Coming soon from your concerned Austin City Council-a ban on texting while driving + 3 foot bicyclists buffer zone (Howe: lawyer, school)

[Sweeet Tea]

Originally Posted by eepstein

Austin is the capital of without a doubt the most conservative state in the nation. This state is completely ANTI government and doesn't want to impose on people's civil rights. That's why Texas resists most statewide laws that most other states have already passed years ago (and in some cases DECADES ago).

1.) Statewide smoking ordinance
2.) Motorcycle helmet laws
3.) Cell phone/texting laws

Safety laws are made to protect people (and the ones in their path) who are too stupid to know better. Hand held cell phones, and especially texting while driving is not something that even warrants discussion. It's just common sense, it kills people. I don't care about people's civil rights when it comes to these things. I wont even get started on the other 2 items listed. If TX cares more about being anti government than its citizens, then the state of TX is stupid too. And so is any other state that doesn't do something about cell phones.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Sweeet Tea

If TX cares more about being anti government than its citizens, then the state of TX is stupid too. And so is any other state that doesn't do something about cell phones.

Actually, it might be that Texas actually cares about its citizens MORE than the states that think that the civil rights of their citizens should be trampled in the name of "protecting" them.

I also think that some serious study of the origins of this country and its Constitution and what it was built on is in order for some.

That being said, I think texting and driving is stupid, and I'm not defending that and, in fact, as has been said repeatedly here, the laws that exist that would cover that should be enforced rather than yet more laws being passed. If those laws are enforced, the citizenry should be sufficiently protected. If not, then new laws aren't going to protect them any more sufficiently.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

What laws are on the books that address using your cell phone, computer, or texting while driving so we wouldn't need a new law?

[eepstein]

What you may not realize is that Texas could NEVER be a California clone. The two states literally have nothing in common. So anyone who moves here and thinks they can change things here, just isn't thinking straight. Yes, it is true that lately California has gotten itself into a big mess with just about everything. I'll give you that. But you know what? This has happened before several times in the past century. The 8th most powerful economy in the world will eventually get back on track with it's own economic situation. Of course people are leaving the state now because they aren't patient enough to wait until things get better. The fact is, anyone who moved to Austin from California is only here because they are waiting for thingsto get better in their hometown. In 5 or 10 years, people will be streaming back from Austin to California. NO ONE, would leave California unless they were given no other option or left for dead on the streets.
AND no one would "settle" for a place like Austin when they can truly have everything back home.

And as for Texas. Why is it so cheap to live? Because very simply, you get what you pay for.

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Do you realize that there are quite a few states who look at California in horror (even before the evidence of the natural consequences of the kind of thinking that's been done there that we're currently seeing) and do NOT follow them quite intentionally, lest their residents rise up and run the legislators out of town on a rail.

California is not, not, NOT a state that I would want to live in, beautiful as it is, because of the faulty decision-making and nanny-stateism that is exhibited there. If you love that kind of thing so much, and hate Texas so much (and your obsessive badmouthing of everything about the state and Austin indicates that you do have kind of a "thing" about it), well, I suggest you start driving west. There's maps and everything that will get you there.

Just don't try to turn Texas into a California-clone. We can't afford it (and, evidently, neither can California, based on the evidence).

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Originally Posted by eepstein

And as for Texas. Why is it so cheap to live? Because very simply, you get what you pay for.

Worth is subjective eepstein.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by eepstein

What you may not realize is that Texas could NEVER be a California clone. The two states literally have nothing in common. So anyone who moves here and thinks they can change things here, just isn't thinking straight. Yes, it is true that lately California has gotten itself into a big mess with just about everything. I'll give you that. But you know what? This has happened before several times in the past century. The 8th most powerful economy in the world will eventually get back on track with it's own economic situation. Of course people are leaving the state now because they aren't patient enough to wait until things get better. The fact is, anyone who moved to Austin from California is only here because they are waiting for thingsto get better in their hometown. In 5 or 10 years, people will be streaming back from Austin to California. NO ONE, would leave California unless they were given no other option or left for dead on the streets.
AND no one would "settle" for a place like Austin when they can truly have everything back home.

And as for Texas. Why is it so cheap to live? Because very simply, you get what you pay for.

Well, you're not speaking for me. I left there in '85 (Los Angeles) because I found the culture to be vacuous and superficial. I wanted something different for the rest of my life. In addition to how shallow the people were, the smog was becoming increasingly unpleasant. Everytime I go back to visit family, I CANNOT wait to get back home, wherever that home has been in the past couple of decades.

And the reason the cost of living is lower here is simply because we have more land available to build here... and honestly, not everyone can handle this heat, that's why demand is lower here. IMO, the one thing Southern Califormia has over Austin is the weather, that's it. And I wouldn't be willing to give up our very pleasant lives here just for better weather. Life is good here and I never felt that in So Cal.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

What laws are on the books that address using your cell phone, computer, or texting while driving so we wouldn't need a new law?

Laws against reckless driving, which includes all of those things.

[eepstein]

Yes, well we all have our opinions. I wouldn't wanna be living in CA now either simply because of the problems it is experiencing. But that time will pass eventually. It always does. And yes, the climate is a huge problem in this part of the country. With a hot summer than ONLY Phoenix and Las Vegas can best, it's pretty hard having to stay indoors for months and month during the summer. Pretty depressing indeed. AND, it's not like you don't get any winter here as a "reward" for putting up with the summer. You get cold, and windchills just the same here. Ice sometimes, and up and down temps in the winter that can almost send your body into shock. How many times did it freeze in metro austin last year?? Like 20 times?? Im sorry, but THAT is a cold winter in my opinion. Sure, not as bad as up north, but cold is cold, and Austin DOES get cold.

So you are screwed during summer and to some extent, winter as well.

Originally Posted by Jennibc

Well, you're not speaking for me. I left there in '85 (Los Angeles) because I found the culture to be vacuous and superficial. I wanted something different for the rest of my life. In addition to how shallow the people were, the smog was becoming increasingly unpleasant. Everytime I go back to visit family, I CANNOT wait to get back home, wherever that home has been in the past couple of decades.

And the reason the cost of living is lower here is simply because we have more land available to build here... and honestly, not everyone can handle this heat, that's why demand is lower here. IMO, the one thing Southern Califormia has over Austin is the weather, that's it. And I wouldn't be willing to give up our very pleasant lives here just for better weather. Life is good here and I never felt that in So Cal.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Laws against reckless driving, which includes all of those things.

Hmm, I'm just wondering if that is the case. If it were then what you're saying is the laws we currently have on the books would be enough to ticket someone for using their cell phone, texting, or using a computer while driving?

I don't know enough about the legality of this to say it's true or not. You might be right.

[TexasHorseLady]

One doesn't have to spend months indoors here. All one has to do is to choose carefully when one engages in outdoor activities - it's a time-honored tradition in warmer climates. It is frequently cooler in the early morning and in the evening - cool enough for many outdoor activities. So, you can schedule things to be in sync with nature and still get to be outdoors.

Just like you have to pick and choose your outdoor activities in climates with lots of snow.

Fortunately, humans are nothing if not adaptable.

By the way, we don't have central AC, and we have animals that need care that live outdoors, and we get along just fine. So I do know what I'm talking about. (Except for that one year of putting up 500 hay bales in 108 degree heat - wouldn't want to do that again, but I would if I had to and it's now a fond family memory.)