However, car owners are also quick to stand in line, waiting to pay for their precious petrol, while desperately griping about the absolutely ridiculous price of fuel, all while the happy and satisfied bus passes them by. The cost of fuel, car insurance, and even the price of cars themselves is becoming insane. In 1970, the going rate for a house was about the same as what people now pay for an average car.

Fuel prices are high enough, especially during the summer months, to create havoc in the average family’s budget. As fuel prices skyrocket, other costs, like recreational activities, also increase. Even the small county fair that rolls into town once a year, which used to provide an evening of entertainment for a nominal amount, now costs nearly twice as much to cover the rising costs of traveling from town to town.

The Financial Benefits of Public Transportation

When considering public transportation, one of the main benefits is undoubtedly the ability to save a few bucks. If just one person in each household opts for public transportation instead of driving their car, most average households could save between $50 and $75 per week. During high gas price peaks, that can add up to $300 a month. For most households, that’s the equivalent of a car payment.

Of course, the car will also last longer. While it’s not a good idea to allow a car to sit unused for months at a time, cutting down on vehicle use to just weekends can extend its lifespan by two years. Considering what we pay for cars, they should last as long as humanly possible.

The use of public transportation has a multitude of advantages. Many who make the switch, after an adjustment period, determine that they actually prefer public transportation over driving. It’s one of the few responsibilities in life where all you have to do is show up. Once you’re on the bus or train, you’re free to catch up on the newspaper, take a nap, play a game, talk to a stranger, or simply enjoy the ride, rather than stressing over traffic jams or trying to figure out what the hold-up is ten blocks ahead.

Driver outrage is certainly understandable. It’s simply insane what some people do behind the wheel of a car. People have no problem pulling out in front of you, stopping in the middle of the street to unload their groceries while a pile of traffic waits impatiently behind them, riding your tail as though you can control the speed of the vehicle in front of you, and of course, the wonderfully intelligent idea of texting while driving. These behaviors can drive safer drivers crazy. Our “me first” society is certainly evident behind the wheel.

How sweet it is to save $300 a month, make the car last two years longer, and reduce the stress of having to contend with the world out there—just for a bit longer—while someone else taxis us to and from work. In reality, if the entire country banded together and each household gave up the use of just one car during the week, gas prices would tumble as demand plummeted. Congestion would ease, the environment would benefit, and every American household that owns a car would have a little extra spending cash for the local ice cream store on Friday.

People generally prefer to drive their cars simply because they like the feeling of control. They can’t control the bus that shows up a bit too late or the speed of the train. People have the illusion that they’re in control when driving their own cars. But it’s only an illusion. Accidents are proof of the illusion of control, and we can’t control the flow of traffic, no matter how hard we try to will ourselves into believing we have that power. And of course, we can’t control the police officer’s actions when they decide to pull us over for what we consider a minor driving infraction. The financial benefits of public transportation are quite obvious when considered carefully. Of course, people are secretly in love with their cars—even the beat-up old ones that are quietly working their way to the grave demand a certain loyal affection. We appreciate their loyal service, even when it seems painful to give.

People are secretly in love with their illusion of control.

For most people, $300 a month just isn’t quite enough to make them give up their private love affair with their car.

The post The Advantages of Taking Public Transportation appeared first on .

What can you do to help? Follow these tips to reduce your household waste. About a third of America’s trash consists of product packaging, so most of these tips focus on reducing the amount of packaging you buy.

• Look for minimal packaging. First and foremost, try to buy items with the least amount of packaging possible.
• Choose aluminum, tin, or paper. If you have to buy packaged goods (and it’s nearly impossible not to), opt for these three types of packaging, as they are easily recyclable. Avoid products packaged with a mix of materials—for example, paper with an aluminum lining—since these cannot be recycled.
• Watch your plastic bags. Bring your own reusable bag when you go to the grocery store. Millions of plastic bags are discarded annually. If you must use the store’s bags, avoid letting the clerk double- or triple-bag your items.
• Avoid plastic packaging. Plastic is one of the most difficult materials to recycle, as many recycling centers don’t process it.
• Avoid disposables. In the twentieth century, manufacturers created a “disposable economy”—cheap products designed to be used once or twice and then thrown away. This benefits companies financially but leads to more waste in landfills. Whenever possible, avoid disposable products. Choose cloth napkins instead of paper, cloth diapers instead of disposables, and metal or ceramic dinnerware instead of plastic and paper. Always opt for items that last.
• Buy in bulk. The more you buy in one package, the less packaging you waste. Whenever possible, purchase in larger quantities to reduce packaging waste.
• Reuse whenever you can. Reuse old packaging and goods when possible. Glass jars can serve as drinking glasses, pencil holders, or storage containers. Plastic and paper bags can be reused for future trips to the grocery store. Plastic tubs can substitute for Tupperware. Old bedding and clothes can be turned into rags or rag rugs.
• Borrow or rent instead of buying. If you only need a big ladder once a year, borrow it from a neighbor. Borrowing items you don’t use every day can reduce both your trash and household clutter. If you need a high-ticket item, like a steam cleaner, consider renting it instead of buying.
• Keep things in good repair. Many people throw out old items because of small, fixable issues, or simply because they no longer want them. Don’t discard old shoes—take them to a shoe repair shop. Get a ripped coat sewn. Don’t toss out your old TV when you buy a new one—donate it to a thrift store. Whenever possible, give away old clothes, shoes, and household items to thrift stores instead of throwing them away. This helps families in need and keeps your items out of landfills.
• Compost. A significant portion of our landfills is filled with leaves in plastic bags. While leaves are biodegradable, the plastic bags are not. When you do yard work, avoid putting leaves, grass clippings, and branches in plastic bags. Instead, create a compost heap to decompose your yard waste. The compost can then enrich your garden soil.
• Recycle. Recycling is more important than ever. Cardboard, paper, glass, and aluminum are all recyclable—never throw aluminum foil or cans in the trash. If recycling isn’t available in your neighborhood, start a recycling club. The funds collected from turning in aluminum cans could even help cover the cost of starting a program.
• Get off junk mailing lists. Many of us receive large amounts of junk mail every day—and we often throw it away automatically. While it’s a good idea to recycle this mail, some envelopes are laminated or contain plastic. It’s better to remove yourself from these mailing lists altogether. Call the companies sending you junk mail and ask them to remove your name from their lists.

We are running out of space in our landfills, and our trash problems will only worsen if we don’t come up with better ways to manage our waste. These tips can help you reduce household waste and make your home greener.

The post How to Reduce Your Household Garbage appeared first on .

Driving recklessly is one of those incidental personality flaws that you don’t discover about someone until you get behind the wheel with them. Here’s this person who is ultra-careful with their kid, always on “accident watch,” holds down a respectable job, and seems to abide by the rules in life—but they drive like a complete idiot. Not only do they roll through stop signs and go 20 miles faster than the speed limit, but they also seem to have the sense that they are the only person on the road. Ironically, they buckle their kids in for safety and wear their own seatbelt, but have absolutely no common sense when it comes to getting behind the wheel.

The Growing Threat of Distracted Driving

What makes matters worse is that today, it’s nearly impossible to drive on a public road without seeing someone texting, talking on their cell phone, fiddling with their car radio, or even putting on makeup or picking their nose in the mirror while they are behind the wheel. Nearly everyone—from young kids to older adults—is driving while distracted, which is the number one cause of traffic accidents and fatalities in the civilized world. With all the attention that Mothers Against Drunk Driving gets, you’d think it’s only the drunk drivers who kill people with their cars. But the reality is, it’s the regular, average Joe—who either causes or doesn’t avoid a traffic accident because they’re busy doing something… anything besides driving when they get behind the wheel.

Ironically, despite the steady increase in advertising and education about the dangers of distracted driving, the number of distraction-related incidents on the road is rising. People think they can answer just that one text, hand that one thing back to their screaming child, or go just a little bit faster because they are running late—and then are surprised to find themselves in a traffic accident.

Many people also have a sense of entitlement and become little adrenaline junkies when they get behind the wheel. The silky leather of the steering wheel or the purr of the engine seems to make their inner daredevil emerge. The problem is, they don’t just put their own lives and well-being at risk—they also endanger the lives of everyone else around them. Is this a form of egotism? Or is it a complete lack of respect for others that causes them to behave as if they are the only vehicle on the roadway?

As a general rule of thumb, you expect the 16-year-old new driver to make irresponsible choices behind the wheel. You expect younger people to speed and act out emotionally while driving. This is precisely why insurance rates are so high for young drivers. But you don’t expect the stay-at-home mom driving the minivan to be a complete idiot when driving to and from school. You don’t expect the little league football coach to be the one running you off the road as you leave the ballfields, or the teacher at your child’s school to be peeling out of the Wal-Mart shopping center. Yet, it is often these surprisingly should-know-better folks who are the most dangerous drivers.

The best advice is to stay out of these people’s vehicles. If you must ride with them, don’t be afraid to be a backseat driver and let them know how you feel about their reckless driving. To avoid being hit head-on by moronic drivers who lack common sense, it’s wise to always stay completely focused when you’re behind the wheel. This way, you can avoid run-ins with these folks, which could be costly in more ways than one.

Sadly, education and awareness are not the answers. Each day in the United States, more and more traffic tickets are being written, and the cost of fines is constantly increasing. Drivers today, who have accumulated a certain number of penalty points on their license, are required to take driving education and awareness classes. People who choose to drive drunk face stiffer penalties than ever before, and laws are being passed to make it illegal to text while driving. Yet, the message seems to not be reaching everyone.

Let’s revisit a statistic mentioned earlier. Between the ages of 5 and 54, the number one risk to your life is the threat of being involved in a car accident. The chances of dying in a car wreck are more likely than the chance of dying from any other cause. This underscores the high risks of driving recklessly—no matter the reason. Tragically, your distraction at the wheel that causes a fatal accident is not something that can be undone afterward.

The post Driving Like an Idiot – Please Use Your Brains While Driving appeared first on .

Aluminum is everywhere. We see it in soft drink cans, beer cans, pie plates, foil, packaging, vinyl siding, gutters, and more. What most people don’t realize is that aluminum is practically the perfect recyclable material. Out of the most common recyclable materials that clutter up our landfills—glass, paper, metals, cardboard, plastics—aluminum is the only material that’s endlessly recyclable, 100% recyclable, and that pays for itself. Here are some other interesting facts we bet you don’t know about aluminum recycling:

• It takes energy to make aluminum from scratch. The energy you save by recycling a single aluminum can will run a TV for three hours.
• In fact, it takes 95% more energy to make aluminum from bauxite ore than to recycle old aluminum into new.
• Aluminum beverage cans are getting lighter. Twenty years ago, a pound of aluminum made about twenty cans. Today, the same amount of aluminum makes approximately thirty cans. The thickness of the side of an aluminum can is about the same as that of a human hair.
• It takes about 400 years for aluminum to break down naturally. That Coke can you just drank from will probably still look about the same in another century or two.
• With all the industries that use aluminum—in manufacturing, in packaging, in cars and airplanes—the industry that uses the most aluminum is the beverage industry.
• In 2004, Americans recycled enough aluminum to build thirteen aircraft carriers.
• Every three months, Americans discard enough aluminum to completely rebuild every single commercial airplane in America.
• Approximately 350,000 aluminum cans are made in a minute.
• Aluminum can be recycled over and over without breaking down. In theory, we have an inexhaustible supply of it in circulation right now. If we recycled all our aluminum, we’d never have to make more.
• The average American discarded fourteen and a half pounds of aluminum just from packaging last year—and almost three pounds of aluminum foil. That’s not even counting aluminum cans.
• Most people don’t realize how strong a metal aluminum is. Four six packs can support the weight of a 4,000-lb. aluminum car.
• Aluminum has a phenomenally high melting point—1,220ºF, to be exact.
• A long time ago, aluminum was a much more valuable metal than gold or silver.
• The aluminum in one single soda can is worth about a cent. Americans threw away millions of cans last year. The American government could pay off a significant portion of its debt with a few years’ worth of aluminum cans.
• Four pounds of raw bauxite ore is saved for every pound of aluminum that is reclaimed in the recycling process.
• The aluminum Americans throw away each year is enough to provide the auto industry with all the raw material it needs to build a year’s worth of new cars.
• Because our landfills are so full of aluminum cans, some landfills incinerate extra aluminum. This isn’t just a huge waste; it also pours toxic metals and gases into the atmosphere.
• Aluminum is valuable. It’s still very much in demand, and recycled aluminum is just as useful and desirable as new. In fact, aluminum is the only recyclable material that depots can recoup their recycling costs with.
• Making aluminum from bauxite ore is a dirty process—and burning it is even worse. By doubling our aluminum recycling rate, we could cut a million tons of pollutants per year out of the atmosphere.
• Recycling aluminum isn’t just about collecting cans. You can also recycle old siding, aluminum foil, and even the gutters on your roof. Most recycling depots that take cans will also take these materials.
• Every part of the can is reusable—you don’t have to prepare it in any way, other than to rinse it out.
• In 1996, aluminum manufacturers saved enough energy by recycling aluminum instead of creating it from bauxite ore to power a city the size of Pittsburg for six years or so.
• Aluminum recycles in no time at all. When you send a can to a recycling depot, it’s processed, recycled, and back on the shelf again in about a month.

There’s no downside to recycling aluminum: it’s fast, it pays for itself, and it’s great for the environment. So next time you get ready to throw out that aluminum foil you wrapped your sandwich in at work or at school, think again—that aluminum could be back on the shelf in a month, save enough energy to run a big appliance like a TV for three hours or so, and pay for its own recycling costs in the process. Recycle it instead of throwing it out, and you’ll be doing the world some good.

The post Recycling Aluminum Cans – Fun Facts appeared first on .

The Impact of Disposable Culture on Our Planet

The convenience of disposable products has led to widespread environmental degradation. Single-use plastics, such as straws, bags, and packaging, contribute massively to pollution. According to recent studies, over 8 million tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans each year, posing severe threats to marine life and ecosystems. Additionally, the fast-fashion industry, driven by constant new trends and low-cost production, generates enormous amounts of waste and pollution.

Recent data highlights that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions and a significant amount of water pollution. The rapid production cycles and cheap materials used in fast fashion result in high waste and environmental harm. As more consumers become aware of these impacts, there is a growing demand for sustainable alternatives and responsible consumption practices.

Embracing Sustainable Alternatives: Trends and Innovations

Fortunately, there are numerous innovative solutions and trends emerging that help counteract the effects of a disposable culture. The zero-waste movement, popularized in recent years, emphasizes reducing, reusing, and recycling to minimize environmental impact. This approach has gained traction among individuals and businesses alike, leading to significant changes in how products are designed and consumed.

1. Reusable Products and Eco-Friendly Choices:

Many people are turning to reusable alternatives to combat single-use plastic waste. Brands like Stasher offer silicone bags that replace disposable sandwich bags, while companies like S’well provide stylish, reusable water bottles. These products not only reduce waste but also promote a shift toward sustainable living.

Additionally, The Package Free Shop and Zero Waste Store offer a wide range of eco-friendly products, from bamboo toothbrushes to compostable cleaning supplies. By investing in these items, consumers can significantly reduce their environmental footprint.

2. Innovative Technologies and Solutions:

Technology is playing a crucial role in advancing sustainability. Apps such as Too Good To Go connect users with surplus food from local restaurants and stores, helping to reduce food waste. Smart home technologies are also optimizing energy use, from programmable thermostats to energy-efficient appliances.

3. Circular Economy and Sustainable Fashion:

The concept of a circular economy is gaining momentum, focusing on designing products with their entire lifecycle in mind. Companies like Patagonia and Eileen Fisher are leading the way in sustainable fashion by using recycled materials and offering repair services to extend the life of their garments. The rise of thrift shopping and clothing swaps also encourages consumers to reduce, reuse, and repurpose clothing.

Practical Steps for Adopting a Sustainable Lifestyle

Transitioning to a more sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By making small, intentional changes, individuals can significantly reduce their environmental impact. Here are some practical tips for embracing sustainability in everyday life:

1. Reduce Plastic Waste:

Start by cutting down on single-use plastics. Use reusable shopping bags, avoid plastic straws, and opt for products with minimal or recyclable packaging. Brands like Bees Wrap offer eco-friendly alternatives to plastic wrap, while Ecosia provides a search engine that plants trees with each search.

2. Make Eco-Friendly Choices in Daily Life:

Incorporate sustainable practices into your daily routine. Choose energy-efficient light bulbs, reduce water usage with low-flow fixtures, and opt for reusable coffee cups and water bottles. By making these changes, you’ll contribute to reducing waste and conserving resources.

3. Support Sustainable Businesses:

When shopping, prioritize brands and companies that prioritize sustainability. Look for certifications like Fair Trade, B Corp, and Organic to ensure that your purchases align with your values. Supporting businesses that are committed to environmental responsibility can drive positive change in the industry.

4. Get Involved and Advocate:

Join local environmental groups and participate in community clean-ups or tree-planting events. Advocate for sustainable policies and practices in your community and workplace. By getting involved, you contribute to broader efforts to combat environmental issues and promote sustainability.

Looking Ahead: A Greener Future

As we continue to confront the challenges of a disposable world, it is essential to stay informed and proactive. Embracing sustainability is not just a trend but a necessary shift toward preserving our planet’s resources and ensuring a better quality of life for future generations. By adopting eco-friendly practices, supporting innovative solutions, and advocating for positive change, we can work together to create a more sustainable future.

In conclusion, while the throwaway culture poses significant environmental challenges, there are numerous opportunities to make a positive impact. By making conscious choices and supporting sustainable initiatives, we can contribute to a healthier planet and a more sustainable way of living.

The post Living in a Disposable World appeared first on .

So Why Should Everyone Recycle?

It cuts back on global warming. Our planet is already feeling the effects of global warming, and we need to do whatever we can to lessen the impact. The production of certain materials from scratch can release significant amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. Aluminum production is a prime example—producing new aluminum creates 95% more CO2 than recycling old aluminum cans. Additionally, recycling paper saves trees; for each ton of paper recycled, 17 trees are saved. Each of these trees can extract around 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air in a year.

It makes us more energy-efficient. It often takes significantly more energy to create something from scratch than to recycle it. For instance, it takes twice as much energy to burn plastic as it does to recycle it; 64% more energy is required to make paper than to recycle it; and recycling just one pound of steel can save enough energy to run a 60-watt bulb for one day.

It keeps our landfills from overflowing. We’re quickly running out of space for landfills—especially near cities. Seaside cities have been dumping trash into their oceans for decades to circumvent the problem, but with widespread marine ecological collapse, this is no longer a viable option. Furthermore, it’s difficult to find land in suburban and rural areas where residents will allow landfills without a fight. The squeeze for landfill space is only going to worsen in the future.

Recycling gives us some hope for this bleak scenario. Studies show that 60% to 75% of garbage in landfills can be recycled. This means that if everyone recycled, we’d have 60% to 75% less garbage in our landfills, and we would need at least that much less land for waste disposal.

It improves the quality of our groundwater. The garbage in landfills is typically not treated; it’s simply thrown into a hole and buried. Much of this garbage is not environmentally friendly or readily biodegradable, leading to contaminants entering our water systems. Rain and other runoff from landfills can damage fragile ecosystems in streams, rivers, lakes, and other waterways. This is a major reason why it’s not safe to drink from streams and rivers while hiking or camping—even when the area appears pristine. Recycling reduces the trash in landfills, and the more we recycle, the closer our water systems can get to being as pure as they look.

It reduces air pollution. Many factories that produce plastics, metals, and paper products release toxins into the air. By recycling these materials, we lessen the need for companies to manufacture new ones, reducing the pollution released into our atmosphere. Additionally, disposing of certain recyclable materials can also generate significant pollution. For example, plastics are often burned in incinerators. Plastics are made with oil, and that oil is released into the atmosphere when the plastic burns, creating serious greenhouse gas emissions.

It creates jobs. From manufacturing to processing, and from collection to innovation, recycling is a growth industry that earns billions of dollars annually. Our need to recycle will only become more urgent as populations grow and technology evolves. Recycling creates far more jobs than landfills do—enough to make a significant difference in a small town.

It adds to property value. It’s clear that a landfill near your home can significantly decrease your property values. Recycling reduces the amount of land needed for landfills, which decreases the number of houses located near them, helping to keep property values up and homeowners happy. The more people recycle, the fewer landfills we need—and if enough people pitch in, recycling will benefit everyone.

It’s good business. Pitting business against the environment is a lose-lose situation: everyone suffers. Yet, this is how the debate has been framed in politics and the public sphere for years. This is unfortunate, because recycling actually makes good business sense. Industrial factories and processing plants save considerable money on energy and extraction costs when they use recycled materials instead of virgin resources. They also help ensure that basic resources don’t become scarce, keeping demand and prices down and ensuring that their business can continue for decades to come.

One person can make a difference. With so many good causes, it’s easy to feel discouraged—especially when the problem seems so widespread that it’s hard to see the impact of your individual efforts. Many people believe this applies to recycling, too—but the truth is that small acts of recycling can make a big difference. For instance, recycling just one large newspaper can save around 75,000 trees. On average, each person in the U.S. produces about 1,600 pounds of waste each year. If you recycled all of that, you could save around 1,100 pounds of waste annually—that’s over half a ton—just by yourself!

We hope that after reading this article, you’ll be inspired to become a recycling advocate—or at the very least, commit to recycling in the future. Recycling benefits everyone and requires only a bit of trash-sorting to implement. With our limited space for landfills and dwindling resources, it’s clear that recycling is here to stay.

The post Why Everyone Should Recycle appeared first on .

Let’s not mention that each of these laws, always stemming from horrific accidents and tales about what can and does happen behind the wheel; costs millions of dollars to not just write into the law books, but to enforce and ensure that due justice is followed? Not just millions, but also BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars! Your money. Your paycheck! All because people are too stupid to use their own common sense and pay attention while they are driving.

Driving IS a privilege not a right! This is evident by the forms and meticulous policies, tests and procedures that it takes to get a license in the first place. Interestingly, we give licenses to people that aren’t old enough to make their own decisions, but yet we trust them behind the wheel. These are the same people that light their farts on fire in school bathrooms for fun! And yes, they should be driving cars. Have we forgotten how many people are killed in car wrecks every year due to negligent driving?

Even more ridiculous, is the things you see people doing when they are sitting behind the wheel. Pick a random street in Anywhere, USA – even on a fast moving hectic interstate and you will see people immersed in nose picking, putting on make-up, texting, talking on their cell phone to the point of distraction, feeding kids, yelling at kids, changing clothes, reading the newspaper or even engaging in illicit activities. Then, come car wreck time, people are amazed, dismayed, heartbroken, and completely taken off guard. You can bet that any one, who has ever ridden in the car with that person, knew they were a distracted driver!

The problem is that while driving is a privilege not a right, the legal system is complacent with offenders. Is there any excuse that should get someone accused of vehicular manslaughter off easy? Especially if that is excuse is an addiction problem like being an alcoholic. The real problem is that people are self-centered and feel invincible. They think that bad things happen to other people, not them. They think that they are always in control, and that they can do horrific, irresponsible, and negligible things without being accountable. Should a texting while driving caused accident be punished as harshly as one that involves drinking! Yes! Because the person obviously has no respect for other people, and in one moment – they have altered the course of someone else’s life. Sometimes the other people they endanger are their own children and loved ones. A baby cannot reach out and take mom or dads cell phone. An infant in a car seat doesn’t know that setting the Tom Tom to find Starbucks while driving 85 mph down the interstate is a bad idea. You get the point.

Today, we waste an abundant amount of money and resources on things that are no brainers. It is stupid, ridiculous even that people think they have so many privileges in life, driving being one of them. Is one accident enough, or is it one too many – especially if there is negligible activity involved?

In the United States ALONE, around 43,000 people die in car accidents each year. Over 40% of these wrecks involve alcohol and drugs. And the others, mostly involve not paying attention. When you are driving something as large and heavy as a vehicle, where at any minute you could decide to take your own or someone else’s life – there has to be accountability and responsibility. And there shouldn’t be second chances. There are enough wrecks that happen as victims of circumstances, yet the majority are much more than being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is frustrating! Getting a license, insurance, purchasing a vehicle and being allowed to operate it on state funded roads should be something that only upstanding citizens and law abiding, respectful citizens are allowed to do. If you are exercising, your right to drive by engaging in things you shouldn’t be, even for a split second – shame on you. Slow down, keep your eyes on the road, and pay attention to what you are doing. All other things can wait. If you have to eat, have to text, have to make a phone call or have to read the paper – then at least be respectful enough to pull over to do it. If lawmakers would begin taking away the right to drive, ignoring pleas that it goes against constitutional law, perhaps people would take it more serious. How a generation of people with so much intelligence and insight can get caught and be prone to doing things so stupid behind the wheel is truly, beyond comprehension.

The bottom line is that driving is a privilege not a right (Dammit), which should be given ONLY to people who respect the laws and respect the lives of other people. It is not something that should be taken for granted – or given to any one who has the simple desire. Instead of spending billions of dollars on prosecuting bad drivers, enforcing the laws and cleaning up the financial, emotional, and physical side effects of car wrecks – the people involved should be left stranded or forced to take the bus. Not only would it save tons of money, but it would also save tons of lives!

The post Driving is a Privilege – Not a Right appeared first on .