h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Here in Houston, Texas, USA, we are forced to drive cars as there is virtually no wide spread mass transit. The choking of the freeways during a large percentage of the day leads to frustration and road rage. Drivers will take ridiculous chances (wild lane changes, speeding to pass a single car, etc.) for little if any time saving. The majority of drivers were frightenly oblivious of driving safety BEFORE cell phones made them truly terrifying. The sad part is the injuries and deaths caused by reckless drivers who cause other to swerve to avoid them, then simply drive on down the freeway ...

I have to say I agree with you. It is just as bad here, its not you're own driving you have to watch but everybody elses as well! At least we are trying to make the roads safer, today they have banned the use of mobile phones whilst driving unless they are attached to a hands free kit. The thought of trying to negotiate a roundabout whilst holding a phone is seriously frightening. There must be something wrong with me as I can't even go along the road straight if I'm holding a phone to my ear. Needless to say I don't try! Perhaps the ban will stop these idiots once and for all, lets hope so.

Yes, I think the UK (I assume you're in the UK) is more reasonable with its laws than the US, where the cell phone company lobbyists are undoubtedly making campaign contributions to the lawmakers. In the case of campaign donations, "First Amendment Rights" is the code word for "legalized bribery".

But the list doesn't stop with cell phones. I saw a large pickup truck stopped at a light with a television playing in front of the driver, apparently hanging from the roof in the center of the vehicle. The philosophy for safety is apparently to buy a large enough vehicle (gas guzzling SUV's get a tax deduction since they weigh as much as farm tractors - another successful lobby) so that when you cause the major collision, you will be protected.

Sorry, should have said I was in the UK. I think the television in the cab just has to 'take the biscuit'! If thats not going to distract you I don't know what is. To take up another point you made I do find it really strange that the US is still promoting the use of gas guzzling vehicles when the rest of the world are trying to minimise their use, because of the environmental impact that is being attributed to them by way of atmosperic pollution etc. Do the US general public not care about their environment or safety. In the UK we are taxed at a higher rate if we have company cars that give out more exhaust fumes. In fact many directors of companies have downsized their vehicles because the tax increases made it non viable to have a gas guzzler.
From what I have heard you are very concerned about most health issues, why is this treated so differently?
It seems to me to be a very strange and conflicting world that we all now have.

"Do the US general public not care about their environment or safety?"

Some do, but the current political situation is highly polarized. The liberals (mostly Democrats and secular) and the conservatives (mostly Republican and religious) have almost exactly the same percentage of the voters, around 45% each. They exhaust themselves attacking the other side, and winning the next election takes precedence over everything. The 10% of us in the middle (swing voters), who would like some common sense to prevail (like safety, environment, a balanced budget) are not worth going after, in the opinion of many party strategists on both sides. So laws are made only for special interests who can provide campaign cash. Safety and the environment are not special interests, and in fact are anathema to some powerful special interests.

Cynical? You bet, although I would call it realistic ...

Hi Steve
Thanks for taking the trouble to explain that to me. For the first time I can understand why there seem to be anomalies in the American viewpoint. Mind you it doesn't help you in the middle, does it??? The old saying 'money talks' seems to be the name of the game. The question is, how do you make the environment a popular cause, perhaps the only way is to show big business that a caring attitude can have a significant effect on the balance sheet. Over here environment is top of the agenda and the larger companies are realising that unless they make some effort to be 'green', people will not buy their products. It has to be said though that a lot of it is 'for show' and like oil companies that still cause pollution but recycle every bit of paper, it doesn't make much difference. As I've said before - strange world!

I'd have to add that in the USA, the education system has been declining for many years, mostly due to a lack of priority by tax setting authorities and, IMHO, parents. Years ago, I was taught by my company to write memos aimed at a highschool graduate (about 18 years old, having finished the state required 12 years of school). The idea was to avoid the dense language of the science journals, which some of us had picked up in college. I recently had a discussion with a cardioligist about my wife's condition (turned out to be fairly minor). After a few questions, he stopped and said, "Well, we normally try to talk at a 6th grade level, but OK, here is the situation ..." A 6th grade level is about 11 - 12 years old. So the average American is evidently less than prepared to deal with issues like the environment, having learned most of what they know from advertising, Dr. Phil, etc. The two major political parties, large companies, etc., have adopted advertising techniques to spread their "truth", e.g., if you say something enough times, it must be true. "SUV's! Bigger is better! AND, you get a tax break!"

I don't think you have a similar education problem in the UK.