We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:12:49 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification If you live in Kansas, did you know that your state apparatchiks have decided that, despite the fact that others states allow it, and that they actually meet safety and roadability regs in place when built - you can't register something like a White Scout Car or Ferret in the state? I suppose on the plus side, it also mean they can't property tax you, either. These things are registerable in other states. I have seen several (and ridden in one and followed it through downtown Atlanta traffic - see pic linked above) that are registered (and legal) in... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html Mon, 23 Jan 2006 06:32:33 -0600 P.S.: In my post above, where I wrote "it's", I should have written "its." Confusing and/or conflating the two strings of letters is one of those things which makes me pet my peeve, so I reckon I'd better 'fess up, myself. I (of course) categorically deny that my posting this correction has anything whatsoever to do with my being slightly autistic and , well, somewhat ethylized. hic. Hey, it's (got it right that time) important to be Ernest (Earnest?), ain't it? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39355 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39355 Tue, 24 Jan 2006 02:27:39 -0600 This reminds me of the flap we had a while back, in a town in which I necessarily am legally domiciled, about a guy trying to give harbor tours in a DUKW. The old women of both sexes and all ages got attacks of the vaporous fantods about it, for it's being OD-colored, or so they said. He repainted the thing turquoise-blue, with maybe flowers (I don't remember exactly) and they still objected, and shut him down. M'self, I thought it was 'way cool, and would have been happy to buy a ride. Couldn't afford it at the time, alas! This is the same town in which a resident wrote a letter to the Editor of the local paper bemoaning the building of a new bridge on the the main road into the place. Her complaint? She lived on property next to a canal which connected to the bridged waterway, and objected to people going past her place in boats without her permission. She was afraid that the new bridge would be higher underneath than the old one, and even more of those nasty boat-using people would be able to cruise past her viewpoint than had previously done so. Argghhh! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39354 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39354 Tue, 24 Jan 2006 02:11:21 -0600 I just wanted to be sure. I really don't care what people own or drive as long as they don't get the rpms up to 4000 at 2 am. Nor do I care if the vee-hickle in question is half tracked, one tracked or off its rocker. If it floats your boat to have it, be my guest. I pay taxes to maintain the roads and the red tapeworms who screech about it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39352 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39352 Tue, 24 Jan 2006 00:15:25 -0600 Any operation of privately owned surplus military combat vehicles on public roads shall be in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 8-2002(a)(3) and under the regulation of local authorities permitting or prohibiting processions or assemblages on the highways. Which might be appropriate for a tank. But for a vehicle like a Ferret, or Dingo, etc, it is not. This is a CYA bureaucratic action.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39302 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39302 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 14:28:03 -0600 Wouldn't the civilian purpose be the same as the military purpose--going from point A to point B without having to walk? Of course, the military purpose for *going* to point B might not exactly coincide with a civilian purpose... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39301 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39301 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 14:21:16 -0600 So, let me get this straight: You can own it legally, but you can't drive it unless it is registered, and it can't be registered because some policy wonk says it serves no civilian purpose? Uh, okay...aren't parades and historic and re enactments civilian? Movies? Documentaries? Making deliveries? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39299 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39299 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 14:09:59 -0600 The MVPA (of which I am a member) has been fighting this battle for years. There has always been concern for military surplus vehicles (including old warbirds - the EAA spearheaded THAT one), and getting an imkport certificate was darned near impossible. Military vehicles are required to have the warning systems (lights, brakelights, selt belts, etc.) that they were issued with. No different than the vintage automobiles (Model T, Model A, etc...) AFSis, you'd look cute driving a Ferret... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39296 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39296 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 13:43:44 -0600 Policy isn't law. It is someone's idear of what 'law' should be. But then, I am just a citizen. In a somewhat related issue here, there are no mandates for vaccines, but policies abound about how vaccines whould be used, (I am talking about school shots here, not the vaxes for the military) and exemptions to the policy that are a matter of law. Every state has mandates about vaccince policies, but there is no law that says you *have* to vaccinate. Just a thought... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39291 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39291 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 11:56:22 -0600 The 'No Civilian Purpose' clause is an empty argument for me. There was a time in this country when individual citizens owned state of the art weaponry, crew-served weaponry. It's "To Keep And Bear ARMS" not just rifles or pistols. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39290 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39290 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 11:50:30 -0600 Safety equipment? A seat belt in a tank while you take SWWBO for a steak, or a nug with which to procure a steak? I love my Precious. I love the weight it has, and would drive a tank if I could afford it. I also have issues with Yugos and minivans. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39284 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39284 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 10:06:33 -0600 SECO had a supply of Sexton Self Propelled Guns specifically because they and other vehicles like the Priest were very adaptable to prospecting, mining, drilling and other off road uses. This throws the "no civilian purpose" clause right the heck out the window. Then we have the basic principle of keeping past history alive. Most, if not all of the restored and running Shermans, Stuarts, Half Tracks and other vehicles exist today because private individuals take the time to tend and care for them. What's sad is that there's an entire two or more generations of MVs that are never going to make it to civilian hands. There are more M113's in civilian service in Australia than there are in private hands in the US. What's that say for the Vietnam Generation in 20 years? WWII and Korean War Vets are more readily represented in parades with examples of what they fought with than are Soldiers of Vietnam. The same will be with those from the Gulf Wars and other events. Thankfully, Helicopters are more readily purchasable, than Vietnam Era Tanks are. There's a group or three of folks operating Huey's around the country for demonstrations and such. After this Kansas policy gets reversed, we need to go all the way to the Pentagon and get them to realize that a few M1s, M113s, M60s, AVLBs, M48s, HMMWVs, M151s and other vehicles handed off to carefully selected individuals and Museums would be highly advisable so that when the soldiers are all but passed on, there will be relics of their time in the saddle left over for grand kids to view. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39274 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39274 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 09:20:58 -0600 Heck, we even have a Ferret registered here in Corvallis, Oregon. It drives the peaceniks crazy :-). http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39268 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39268 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 08:34:47 -0600 The Ferret looks more like a Jeep than a weapon-toting vehicle. (you look really cute sitting on top of that rodent, John) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39267 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39267 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 08:29:45 -0600 http://www.swissarmyvehicles.com/vehicles.php]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39266 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/01/silly_government_tricks.html#comment-39266 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 08:23:57 -0600