On the road again

I appreciate the letter from John Shibley of Belton in Sunday’s Trib. I have often wondered who actually owns the roads in Texas, and now I know. They apparently belong to Mr. Shibley.

Mr. Shibley seems to believe that those who drive slower than the speed limit are inconsiderate. However, the speed limits he refers to are “maximum limits,” not required speeds.

This summer, I tried something I’ve heard about on the radio for years. I cut my speed back to 60 mph whenever possible. And what I heard on the radio was true: I get 2 to 3 miles per gallon more. I’m no tree-hugger by any stretch, but I believe in saving a buck whenever I can.

The writer says he’ll never pass a vehicle if he has “a solid yellow line in my lane. That is illegal.” If I’m correct, it’s illegal to cross that yellow line, not illegal to pass a vehicle. If I’m wrong, I stand corrected.

He also writes that “while you are on the improved shoulder lane, you are spewing whatever debris is in that lane onto my vehicle.” I drive a 2002 Jeep Liberty, and my windshield has two cracks, two major chips and several smaller dings. These came from vehicles, including cars, pickups, 18-wheelers, even a motorycle, all “spewing debris” from the main lanes of the interstates and highways, not from the shoulders.

As I often drive a bit slower than the traffic flow, I pull over onto the improved shoulders whenever possible to let them by, but only when my line-of-sight shows the shoulder to be as clear and safe as possible. If I cannot see what’s coming ahead, those behind me may have to wait a couple of minutes before getting by.

So, until they post “minimum required speeds” on Mr. Shibley’s roads, I will continue to drive 60 mph when safe and when possible. Since I have slowed down, I have re-discovered the beauty of our landscape, I’m doing my small part in conserving fossil fuel usage, and I have realized that I really shouldn’t be in such a hurry anyway because I’m just not that damned important.

David Anderson,

Clifton

Worried for the nation

I’m writing in regard for this great nation we live in, whose freedom was won by the blood of many, whose Constitution was written as a safeguard for this nation, and whose Declaration of Independence was scribed as a birth announcement of this country.

In a few short weeks, the president-elect will be sworn in as the leader of this nation. However, I will be watching with fear. This man many elected never served in the military (but was old enough to have served in Desert Storm). However, his ideology is owed to Indonesia, his loyalty was to a black supremacist minister, and his courage is carried on the shirttails of his Cabinet.

Socialism in the next few years will mark our government. I pray that those who are serving in this Cabinet will remember our forbearers when we witness tax hikes, inflation and a low incentive to work because Barack Obama believes “the wealth should be spread.”

Judith Nees

Waco

EDITOR’S NOTE: This socialism thing must be catching. According to the Washington Times this week, some Republican Party officials say they’ll try to pass a resolution at the January meeting of the Republican National Committee accusing President Bush and congressional Republican leaders of embracing “socialism,” the charge repeatedly leveled at Obama during much of the 2008 general election.