Re: [SLUG] The 'nanny state' and freedom of choice

The train thing seems to be somewhat off the point.

If we take the "greater good of society" as a starting point, and after 
all it's useful to start somewhere, then smoking is bad because it costs 
a lot for the entire community (health care, cleaning, etc etc) for the 
sake of the profit of a few (shareholders, workers in the industry etc) 
so nanny has some rights to step in and abrogate choice.

Looking at porn on the internet probably doesn't damage many people so 
nanny should stay out of the way. If you worry about the corruption of 
the pornographers or the viewers, at least the evidence can be 
researched and analysed to see if it's true.

I still believe that unfortunately nanny turns out to be the governing 
class trying to impose their chosen paradigm without regard to evidence. 
Human nature sucks.

Kevin Saenz wrote:
> It has everything to do with the tracks and the guage of the tracks. NSW tracks in particular are rated around 110Kms/hour. But with the extreme temperatures (definable difference between seasons) we experience the tracks would require more frequent realignment. Rather than the once or twice a year to maintain the tracks. If our trains were to exceed 90kms on country tracks you would experience warping and buckling more frequently than if the train sits comfortably at 90. I vaguely remember this tidbit from a friend who's parents worked for the SRA when the XPT came out.
> 
> Arguing something like enforced 110km speed on open freeway as being a nanny state. Most "decent" (if you like real) cars sit comfortably doing 150 - 180 why aren't we allowed to do reasonable speeds on open freeways? Certainly not a living in a nanny state with enforced speeds of 110 Kms....
> 
> 
> On 29/06/2011, at 11:51 AM, David Lyon wrote:
> 
>> In Japan in the 1960's they were running standard trains on standard
>> tracks on the the Shenkazen line at 160kmh - 200kmh. When they
>> wanted to go faster than 200kmh they built special tracks.
>>
>> The XPT trains will run on standard tracks at 160-180kmh. But it isn't
>> allowed.
>>
>> Australian Trains still don't run as fast as what German Steam Trains could
>> run in the 1930's. Funnily enough - Hitler was more sympathetic to
>> technology
>> than what we find here in our Nanny State today. Sorry to say that - but
>> results speak for themselves...
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 11:41 AM, Jake Anderson <[email protected]>wrote:
>>
>>> I'm guessing that the 90km/h limit on the trains is more about the tracks
>>> than the trains.
>>>
>>>
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