New Hampshire Views
Sign bill borders on ridiculous
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Imagine driving along a country road in New Hampshire and suddenly coming upon a sign that blares: "Warning, Massachusetts Border 500 Feet."
What do you do? Drive on? Turn around? Look for border guards? Reach for your passport?
After you recover from this stunning announcement, you might ask: "Why am I being alerted?"
Well, a handful of New Hampshire legislators think you need a strong reminder that there is the New Hampshire way of life and then there's Massachusetts.
These lawmakers are of the opinion that the Bay State has given up freedoms as they relate to carrying guns, wearing helmets, setting off fireworks, and paying for cigarettes and booze. You, as a motorist, could get into deep trouble if you don't recognize that the rules change once you leave the libertarian confines of the Granite State.
Wow, to that we shake our heads and marvel at the gall of those behind this bill.
"It was brought to my attention a number of roads are not marked and people didn't know they were leaving the state," Republican Rep. Jennifer Coffey of Andover said. "If you don't have a helmet on, pull over and put it on. If you don't have a seat belt on, buckle up. If you have a firearm in your possession, maybe you need to turn around."
And, oh, by the way, let's try to reassure all of us in New Hampshire that we value such liberties more than Massachusetts, the birthplace of freedom.
And let's make certain we inform the thousands of New Hampshire residents who cross the border every day to earn their livelihoods in Massachusetts that those career decisions were wrongheaded.
And let's ignore that the Massachusetts technology boom spread north and left a remarkable economic engine in New Hampshire.
While we're at it, let's alert Vermont, Canada and Maine that we'll soon be looking to post signs on those borders, too.
After all, our residents will want to know that environmental regulations in Vermont are too strict, that you'll not want any part of the Canadian health care system, and that in Maine, well, they talk funny there.
"It's always a good idea to let people know when they're in New Hampshire because it's the best place to be," said Republican Sen. Sharon Carson of Londonderry, one of the bill sponsors. "We're very proud of our state, who we are, what we do. We think it's the best place for people to live, work, raise their families."
Great. Then put up some signs that say as much and let's leave the veiled insults on the side of the road.
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Whenever I take a long road trip, I get a certain sense of satisfaction from seeing that I am crossing into a new state. Hey, when you're bored and driving for hours on end, you've got to entertain your brain somehow.
So why not just put up a sign marking our exact border at all roads crossing into a new state? It can't possibly be that expensive, and from what I hear, a number of businesses are volunteering to put up the cost anyway.
Let's just not get out of hand and make the signs massive, with bright blinking multi-colored lights and arrows and other gawdy bells and whistles.
Some states have the courtesy to put drivers on alert once they enter the state. In NY, they put up signs to let drivers know that they can be ticketed for not having their lights on when it's raining. At least I think that's what it says, it's been awhile since I've been there. But they tell us what we need to know.
If Massachusetts can't be bothered to notify people that their NH gun license is NOT honored there, so having your gun can get you thrown in jail for 18 months at a minimum, why don't WE?
Doesn't need to be complicated: "Mass border 500 feet. Seatbelts and helmets required. NH firearm licenses not recognized. Unauthorized firearm possession punishable by no less than 18 months imprisonment."
Who's hurt by that?
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but the truth of the matter is that they point out the stark differences between states, populations, philosophies and beliefs.
I have said it once and I will say it again. This country has become far too diverse, far too different in values and beliefs to be governed by one central government.
People in Texas really don't want New Yorkers to tell them how to live, people in New York don't want people in Texas to tell them now to live.
My prediction is that we will either a) experience a civil war in our lifetime or b) split the union and people will make land swaps to exchange property to live in a region where people want to be governed as they would like.
This country is far too divided. I see no hope for the future of 51% dictating to 49% on how we will move forward as a nation.
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Ok....do we actually have a problem with NH residents being prosecuted in Mass for these things? I have lived here all of my life and don't know anyone who has had a problem going into Mass with these issues. It's not like the Mass authorities are waiting on the other side of the border to grab us as we cross! And I am really getting tired of the "holier than though" and "elitist" attitudes of living in certain places. Politicians are constantly making vague claims to legitimacy because of some vague demographic like where you live.
Don't we have more pressing issues to spend our political energies on?
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.................Look for border guards? Reach for your passport?" - after the Republican whackos succeed in starving the United States right out of existence with their tax cuts for the wealthy? Maybe that's why they want a NH Defense Force. Papers please? I think I'll re-register as a Republican and get off one of their lists.
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look for border guards or reach for your passport.
But if you're riding a motorcycle without your helmet, you may want to put it on . . . or turn around.
Or if you're driving a vehicle without insurance, you may want to turn around.
Or if you're carrying a gun in your car or on your person . . . you may want to turn around.
Or if you're texting while driving, you may want to stop (actually no sane person should be doing that anyway.)
Or if you're not wearing your seatbelt, you may want to put it on.
Granted, I think they need to rethink the verbiage that will appear on the signs. Something a little less drastic. How 'bout simply, "Mass border 500 feet" ? ? ?
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