----- Original Message -----
From: "Douglas Greville" <dgrev@mail.ruralnet.net.au>
To: "Military Vehicles List" <mil-veh@skylee.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 10:42 AM
Subject: Re: [MV] More on HR4205.....Thank you EAA!
> I can see what they are aiming at: don't let the public do anything they
> aren't mature enought to control their own destinies, but
> make sure they pay their taxes, so the do-gooders can draw a salary and
> keep on dreaming up ways to annoy us.
>
> Life involves risk, we all make our own choice as to how much. We know
> that paint contains solids and solvents, used oil is bad for us if
> you get it on your skin etc etc etc, having made that personal
> determination of risk, why can't they just leave us alone?
> I like to know the hazard details, but it is MY decision not theirs
> as to what I do.
>
Yes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The recurring conundrum that I keep pondering being that governments seem to
leave the rock-climbers, pot-holers (cavers), skiers (all types), divers and
other severely dangerous hobbyists alone, possibly as many of these are seen
to be healthy, green, out-door pursuits whereas the personal accident rate
is frightening and the risk to the essential state funded rescuers very
serious too.
Why the governments of the developed nations seem to be bent on the
suppression of a tiny few that actually like slow, impractical,
uncomfortable, old army trucks frankly beats me.
In a recent league table published by HM Govt, the top three most dangerous
pastimes were:
Ball games (untouchable, our national sport)
Water activities (green, outdoor pastime)
Horses (Royal seal of approval, exempt interference)
Right down the bottom came motor sports and the like and at the very end. .
. . . . . .
guns and shooting, but we've just banned that so no danger now from the govt
defined safest pastime at all.
Overshadowed by the HR4205 rumblings was a similarly swingeing bit of EU
(trendy green) legislation on "end of life" requirements for old vehicles
correct disposal, you may recall I mentioned the FBHVC as an umbrella
organisation and there is of course the Federation Internationale Vehicules
Anciens (FIVA), the FBVHC reports "The major turning point in lobbying the
European Parliament was undoubtedly the rally organised by FIVA (of which
FBHVC is a member) in Strasbourg last October when over 1,000 vehicles
assembled from all over Europe and a 27,000 strong petition was personally
handed to the President of the EU."
The result was a re-write of the oppressive law that would have taken away
all collectors vehicles and parts donors.
United we stand. . . . . . . . . .
Richard
Southampton - England
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Sep 02 2000 - 09:32:40 PDT