Sound Violations

Should our local governments have control over the noise we make?

Most cities have no way of accurately measuring noise levels at a party, your stereo or the exhaust system on your car. Its all done by rule of thumb and they leave the judgement up to officers to say if its too loud or not. That being said, Officer A and B may have 2 completely different opinions on what's loud, and that can be the difference between whether or not you get a ticket and/or a fine.

Should we have these laws?

If so, should they be different for weekends as opposed to week days? or Night and day? When should the laws be applied? Music? Parties? Cars? Motorcycles? Construction zones? Children outside early on weekend mornings when some neighbors are trying to sleep?

David Gagen (1:00)

The Speed Limit

I have gotten two tickets since I have been driving--one was a speeding ticket when it wasn't me who was speeding. Although I was able to take traffic school so these tickets would not affect my insurance payments, I have to worry about speeding for the next year because any more violations will go on my record.

What does everyone think of the fact that Illnois is trying to cut down on speeders on the highway by sending tickets in the mail or even tracking your average speed from toll both to the next toll both? Nearly everyone speeds sometimes, and many people speed all the time, so doesn't that mean most people think it's okay to speed, at least in some cases? This being the case, should speeding laws be made tougher or lighter in your opinion?

Naveed Somani

Obama For President?

How do you feel about Barack Obama being our next president?

Do you think President-Elect Obama would have won the election if he were a white guy?

Do you think that a large percentage of African-American voters would have voted for Obama in the election if he were white?

Or do you believe that some people voted for him just because of race?

(P.S. I'm not trying to start a racial issue here--I just would like to hear other opinions on this.)

--Clint Knox (1:00)

Smokin' Ban

What is your opinion on the smoking fifteen feet from any building entrance? I can understand around parks or family places but, what is wrong with people smoking in a shop or where there aren't that many people around?

Ben Legner (1:00)

How do you feel about illegal immigration in the U.S?

How do you feel about illegal immigration in the United States? Do you think it affects everyone, and if so, how?

What do you think our goverment should do about it?

How would you handle this type of situation?

Nick Warstler (1:00)

Outlawing Firearms

The current President-elect is proposing to ban firearms. How do you feel about this situation??

Do you think that the ban will come into effect??

How do you think this will impact the US??

Adam Baron (1:00)

Should seatbelts be mandatory, with penalty of law?!

I have been confused by this since the day I first heard of the law being able to punish us for not doing anything wrong. If anyone out there can give me a good explanation on how you can cause damage to anyone else but yourself by not wearing seatbelt, please comment in.

Do you think the seatbelt law is a bad law? Why or why not?

Randy Bustle (1:00)

Should you be able to spank your Children?

In my opinion, if my child was misbehaving I have the right to spank him/her. But is there a "right" and a "wrong" place to punish a child? What are your views on public punishment, physical and verbal? Which is morally correct? If either? Are society's current views on this subject the reason for increasing cases of parent abuse?

Thanks

Jordan Lynn (1:00)

taxes and more taxes

Why do some people believe that if they can they will screw Uncle Sam and not pay taxes? They believe that they should not have to pay taxes for something they don't believe in. They think, Why give the government more money and take away from my family?

But why do we pay taxes in the first place? Well, for a lot of reasons, such as to keep me and my family safe by putting cops on the street. In my opinion, the fact that I can go to sleep every night knowing that I am safe is worth paying taxes. When I drive on paved roads every day to work, I know the roads are paved with tax dollars, as are the street lights that guide me home every night.

So, should people who want to screw over the government go live somewhere where they don't have a government or pay taxes? Or should we take all these people, drop them in the middle of North Dakota, and tell them not to pay taxes and govern themselves? Or do you think sometimes it's legitimate for people to refuse to pay their taxes?

thanks for your thoughts--

the great blogger, Steven Lobur (1:00)