Unfair suspensions leave workers idling

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=708865

Officials are acting much too slowly on a pressing problem: the epidemic of suspended or revoked driver's licenses in Wisconsin. The problem is wreaking havoc in Milwaukee County and elsewhere in the state.

By grounding workers, the problem slows the economy and exacerbates poverty. By punishing being broke more than bad driving - the single biggest reason for voided licenses is failure to pay fines - the suspensions betray American ideals. What's more, the glut of suspensions is clogging the courts and undermining respect for the law, particularly in Milwaukee's inner city, where the voided licenses are rife.

Lawmakers must end this epidemic by voiding the many laws that mandate or permit the suspension or revocation of driver's licenses for offenses unrelated to bad driving.

I look through the solutions bit of the article later on. It mentions getting rid of suspensions for drug offenders, reinstating universal Driver's Ed in the public schools, make community service and installment plans available in lieu of suspensions for people who can't pay fines, however, nowhere do I see anything about improving public transportation.

There are times when I weep for this country.

[Selatius]

1. On another thread, I got into a disagreement over public transit.

I recommended that in the future, the US should transition to a system seen in Germany, France, and Japan: A sophisticated network that is comprised of bus fleets, light-rail to connect urban areas with the surrounding area, and heavy-rail built for high speed bullet trains. The counterargument was that we should replace the current fleet of cars with all-electric cars, but the problem I see with that is that 1) it means the people lose out in terms of insurance costs because the government can achieve economies of scale in terms of negotiating insurance rates for its fleet of buses and trains, 2) it will not solve the problem of gridlock in urban areas, and 3) it's a waste of steel and other limited resources compared to a relatively small fleet of buses, trolleys, and trains with relatively large seating capacities.

[depakid]

2. "politicians turned to the suspension of driver's licenses to punish all manner of wrongdoing"

not related to driving.

America the punative- cutting off their noses to spite their collective faces....