A Cranky Opinion for
CRANKY OPINION SATURDAY
The following is the opinion of a cranky old man with little knowledge on the topic opined. Opposing opinions are welcome but will probably be ignored. As usual, please, no name calling, and that means you, you big stupid-head!
I try and not be political in my posts because who really gives a rat’s backside about what I think anyway. I am no longer willing to incur the wrath of people for voicing an opinion which just might not be that of the wrath voicers. And Holy Hanna, some of them can really voice wrath.
Yes, I do like saying wrath.
In college, years ago, we would pick sides on a subject and argue just for the fun of arguing. Sometimes we even gained insight and adjusted our actual opinions.
In the world today, voicing an opinion or even failing to nod in agreement with an opinion I did not share has cost me several friends. Well apparently they were not really friends or they could not be so petty, but I thought they were friends.
Anyway, I recently read about something that I cannot stay quiet about.
A politician in Vermont has submitted a law making it illegal for anyone under 21 to use a cell phone. The penalty would be up to a year in jail and or a $1000 fine.
Let that sink in a moment.
Before you flip out as much as I did when I read this, the politician does not seriously believe the law will be passed, and he just wants to raise awareness on the number of accidents and the potential abuse of cell phone use by those under 21 years-old. (Whatever that might be…someone please spend millions on a study!)
Still, the fact that anyone could even think of such a law disturbs me.
What would under 21 year-olds do with themselves without a cell phone? Have face to face discussions? Leave the house and do stuff? Please, if you want to see riots in the street, ban cell phones from anyone under 21.
How would you enforce such a law? Would police go to anyone using a cell phone and demand proof of age?
If cell phone usage can be dangerous, ban it from everyone.
Why are we always passing laws stopping under 21 year-olds from doing stuff? When you are 18 you can have sex, vote, join the army, get married, and drive, but you cannot smoke or drink.
Are people smart enough at 18 to do these things, but not smart enough to smoke and drink (or use a cell phone) responsibly until you reach the magic age of 21?
I think being a soldier, having sex and for sure marriage is way more dangerous than smoking or drinking. And what does age have to do with voting?
Perhaps there should be a federal exam to determine if you are too stupid to do all these things regardless of age.
“Yes sir, a pack of Marlboros, may I see some proof of intelligence?”
“A case of Budweiser? Can you show proof you are not stupid?”
How would the test determine stupidity? Below 60% on the stupidity scale? 50%? What if you just had a bad day when you took the test?
And if stupid people could not vote, who would look out for their interests. When it comes to politicians, No vote equals no care.
Maybe we should just let stupidity itself sort people out and not try and legislate it. For the most part, stupidity is a victimless condition, stop trying to make it illegal or protecting stupid people from themselves.
The preceding was the opinion of a cranky old man and not necessarily that of management…Mrs. Cranky. If you think it is a stupid opinion, then ignore it!
Good rant, Joe! I love the idea of having to take a stupidity test. If only it could be applied to everything! Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteI think there should be a law about the amount of tread you have on your shoes. People with shoes with no tread at all get slippery in the wet and they fall and injure themselves. We should stop people in the street and check that they have at least 3mm of tread at the bottom of their shoes. Ladies' high heels should not be above a certain height for the same reason.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Can there be a law preventing politicians from wasting taxpayers' money on bills that are a joke?
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just have to endure the wrath of whomever and smile. That really get knickers knotted up, but then again in today's world you never know what the repercussions of stating an opinion will be at some point in the future. Gotta keep smiling in a post-truth world - right. A stupidity test would result in an awful lot of failures, who knows depending on the bias of the test I would probably fail too. :-) Good rant.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as a medical professional..there's no cure for stupid.
ReplyDeleteBoy would there be a boon in fake ID's in Vt. We do have similar punishments here in Ar if you are using your cell while behind the wheel at any age. Hard to enforce till they have a accident.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's certainly an interesting and non-wrathful opinion.
ReplyDeleteIf there was a stupidity test, we would have no politicians.
ReplyDeleteI like what Bijoux said. I'm tired of our tax dollars going for silly laws like this that won't pass or even have a possibility of passing. I for one would not favor such a law. Cell phones were good ways to keep track of teens. If they couldn't use one, how would parents ever sleep at night wondering where they were if they couldn't get a hold of them?
ReplyDeletebetty
I remember how much "easier" teaching was, back in the days when cell phones (and beepers before them) were banned from the classroom! Stupidity was still around, though.
ReplyDeleteIs that for real? Not smoking or drinking until age 21? It doesn't make sense if everything else is legal at age 18. And if 18 or 21 are seen as the sensible ages, why are kids allowed to get driver's licences at 16? The whole system is screwy.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahaha. Omgosh. - “Yes sir, a pack of Marlboros, may I see some proof of intelligence?”
ReplyDelete“A case of Budweiser? Can you show proof you are not stupid?” - You need to make this into a dating app. You'd make millions! This post is SOOO true. Who picked 21 as the golden number to do anything?? And when did they pick it? They seriously need to change that law and it doesn't need to be a bazillion dollar study all they have to do is talk to a twelve year old TODAY. Kids are so much smarter now.
okay i am glad that someone is stupider than me lol i mean one who thought he can apply this
ReplyDeletei think he was being utterly unrealistic
stupidity has no age limits ,we can find it in grown ups more than youngsters and the kind is more dangerous not just for themselves but for all around