Red-Light Cameras

Red light cameras: Do they really help reduce accidents and fatalities? Who knows? Yet another story fails to mention ALL the data that may help decide.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/traffic/study%3A-red-light-cameras-save-lives

OK, there are fewer fatalities in the cities and time frames that were studied. Were their fewer accidents too? Were there more accidents or was it about the same? The article doesn't tell us. Could fewer fatalities be related to better quality cars with side air-bags that protect the occupants better? Could be; but the article doesn't tell us. Is there an increase in rear-end accidents because somebody suddenly stops hard at a yellow light for fear of getting caught on a red? The one guy alludes to that but the article doesn't share any data with us one way or the other.

They claim the red light cameras save money; how? We spend money on the cameras, monitoring, and maintenance. Did the cameras replace officers and save us money? Or, do we still have the officers and the new red-light camera expense too? How about if the officers we're already paying just do their job and write some tickets. In Austin, I've seen first-hand where people have run red-lights right in front of APD and they did not go after them. I've even waved and pointed for them to do so but they just drive away. That's an enforcement issue and not a reason for invasion of privacy civil rights violating red-light cameras.

 

Texas Voter ID Bill

Why would anybody have an issue with showing ID when they go vote? I don't recall ever NOT showing ID.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/politics/senate-poised-to-pass-voter-id-today

They say it'll affect the poor and the elderly. How? Why do they not already have ID? You can't get along in this society without ID at some point. And, saying it's too expensive is a LIE. A state issued ID card is $16 and it's good for 4 years (in TX anyway). I've found more change than that at our neighborhood self-serve car wash on my nightly walks. I made almost $20 last year walking 4-5 days a week all year and finding change left behind on the vacuums and car wash bays. So, if you need money for your ID card then "take a hike".

They claim it'll "disenfranchise voters". How about the LEGAL voters that have been "disenfranchised" by illegal votes all these years? Example:

If 100 people vote on something then each vote is worth 1% of the total voters. But, if 10 of those people shouldn't have voted because they're ineligible for some reason (felon, dead or French) then the legal votes are diluted by 10%. The 90 legal votes should've carried a weight of 1.1% each but because of the illegal voters they're only worth 1%. Aren't the LEGAL voters being disenfranchised at that point?

They claim requiring ID at the polls will cost the state $2M. That's mostly for advertising to inform people before the next election that they need to get an ID card. It's not any "real" cost since poll workers are generally unpaid volunteers. They'd recover some of that money just with people forking over their cash for a state issued ID card anyway. Besides, isn't $2M to ensure Democracy is fair and non-fraudulent worth it?