How Many Must Die?

His friends called him "Muff." He had beautiful red hair and even more beautiful eyes that he sometimes enhanced with colored contacts. He also had a Mustang that he invariably drove too fast; he was driving it too fast that day on Piney Chapel Road when he missed a curve, hit a tree, and that was all she wrote. We didn't know Muff that well, but that makes no difference. We never hear of a young person dying in a similar crash that we don't think of him. He was much too young to die.

Of course, Muff wasn't wearing a seat belt.

Parents, if you don't tell your children to slow down and to wear their seat belts, you take responsibility in their deaths. You also need to tell them that driving and alcohol don't mix. Then throw in a few murder threats while pasting a sticker that reads "Old Pilots...Bold Pilots" on their vehicle's dash. It may not save every young driver's life, but it will save some.

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We had a critic yesterday who indicated that when a child dies in a traffic accident we should just type "Prayers" and let it go. Our Maker is very displeased with us for doing more she indicated.

Really? It's our belief that God would be very displeased if we didn't tell young people...all people...to wear seat belts. And to slow down. 

If you want the thrills and chills of speed, ride a roller coaster. If you want to live into old age, slow down and wear your seat belt!

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Meanwhile in Montgomery: A bill was introduced in both Houses that would create the Association of Former Members of the Alabama Legislature whose purpose would be to cooperatively promote public service and strengthen representative democracy and our republican form of government [HB93 by Representative Jack (JD) Williams and SB110 by Senator Greg Reed].

We need a bill for this? Since when do civic groups need a bill to exist? Is there going to be a salary? This may be an excellent idea, but it's bills like this that take away time from little things like passing a budget. Sure, we hear that's going great this year, but it's the first time in years our state has been on track in that department. 

Then again, perhaps our legislators feel they have to inflate their CVs with such nonsense. Some people feel they have to keep up with the Joneses; perhaps Alabama legislators feel they have to keep up with Ed Henry...