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Quote: from marshmellowman at 12:39 pm on June 24, 2008

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That's fucking idiotic. Just because everyone speeds doesn't make the law stupid, nor does it mean that the law must change because the majority are going fast.

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yeah it does  

85th percentile rule etc

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Post edited at 9:48 am on June 24, 2008 by marshmellowman

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and victorious in war shall be made glorious in peace.

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The Senate and the House of Representatives set the law, not the majority population.

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Quote: from marshmellowman at 9:44 am on June 24, 2008

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The Senate and the House of Representatives set the law, not the majority population.

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 But if everyone was breaking the law it would not only be logically unenforceable, but it would become de-facto legal.

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Quote: from marshmellowman at 9:44 am on June 24, 2008

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The Senate and the House of Representatives set the law, not the majority population.

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 But if everyone was breaking the law it would not only be logically unenforceable, but it would become de-facto legal.

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True, but you can still get punished for engaging in a pseudo-legal activity. Similar to smoking marijuana.

FP

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I think we are in rats' alley
Where the dead men lost their bones.

Post edited at 9:48 am on June 24, 2008 by shadowpool

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You create your past.

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Quote: from Khadgar at 5:46 pm on June 24, 2008

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Quote: from marshmellowman at 9:44 am on June 24, 2008

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The Senate and the House of Representatives set the law, not the majority population.

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  But if everyone was breaking the law it would not only be logically unenforceable, but it would become de-facto legal.

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I guess, however that doesn't make it anymore correct. If everyone thought that murder was fine does that mean that we'd have to make murder legal?

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Strictly speaking, yes.

:::Hss's standpoint:
GIVEN- everyone speeds
THEREFORE- the speed limit should be raised
BECAUSE- it doesn't slow people down and encourages selective enforcement of the law (random chance of getting caught)

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The speed limit should be 50 for cars and 40 for trucks with trailers.  Everyone would get a 50% increase in fuel efficiency and food would be less expensive.  In fact, cars and trucks should be programmed to never exceed 60mph.  Also, breaking the speed law should be a federal offense with a fine of up to $5,000,000 depending on your tax bracket.  The national debt would be gone in no time.  The world would be saved.

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Cars are more efficient at fuel consumption at higher speeds (well higher gears).

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Quote: from marshmellowman at 9:46 am on June 24, 2008

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Quote: from Khadgar at 5:46 pm on June 24, 2008

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Quote: from marshmellowman at 9:44 am on June 24, 2008

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The Senate and the House of Representatives set the law, not the majority population.

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  But if everyone was breaking the law it would not only be logically unenforceable, but it would become de-facto legal.

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I guess, however that doesn't make it anymore correct. If everyone thought that murder was fine does that mean that we'd have to make murder legal?

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 Strictly speaking, yes.

:::Hss's standpoint:
GIVEN- everyone speeds
THEREFORE- the speed limit should be raised
BECAUSE- it doesn't slow people down and encourages selective enforcement of the law (random chance of getting caught)

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The speed limits are stupidly low in the US, but raising it because everyone drives fast is stupid. They should raise the limit, but not because of the majority speeding. I perfectly understand your point, and it's a very valid one that that, but there's a reason why it's not the general population that get to decide on certain things. Accidents are more likely to be fatal at higher speeds as well, for example.

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and victorious in war shall be made glorious in peace.

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Are you kidding? Gas is way to expensive to be driving that fast..... The speed limit is set at 55 because that's the most gas-efficient speed. People who drive at 70 or higher are just throwing away their money, and that's not the government's problem. And you get pulled over because that's the law, and you're endangering other people when you drive that fast.

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Quote: from shadowpool at 5:48 pm on June 24, 2008

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The speed limit should be 50 for cars and 40 for trucks with trailers.  Everyone would get a 50% increase in fuel efficiency and food would be less expensive.  In fact, cars and trucks should be programmed to never exceed 60mph.  Also, breaking the speed law should be a federal offense with a fine of up to $5,000,000 depending on your tax bracket.  The national debt would be gone in no time.  The world would be saved.

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Cars are more efficient at fuel consumption at higher speeds (well higher gears).

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Wind resistance increases cubed the velocity, internal friction increases square. You end up with a speed that loads the engine the most, at the lowest RPM, in the highest gear--the most efficient speed. That's usually 40-45 mph for trucks and up to 55mph for very small cars.

For the average car, fuel efficiency drops off rapidly after 60mph, according to fueleconomy.gov. It's actually about 7% per 5 miles per hour over 55. So if you drive 55mph, you'll get 40 miles per gallon. At 80mph you'll get 26 mpg.

Post edited at 10:09 am on June 24, 2008 by shadowpool

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You create your past.