Distracted Driving

I found this editorial about the texting while driving ban on the Statesman's website interesting, and it's a topic that I have heard all over the news and radio lately. Texting while driving IS dangerous and "distracted driving" is definitely not a good practice.

The author of this editorial makes the point that carmakers are making technology readily available at driver’s fingertips. Now we can surf the net, chat with friends, and purchase items online. All done while we are in our cars. Most of the technology available in cars works while the car is stationary. However, one can use their cell phone while going 70 down the highway. This is dangerous, and the government is deciding to do something about it. Laws are being passed to ban texting while driving, like the one in Austin now. Also, laws banning the use of cell phones in school zones are being passed.
While I agree that texting while driving is dangerous, I think these laws overstep boundaries. If there are going to be laws banning the use of cell phones in cars, then there would need to be laws banning people from talking to people in the backseat, grabbing a CD, switching the radio station, and all of the other "distractions" people do every day while driving. In an ideal world, people would keep their hands at 10 and 2 and eyes on the road at all times, but that’s just not how it goes. I drive from north Austin to downtown Austin every day and I have seen people doing some interesting things while going 65 mph. Putting on makeup, reading a book, all of these things are dangerous too. I do not agree with distracted driving, and I do think texting and driving should not be mixed, but I don't think the government should be trying to control every aspect of our lives.
The law just seems difficult to enforce and it just aims to correct one of the many distractions drivers have in their cars. People need to pay more attention on the road, but I don't think this law is going to change people's distracted behaviors.

Sarah Palin too much of a "celebrity"?

This article about Sarah Palin asks the question, can Sarah Palin really win the Presidency in 2012? The author is stating that she is popular for being authentic and for drawing attention to herself and the Republican party. One point of view stated in the article says that she needs to choose to be either the leader of a movement or the leader of the nation, but she can't be both. This is interesting to me, because Barack Obama did both, and won the presidency. During his whole campaign he was advertising change and promoting a movement and telling everyone in this country and the world that he was going to bring change and great things for America. He was just as much a "celebrity" figure as Sarah Palin. I can't even count the number of people I saw walking around with Obama's face on their shirts, or on bumper stickers on their cars. On top of his face being EVERYWHERE, he was endorsed by more stars than pretty much any other presidential nominee. So, i agree with the conclusion of the article, which states that people better be ready for Palin, because she has a loyal following and should be able to use her "celebrity" in a positive way in the presidential bid. I think this is especially true as Obama's rating are dropping and his promises are not being fulfilled.