Stan Geiger

There Should Be an Age Limit

Last evening, KOTV ran another story on the terrible accident on the Will Rogers Turnpike that killed 10 people. The report said the brakes on the rig involved were fine. They weren't used, but they were in good working order.

It has already been reported that the driver wasn't drunk. Now it has been reported that there was no mechanical failure. I'm not an insider, but I'd say we are down to two possible explanations: Either the driver just flat missed that fact that the cars in front of him weren't moving or he fell asleep at the wheel.

The driver of the semi involved is 76 years old.

The KOTV report confirmed there is no age limit for truckers. A doctor that does required physicals for truckers was interviewed. He said it would be wrong to have an age limit. I'm afraid I strongly disagree.

There has long been a debate over elderly drivers in general, and possible limitations being placed on them. Old folks hate the idea, and I don't blame them. Taking away a person's driving privilege restricts that person's freedom to move around.

My mom recently celebrated her 85th birthday. She still drives herself. Do I have a problem with that? No, I do not.

Mom is still in control of her mental faculties, and she has no physical ailments that might pose a threat to anybody on the streets. She drives little. In a given month, she might log a whole 20 miles. She drives a small Ford. Expressways are, in many instances, the quickest route to take, but one doesn't have to use them. Any destination in town can be reached without getting on an expressway. And mom puts restrictions on herself. She doesn't drive in rush-hour traffic; she doesn't drive in bad weather; she doesn't drive at night.

There is a world of difference between the above and the environment in which a big rig driver operates.

When talking about truckers, we're not talking about making a run up the street to the grocery store. Hauls can run hundreds---or even thousands---of miles. A trucker is behind the wheel of 30,000 pounds of tank, not a small car. Truckers don't stick to city streets or country roads; they drive on highways at high speeds. Truckers don't pick and choose times to drive. They drive in traffic; they drive in bad weather; they drive at night.

Airline pilots are regulated out of the cockpit at a given age. If I'm not mistaken, the age used to be 60 but has recently been raised to 65. If pilots, then why not truckers?

There was an instance of late in which an airline pilot, 60 years old, died of an heart attack in flight. The plane was never in danger. The crew wasn't even aware for a time. They thought the captain had just dosed off.

It is much safer to have something go wrong with a pilot---or have a pilot dose off in flight for that matter--than to run into a problem with a trucker. There are no obstacles at 35,000 feet. Planes have autopilots and warning alarms. And, of course, planes come complete with copilots that can take over flights if problems arise.

If a trucker doses off, or has a health issue, while doing 80 miles an hour down a turnpike, well...

The point is made that truckers are required to have regular physicals, and that point is well taken. I'm sure pilots are regularly examined as well, but one died in flight anyway. And he was a lot younger than 76.

The hard fact of the matter is, a physical is no guarantee of longevity. A guy can be issued a clean bill of health by a doctor and drop dead in the parking lot on the way to his car. That can happen to anybody regardless of age, to be sure. But one must certainly acknowledge that the risk of such an occurrence increases with age.

Beyond that, age takes its toll on folks. Just because a trucker is ruled in good health by a doctor is no guarantee that he or she can stand up to the rigors of a long haul and be able to, say, stay awake for the duration.

One can't help but feel sorry for the driver in question. He acted with no malice. It was an accident and I'm sure he is devastated. But I must contend that 76 years old is too old to be licensed to drive a machine that has the potential to do such harm.

Jackson's Apologists

It's one of those things, I guess. It's amazing how dying can immediately transform one from pariah to hero. The media's presentation of a parade of Michael Jackson apologists has been amazing.

I caught one such presentation last night on PBS. Tavis Smiley video linked to two university professors, one from Georgetown and one from Princeton. It was a three-brotha love-fest that sang the praises of the late performer. It was a load of pseudo-intellectual babble aimed at rationalizing---if not ignoring---Jackon's clearly-flawed life. He was painted---of course---as a victim.

The esteemed professor from Princeton---that, by the way, looked like something a cat dragged right out of the '70s---took the cake. He made statements that bordered on blasphemy.

The man used words like "crucifixion" and "cross to bear." He said Jackson "sacrificed his childhood because he loved us so much." I couldn't believe my ears. In the eyes of a Princeton professor, it seems, Michael Jackson was a modern-day Jesus Christ.

Princeton is considered one of the top universities in the land---and it has this guy on the payroll. Unbelievable.

If Jackson's childhood was sacrificed, it was sacrificed for love of fame and money. And he was richly compensated on both counts. Even if his daddy was the driver in the childhood years, Michael could have walked away from it when he reached the age of majority. He chose not to do so.

Michael Jackson was a victim of nothing---save his own choices and pursuits.

No Age Limits for Truckers?

The latest reports about the recent carnage on the Will Rogers Turnpike say the 76-year-old semi driver that caused it all may face 10 counts of negligent homicide. Investigators say he was driving too fast, and that they see no evidence that he even hit the brakes before mauling a column of cars.

In all the reporting on the matter, I've heard nothing of any regulation that puts a limit on how old truck drivers can be. I'd say now would be a good time to examine the wisdom of that.

A Good Time to Take a Moment

Of late, I have taken a shot or two at the first responders. I might take another one or two as time passes. But I think this is a good time to sit on the other side of the board for a spell.

There was a horrible traffic accident on an Oklahoma turnpike. Nine people died when a semi rolled over three cars. I thank God I wasn't there.

Somebody had to be there, however. Highway patrolmen, firefighters and ambulance folk were there. I wonder how many tears were shed. I wonder how much barf was tossed. I wonder how many nightmares will be had tonight.

We are currently arguing over how much money goes to police and fire in Tulsa. And that's fine. But, in the course of that discussion, let's acknowledge that wearing a uniform and being required to show up first at a nasty scene isn't an easy job.

Jacko

I recall reading a story after the death of Elvis. An entertainment big shot was reportedly at a Hollywood party when he heard of the passing. He sarcastically responded, "Good career move."

Indeed. Elvis' career was struggling in his last years. RCA couldn't get him into the studio. Music was recorded in studio and remote trucks were sent to Graceland so Elvis could do voice-overs. Then he died. And dead Elvis has made a lot more money than live Elvis ever made.

Ditto for Michael Jackson. His music is at the top of the charts for the first time in years; news of his death devours TV news time. And that appears to be a good thing for his estate. CBS reported, yesterday, that Jackson was $500 million in debt.

Is the death of Jackson worthy of all the hype? I'd say no. The guy croaked himself with drugs, and he had no redeeming value for at least the last 20 years of his life.

His passing is one of those mile markers in my life, I suppose. I worked in a night club through the last half of the '80s. He---and his sister---were fixtures in that environment. I always thought his sister was the better of the two.

Plus, Michael and I happened to share the same birth year. Anytime someone of your age dies, it's a bit of a nose-grabber.

But still, as I noted before, the man had no redeeming value.

Let's run the list.

From reports that have already come out, it can be ascertained that Jackson was a drug addict on a major scale. That should really come as a surprise to no one.

I remember seeing Jackson deny that he was a plastic surgery addict on national TV. Anyone that could look at pictures knew that was a lie.

Pedophilia. Was he a child-molester or not? He denied it. He reportedly bought his way out of one allegation with $22 million, and he was acquitted in a criminal trial. But he admitted to sharing his bed with young boys. And he adamantly declared there was nothing wrong with that.

There seems to be an awful lot of smoke coming from that campfire.

He seems to have been developmentally arrested. Psychiatrists say he was mentally still a young boy. He never grew up.

There is a lot of talk about what happens to the kids in the wake of daddy's death. I don't believe those kids are his. He claimed they came from his sperm, but they don't look like they've got a drop of black blood in them to me. I'd have to see a DNA test to believe otherwise.

Jackson himself might have done everything he could have done to look white, but he still had black genes. If those kids came from him, they should look like it.

I understand the media wants to attract viewers/listeners/readers. But over-touting a guy's death and referring to his off-the-rails life as one that included "eccentricities" is a bit silly.

Jackson wasn't "eccentric." He was just plain nuts.

Sometimes it's best to say adios and good riddance---and leave it at that.

Gold Farming

I caught a TV ad for yet another gold farm targeting the ignorant. This one is called "My Gold Envelope." The ad claimed the company is publicly-traded, and, therefore, one can rest assured that it is a trustworthy company.

Haaaaaaaa, ha, ha, ha, ha. Haaaaaaaa, ha, ha, ha, ha. Haaaaaaaa, ha, ha, ha, ha. Haaaaaaaa, ha, ha, ha, ha. Haaaaaaaa, ha, ha, ha, ha.

I could keep this up for another page or two, but I think the point is made.

Getting Paid for Going to School

In an earlier piece, I noted people seeking to become Tulsa cops get paid over $3,300 a month while attending the academy. Annualized, that's a salary of about 40 grand a year. I'm afraid I have a problem with that.

What is a police academy? Well, I reckon it's a cop school. It's a place where cop candidates go to learn how to be cops.

What is a law school? Well, I reckon that's a place where people that want to be lawyers go to learn how to be lawyers.

Do people get paid for going to law school? Nope. Quite the opposite, in fact. People pay through the nose to go to law school.

So why should people get paid for going to cop school?

Is It Just One Big Setup?

The battle between the forces that want Tulsa taxpayer money continues. I find it fascinating. In my memory, I cannot find an instance where an elected official has launched a public assault on public unions---least of all "hero" unions like those of cops, firefighters or teachers. Typically, elected officials kiss the asses of such entities in search of votes and political contributions.

Yet here we are in Tulsa, witnessing an ongoing public spat between a sitting city councilor and the cops and firefighters.

I caught a report this evening that said the firefighters have managed to come up with a way to cut their budget without furloughs.

Isn't that the way it always goes? Some government operation eats tax money like it's going out of style until a bump in the road shows up. Then, magically, that operation seems to be able to get by with less without furloughs, layoffs or pay cuts.

A good example was offered up by a sports report out of Norman. It's a tough year for the state government, and OU has announced there will be no tuition hike this year. Still, in the midst of all this, in the midst of tough economic times, the OU regents voted to hand out fat raises to a butt-load of coaches. And at least some of those coaches have already been made millionaires by the university.

Back on point, Councilor Martinson's argument concerning cops and firefighters seems to center around the point that these two departments are consuming all of the money brought in from the city's permanent 2-penny sales tax. In fact, he argues, in this year they will consume more than that.

Meanwhile, there is the "other union," and the city's non-union employees and various non-government types that live on government money. They all want a bigger piece of the pie.

The recent spat has led to a lot of media coverage. TV stations, talk radio, newspapers and local bloggers have picked up on the issue. The subliminal message being sent is this: The real problem is, the pie just isn't big enough.

One thing all folks that live off gubment money can agree on is the notion that the pie just isn't big enough.

I wouldn't be too surprised to see another shoe fall in the near future. These warring factions could suddenly come together in a quest to push for an increase in Tulsa's permanent sales tax.

We'll see.

Nepotism Case Resolved?

Tulsa City Councilor Rick Westcott's son has resigned from the Tulsa Police Department. He did so because the city hiring him was illegal under state law due to the fact that his daddy is an elected city official.

According to the Tulsa World, Mayor Taylor and the police chief she hired (and is reportedly paying over $160,000 a year) both knew about the Westcott hiring but claim they didn't know there was a law against it.

Puuuuhlease!

Meanwhile, the World also reported young Westcott was hired in January and resigned effective yesterday. He was set to graduate on Friday.

Now, according to the Tulsa Police Department website, apprentice police officers are paid while attending the academy. They are paid to the tune of $3,313.96 per month.

January through June at that rate of monthly pay yields a total pay figure of just a hair under 20 grand. Given that the hiring of young Westcott was illegal from the start, it seems to me the pay he received was received illegally.

I'd say reimbursement is in order.

Public Safety v. Mowing Grass

In Tulsa at present, there is a great debate going on concerning a budget battle between the City Council and Kat Taylor. The argument seems to have boiled down to money for police and fire or money for mowing grass and weeds.

Police and fired advocates won out.

I have seen good points made on both sides of the debate. There is duplicity in my opinion on the matter. On that I might comment further at another time. But, for now, I'd like to condemn the minimizing of the value of mowing. Keeping the grass and weeds down is about more than making the city look better. Keeping grass and weeds mowed, in fact, goes to public safety.

Tall grass and weeds, for example, can create visibility problems at certain intersections. Maybe not for the people that drive those gigantic pickups and SUVS I can't see around, but for people like me in the short cars. Hampered visibility at intersections can cause accidents.

How about varmint control?

I'm pretty sure if I owned a vacant lot in a neighborhood, city code would require me to keep it mowed. Why is that? Aesthetics? Partly perhaps. But I imagine it mostly has to do with not providing a haven for rats, mice, snakes, fleas, ticks and such.

Lastly, I would point out that letting the grass and weeds go increases fire danger.

Imagine you've got burned-out grass and weeds along an expressway that stand two feet tall. It's August, 105 degrees, it hasn't rained in weeks, and the wind is whipping through town at gusts of 40 miles per hour. It's not too hard to get your head around that scenario in these parts.

And then some idiot tosses a lit cigarette butt out of his car window. Boom, you've got a grass fire that could easily turn into a wildfire that could find itself to your house and burn it to the ground.

If the grass and weeds are kept cropped, grass fires are still possible. But with less fuel available they can more easily be contained and snuffed out.

The issue---if you'll pardon the pun---isn't cut and dried.

There is a lot of parochialism involved in the current debate. And sometimes you have to cut through some fat to get to the meat.