Wow... this thread has really gone off the deep end, hasn't it?
I understand your frustration, Firefly, but...
Bottom line is, we have such violations (for those of you who wish to use that term) because of the jacka$$es that just can't find enough consideration for their fellow man to follow the rules, thus putting us all in danger. They're the real problem here.
As for myself, I don't consider it a violation unless they actually search my vehicle/home/person without a warrant, but that's just me. I'm not thrilled with checkpoints, but honestly, I can't think of a better way for LEOs to check for idiots on the roads, and I guess it makes sense from their point of view to check in places that would be more prone for such activity... such as a social gathering. But of course, that's just my opinion. Now, if we could find a way to better rid ourselves of the jacka$$es to begin with, I guess the checkpoints would be moot, but so far, a solution hasn't been found. Just another case of the few ruining things for all of us.
It may very well be a slippery slope, but what else would you suggest? Is there a viable alternative that would enhance public safety?
As for the yada yada, I wouldn't say that you were politically incorrect (I couldn't give less of a crap about political correctness), but I would say that it was an insensitive and possibly disrespectful remark, and maybe not the best way to express yourself without sounding like a tool. It was a rather unfortunate choice of words, and I choose to believe that you didn't mean to sound so callous.
Ben Franklin did say some wise things, but interpreting this quote depends on your definition of an 'essential' liberty, doesn't it? I personally don't put this situation in that category. Ben also didn't live in today's world, and we can only speculate on how he would view this. In his day, a drunken buggy driver wouldn't be the danger that a drunk driver in (or on) today's motorized vehicles would be, simply due to the speed of the vehicle. In today's world, he might be a little concerned. But then again, Ben was a bit of a hedonist.
Ah, well, I'm going to bed now. Guess I'll check in a few days or so to see if anybody has a cow over my comments, but I'm not going to let it concern me. I, like everyone here, am entitled to my opinion. And regardless of anyone's opinion, I value you all as fellow Spyderlovers. No matter what, we still have that in common.
And that's all I've got to say about that.
