in the nation. No matter, drunk driving arrests, and accidents are
UP, big time. This will continue simply because we have allowed alcohol to become big business in this country, as well as a big part of peoples lives. Tougher laws, mandatory jail time, "alcohol awareness" programs, movies much like this one showing dead babies being pushed out of windshields, blood and guts galore won't change this. It never has, and it never will, because people like to drink. When they do their thinking is in an altered state, and this kind of stuff happens. Then comes the crying and sorrow over the senseless, loss.
I'm sorry to sound cold, but I'm tired of all of it. It
will never stop. We are hypocrites in this country when it comes to booze. We have Anheuser Bush spending upwards of $2 million dollars a minute for a Super Bowl commercial slot to tell us to "Know When To Say When". And other brilliant deductions like "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk".
It reminds me of the movie "Scarface" when Al Pacino was drunk in the fancy restaurant. He staggered around and said, "You Americans have to have someone to point your filthy fingers at and say, see him, he's the bad guy!" This is true. The drunk driver makes the perfect bad guy. The problem is we have built a society around him that not only helps create him, but then is appalled at the results of his actions. It makes no sense.
It all revolves around the dollar. Always has, always will. The liquor and beer companies rake in the cash from manufacturing the product. The cities and municipalities rake in more cash through the sale of liquor licenses and taxes imposed on the sale of the stuff. Have you ever seen a bar without a parking lot? They further line their coffers with more cash from the fines, court costs, and other fees they make off the drunk driver. "Traffic Schools", "Alcohol Rehabilitation", and all of this other nonsense that works about as well as a Timex that was run over by a semi. How would they replace all of that revenue if everyone did the right thing and stopped? They wouldn't and couldn't. They just keep on bitching about how bad drunk driving is in all of these "public service announcements", and on the backside they rake in cash from all of it.
To be perfectly honest the drunk driving doesn't bother me as much as all of the hypocritical nonsense that goes with it. We don't take alcohol seriously in this country. Sure, when you see a movie like this it makes you think, but 5 minutes later the thought is gone. Nothing has worked to reduce this, and nothing will. I don't like it anymore than anyone else does, but I have learned to accept it, and defend myself from it. I drink at home. We very rarely go out in the evening. I can't even remember the last time I went to a bar. I've done my share of drunk driving when I was younger and dumber, and was lucky enough to never have had a DWI. I have had friends, acquaintances, and co workers killed in booze related accidents. Nothing will ever change that. If we could have changed it, the results would show it. They show just the opposite, it's once again on the rise, and the money, booze, and blood will keep on flowing. Rant over. Bill T.
MBTV
Forum Index
Help
Calendar
Contact Info
Register as a member
