Has anyone here ever donated to MADD?

[MikeWaters]

I am extremely sympathetic to their viewpoint. Furthermore, the idea of pissing off red-nosed drunks really makes me happy.

Of course, preventing tragic deaths is important.

And a consortium of groups are currently trying to roll back the drinking age to 18, despite strong evidence that it has saved many thousands of lives. In this consortium is something like 120 college presidents.

I think I might like to support them now, instead of supporting them when a tragedy has occurred in my life.

[landpoke]

I can't think of a more irrelevant organization. You may as well send your money to me, it'll do about as much good.

[MikeWaters]

http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-dr...s-wyoming.html

I know it's a big joke to you, heaven help you if your children are taken from you by a drunk driver, (esp. if you are the drunk driver).

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I am extremely sympathetic to their viewpoint. Furthermore, the idea of pissing off red-nosed drunks really makes me happy.

Of course, preventing tragic deaths is important.

And a consortium of groups are currently trying to roll back the drinking age to 18, despite strong evidence that it has saved many thousands of lives. In this consortium is something like 120 college presidents.

I think I might like to support them now, instead of supporting them when a tragedy has occurred in my life.

Mike, I think I'm with you in keeping it at 21. But the college presidents must have a good reason. What's their side of the argument? I haven't been following this.

It does seem to me that really enforcing the existing law is next to impossible and the key may be education, supervised drinking, arranging events with alcohol where transportation is provided, taking the mystique out of drunkennes. Some of these are approaches used by busnesses when hosting employee attended events where alcohol is served, by the way. Prohibition doesn't work very well.

But this isn't my field.

[Clark Addison]

I've seen quite a bit of criticism of MADD, but I haven't researched it enough to see how valid it is. Here's an example, with a couple of links to other examples.

http://www.instapundit.com/archives/006033.php#006033

[landpoke]

I don't believe I ever questioned the validity of their purported purpose, just the organization itself. Nobody, even those of us who imbibe, think drunk driving is ok. Their battle has been won, society now recognizes their point of view as the correct one and thus their reason for being is no more.

It is now a matter for law enforcement, not non-profits.

[creekster]

I have donated to MAAD in the past.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Clark Addison

I've seen quite a bit of criticism of MADD, but I haven't researched it enough to see how valid it is. Here's an example, with a couple of links to other examples.

http://www.instapundit.com/archives/006033.php#006033

that's funny. this person calls out MADD before 1) they are too successful raising money, and 2) they focus on alcohol-related deaths, and not just general safety.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Mike, I think I'm with you in keeping it at 21. But the college presidents must have a good reason. What's their side of the argument? I haven't been following this.

It does seem to me that really enforcing the existing law is next to impossible and the key may be education, supervised drinking, arranging events with alcohol where transportation is provided, taking the mystique out of drunkennes. Some of these are approaches used by busnesses when hosting employee attended events where alcohol is served, by the way. Prohibition doesn't work very well.

But this isn't my field.

why is a supposedly bright lawyer asking me why college presidents want the drinking age lowered to 18?

hint: it has a lot to do with lawyers.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Mike, I think I'm with you in keeping it at 21. But the college presidents must have a good reason. What's their side of the argument? I haven't been following this.

It does seem to me that really enforcing the existing law is next to impossible and the key may be education, supervised drinking, arranging events with alcohol where transportation is provided, taking the mystique out of drunkennes. Some of these are approaches used by busnesses when hosting employee attended events where alcohol is served, by the way. Prohibition doesn't work very well.

But this isn't my field.

College Presidents are afraid of liability and loss of income from beverage industry. I haven't seen anything more than that but they cloak it as an enforceability problem.

So, because we lose money we want the law to allow for more irresponsibility so that we aren't liable and we don't love beverage industry money on campus.

What a bunch of sell-outs.

Drink all you wish, but drive drunk and you should take it in the chopper.

And yes it's stylish for 18 year olds to get drunk, but it doesn't mean 18 year olds are responsible enough to drink. Those three years make a big difference IMHO.