On A Rant

     First, let me say I am not a political person.   I find the whole thing somewhat annoying.   If politicians were children (by age) we would ground them, send them to their rooms, and take away all their electronics.  Behavior that they exhibit would land them in the vice-principals office in a heartbeat.  Instead we have to endure their antics, as juvenile as they are.  When Obama took office, one prominent Republican said he would make it his first priority to make sure Obama was a one term president.  Funny, I was so naive as to think the first priority might be to solve our country's problems.   Silly me!

     Recently there have been studies and statements that our youth are facing obesity in major numbers.  One in three school-aged children are either overweight or obese.  Get out and move is the message sent by the White House.   Yet, we continue to cut physical education from our schools.   Play 60 from the NFL is a push to get out and play at least an hour each day, but the push seems to be geared to the urban populations surrounding the NFL cities.   Oops, forgot about us yokels far away from the franchises.   Yep, get out and play, but don't increase funds for P.E.  Great solution, thanks feds.

     Car accident rates are highest among 16 - 19 year olds in our country.   One of the major factors leading to this statistic is, are you ready, lack of skill.  "Novice teenage drivers have not yet completely mastered basic vehicle handling skills and safe-driving knowledge they need to drive safely" - California Department of Motor Vehicles.  Can you really be surprised?   Little to no driver's ed is taught in schools.   Once upon a time our schools required this class of all 15 year olds to prepare them for the hazards of the road.   In the small school district where I grew up, a local car dealership donated cars for use in the summer for practical experience behind the wheel with a driver's ed teacher.  Hmm, still could work.   Insurance companies are you listening?   I would bet funding the re-institution of driver's ed in our schools would be cheaper than paying out all the claims.   Think about it....

     Today I passed a new Eugene Police Department car.   It was, are you ready, a Prius.    Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of criminals than the ominous visage of a Toyota.    Are you serious?   If we are a part of city government and by that an extension of the U.S., shouldn't we be driving cars made in the U.S.?  Stick with Mopar, Chevy, or Ford.   You need to show some love for Detroit!   

     Wow, pretty heavy stuff coming from me.   Usually I stay away from this type of subject, but if you know me, you know I can get my dander up when the right button is pushed.   I promise not to publish more than a few of these types of posts.  Next one will have no socially redeeming value, as usual.