A President’s Emergency
Wednesday, October 7, 2009Has there ever been a more inconsequential executive order, in recent years, than the president’s recent EO banning text messaging for federal employees? Some snippets from the executive order release are worth reading. I especially love the philistine illumination, “Text messaging causes drivers to take their eyes off the road and at least one hand off the steering wheel, endangering both themselves and others.” Ohhhh, informing. The ban is supposed to be a leadership move – that is, those sophisticated leader-type folks who roam the noble halls of government should set an example for us poor, unrefined souls who wallow in the private sector.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 7902(c) of title 5, United States Code, and the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 101 et seq., and in order to demonstrate Federal leadership in improving safety on our roads and highways and to enhance the efficiency of Federal contracting, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. With nearly 3 million civilian employees, the Federal Government can and should demonstrate leadership in reducing the dangers of text messaging while driving. Recent deadly crashes involving drivers distracted by text messaging while behind the wheel highlight a growing danger on our roads. Text messaging causes drivers to take their eyes off the road and at least one hand off the steering wheel, endangering both themselves and others. Every day, Federal employees drive Government-owned, Government-leased, or Government-rented vehicles (collectively, GOV) or privately-owned vehicles (POV) on official Government business, and some Federal employees use Government-supplied electronic devices to text or e-mail while driving. A Federal Government-wide prohibition on the use of text messaging while driving on official business or while using Government-supplied equipment will help save lives, reduce injuries, and set an example for State and local governments, private employers, and individual drivers. Extending this policy to cover Federal contractors is designed to promote economy and efficiency in Federal procurement. Federal contractors and contractor employees who refrain from the unsafe practice of text messaging while driving in connection with Government business are less likely to experience disruptions to their operations that would adversely impact Federal procurement.
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Of course, this stuff is an ego trip on the part of the ego president. Government orders and communications (and coercive “suggestions”) are becoming ever more scolding, dumbed-down, and parent-like. They are starting to sound like media sound bites or public service announcements aimed at high school kids. It’s the result of increased power in the executive branch, giving the leader an imperious swagger that rises him above us mere serfs.
Tom Osborne says:
October 7th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I must be a menace to drivers everywhere. While I don’t text message, I have one hand off the wheel about 90% of the time I am driving (doesn’t everybody?) and my eyes, which are constantly moving, are very often not on the road, but are on other cars, traffic signs, traffic lights, the rear vision mirror, billboards, street signs, house addresses, people in crosswalks or standing at street corners, the radio dial, the air conditioner or heater setting, the speedometer, the odometer, the gas gauge and other gauges and various and sundry other things that are other than the road. I don’t think text messaging is any more dangerous than quickly consulting, say, a road map. And think of how much people are stuck in heavy traffic and moving very slowly, or sitting doing nothing stopped at a traffic light–those are moments where text messaging is virtually no hazard at all (and neither would be cell-phone talking).
The first thing that came to my mind, though, when I read this, was that Obama could text message all HE wanted, because of course he is sitting in the back seat of a chauffeured armored car. Again, it is so easy for him to send out restrictions for the “common people” that he imagines would never affect him. But he may be in for a big surprise as to what actually ends up affecting him after all.
I’m not arguing for or against the danger or safety of text messaging, but of imposing a law about it. The law they really would like to pass is “People, don’t do stupid and dangerous things while driving,” but that wouldn’t do any more good than this anti-text-message law will.