Monday, January 09, 2006

Mr. Fix-It

Once in a while, I feel compelled to take some time out from my rather mundane schedule and provide solutions to the world's problems. Now, keep in mind, folks, that I can't do this every time a problem arises, but I will help out whenever I get a few minutes. I think I have time for three today.
Problem #1 - How to enforce seat belt laws. In Virginia, the driver and front-seat passenger are required by law to wear a seatbelt, but law enforcement officers can't stop a car, simply because the seat belt law is being ignored. Lawmakers have tried to get that changed, but with no success. The solution is simple. If law enforcement officers would simply hold non-seat belt wearing drivers to the letter of the law, we'd all wear seat belts. I went through radar this morning on I-64. I was doing about 70 in a 65 mile-per-hour zone. I didn't even blink an eye. Well, that's not true, I blink a lot, but I didn't worry about going five miles over the limit. I've seen drivers, especially on the interstate, go through radar at well over ten miles above the speed limit and police didn't budge.
Now suppose the police started pulling over anyone on I-64 who wasn't wearing a seat belt, and who was going just one mile over the limit. Just let the word get out that that's what the police were doing, and I bet there'd be a lot more buckling up. Okay, one problem down.
Problem #2 - The Richmond Braves/NASCAR messes. We can't do anything about getting NASCAR, but Henrico should go after the Braves. I think it's doable. Build a nice park where the Hall was going to be. Put in some hotels, office buildings, restaurants and stuff, and, oh yeah, a slave museum, and voila, you have yourself a neat Henrico County sports/entertainment/cultural center. Maybe they could even build a performing arts center while they're at it. Then, instead of worrying about having to go downtown, everyone would flock to Henrico. And, as for funding this whole thing, I have the solution to that to (this is a freebie), sell more laptops.
Problem #3 - Here's the big one...an issue that's been debated for years, and, this week, will get a lot more airplay, with that supreme court nomination thing going on. Let me use an illustration to once and forever settle this huge debate. If scientists found a rock on Mars and within that rock, they could hear a heartbeat, and when they poked at the rock, something inside it moved, and when they spoke to the rock, something inside it moved, what would the headline in all the papers proclaim? "Life found on Mars!" Right? Of course, right.
So, if you find the same thing, here on earth, in a woman's womb, what should we proclaim? Exactly. Problem resolved.
Next?