Something to chew on... :bang:
How many old people do you know that drink inordinate amounts of alcohol, are full of testosterone, do burnouts on public property, and are susceptible to the effects of peer pressure? The olds may be blind, frail and slow, and may very well be a danger on the road; but no comparison can be drawn between the elderly and the "young". All the reckless hoons I would suspect don't live long anyway, therefore rendering the olds by default as sensible law abiding citizens who have survived countless wars, the depression, and god knows what else. Before everyone gets up on their high horse and cries foul - I am a 22 year old male, and am hit with all the same penalties that you are. I am a cautious driver, and would appear to be the ideal candidate for an insurance policy - yet this is not the case. I would hope that old people have a refined sense of maturity about them, and a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to draw upon. No offence, but the opinions of a teenager really mean nothing to society. Who would take the advice or opinions of anyone that only recently became eligible to vote, buy cigarettes, alcohol, or drive for that matter? Adolescents have little to contribute to society, and therefore aren't expected to contribute. So you have a higher school certificate you say? Congratulations - you can count and spell. Adolescents still have several years of study or hard labour ahead of them before anyone wants to hear anything that they have to say. I am nearing the completion of an honours degree at university - and I still have to scream to be heard.
As for paying a flat rate... How about spreading the taxes? My father paid enough taxes to buy two new SS Commodores last year. Meanwhile, a bum on the other side of town paid nothing because he earns nothing - in fact; he was PAID to sit on his arse putting my father's taxes through the pokies or in his arm. Why is it that we live in a society that rewards the lazy for contributing NOTHING, yet taxes the successful for making the world a better place? I could go on and on about this, but one fact remains - I can do nothing about it. We pay inordinate amounts of insurance, because a minority of fools to stupid to breathe (yet alone drive) get behind the wheel, destroy property, and sometimes take someone's life with them. The system is not the enemy - those individuals are. The system is merely responding in a manner necessary to preserve itself. If that involves penalising someone with no driving experience, who somehow feels the need to buy a powerful car that they in all probability can't control, then so be it. Put yourselves in their shoes - what would you do? What could a no-brainer adolescent possibly want to do in a powerful car on roads with fixed speed limits? Society is sending our age group a message - steer clear of performance vehicles until you are old enough to use them properly. Spend your money elsewhere - get an education, travel, whatever... Enjoy the car that you have and want by all means - just don't do any engine modifications until you are 25. Save up for them - beat depreciation, reap the interest, and avoid the insurance premiums! Whilst it may sound like I'm shooting myself in the foot, I would personally vote in favour of an initiative to ban performance cars from underperforming drivers. Why should I have to pay for someone else's stupidity?
That was my gripe. It was not directed at anyone, merely those un-named individuals who ruin it for everyone by doing the wrong thing. I respect that everyone has an opinion, and that it may deviate from mine - just respect the fact that this is my opinion. Society is full of perceived injustices... Take solace in the fact that you will one day grow out of their sights, and will enjoy the financial freedoms that your parents do.
Apostle ft. Franklin... said:
'Lord... Give me strength to change the things I can change, give me courage to accept the things I cannot change, and grant me wisdom to know that only two things in life are certain - death and taxes.' HAHAHA