We trust our governments to approve/endorse/enforce comprehensive, up-to-date training in vehicle operation.
I think it prudent not to be very trusting of any government, particularly one that wants to substitute its dictates for your common sense. Our citizenry's traditionally jaundiced view of government interference has made our country the economic and freedom-loving powerhouse it is today and I'm always disturbed when I see the insipid tentacles of bureaucracy creeping into every aspect of our lives--it never releases its grip.
Certainly beware of any government that wants to limit your right to a: big V-8, 10-inch lift, insane horsepower strapped to any two-wheel contrivance, Big Mac and super-sized fries, Jenna Jameson at work, hand gun, hand-rolled cigar, 100' TV, and the right to enjoy a moderate amount of select single-malt with any of the above. That world is called Europe and their standard of living sucks--I've been there.
Just my two cents.
Our standard of living is in fact very good. I don't have to worry that every other person has a gun so the death rate from gun shots are very low. Big Mac's are not that popular so I have a whole veriaty of differant and intersting foods to eat. I also get a whole seat to myself because there is not the same number of over wieght people taking up all the space. The landscape is second none. Deaths on the UK roads are the lowest per 1000 in Europe which are lower that USA. Well I could go on but the point is that standard of living can be mesured in lots of ways and just because we don't follow the same life style does not make us inferior. Oh and we can smoke Cuba cigars because our goverments don't tell us were we can go on holiday.
As for goverments in road safety well there was a crash outside my home last night. Drunk ran into a car full of mum and kids. Everybody was okay because of all the features that the goverments have forced the car makers to put onto cars. Is that a bad thing?
You live in the U.K., right? That's not really Europe.
I don't really know what Velvet Monkey is talking about. I certainly hope quality of life is not measured by Jenna Jameson and 100' (feet?) TVs. As for single malt scotch, well, I've been to Scotland a few times and sampled many of them. Is that Europe? I despise McDonald's food. Are Swishers, Phillies and White Owl cigars hand rolled?
I don't think it's practical, but it would be good if you had to test with something roughly the equivalent of what you were going to ride.
I know that around LA, there are Harley dealers that will rent or loan you a very light Buell to take the DMV test, at the same time they sell you a heavy road hog. They ought to be lined up and shot for engaging in this practice. I would liken that to doing a riding test in a Mini and then having a license valid for driving a semi-trailer (maybe not quite, but you get the idea...)
Power too - in my state you can test on a scooter and then buy a 170 (or more) HP liter bike and splatter yourself all over the freeway guard rail.
Not sure what the answers are - but it would be good to have a more comprehensive riding test all around, I think.
Leno, I'm glad you feel the UK is the place to be and I'm also glad and interested to see your sensitivity to criticism about your way of life.
I'm interested because many citizens in the UK, as well as those in Europe, are quick and hostile in pointing out the deficits, real and perceived, of our way of life here in States (and you provided a good example of this).
You evidently think my way of life sucks, I think your's sucks. Don't get angry about it. But I at least have the freedom to ride whatever motorcycle I can buy.
Yes, that's 100 foot TVs--I'm sure one's on the way.
The Velvet Monkey wrote:Leno, I'm glad you feel the UK is the place to be and I'm also glad and interested to see your sensitivity to criticism about your way of life.
I'm interested because many citizens in the UK, as well as those in Europe, are quick and hostile in pointing out the deficits, real and perceived, of our way of life here in States (and you provided a good example of this).
You evidently think my way of life sucks, I think your's sucks. Don't get angry about it. But I at least have the freedom to ride whatever motorcycle I can buy.
Yes, that's 100 foot TVs--I'm sure one's on the way.
Hey! you started the 'your home stinks', I was just pointing out that anybody can play the same game but it's pointless. What is important to you is what matters but you should not run anybody down just because their home does not match your ideal. And by the way I have the freedom to ride what I like, but I also have the asurance that I'm not going to be wiped out by some monkey on a GSX1000 who just happend to have the price in his wallet. Freedom without responsibility is just anarchy.
I would liken that to doing a riding test in a Mini and then having a license valid for driving a semi-trailer (maybe not quite, but you get the idea...)