55-mph ‘governors’ urged for drivers

About 50 percent of the people in American really care about the well-being of America. Fifty percent could care less.

A large majority of our elected officials really care about America. Small portions of our elected officials are in politics for their own personal gains and could care less about America’s well-being.

Now we will see who really cares and those who don’t care. I do not know any elected official who cares that would not support the law that I’m going to suggest.

Seldom can a law be passed that helps everyone. I am proposing that a federal law be enacted that within 12 months would require that all licensed vehicles of all makes and models except emergency vehicles have installed governors that will only allow a vehicle to travel 55 miles per hour.

Persons found to be driving a vehicle without governors in operation would have their license suspended for three years on the first offense.

Please America, see what this law will do. Save lives, save gas, reduce serious injuries and accidents, save on auto repairs, save on insurance claims and premiums, save on law enforcement expense, reduce the overload in our court system, reduce road rage, reduce racing, save on attorney fees, keep it simple and most important, keep the special interests out of it.

GEORGE F. SOWERS
Winston-Salem

Recommendations offered in response to The following is a response to a recent column by Daily Planet Editor John North.
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I would like to respond to your disappointments regarding your movie-going experiences.
Asheville has one independent, locally owned,  first run movie theatre- The Fine Arts Theatre, located at 36 Biltmore Avenue. The Fine Arts NEVER plays advertisements, only a few trailers of upcoming films.

You also stated, “Its bad enough to have to pay $9 or so for a contemporary movie that will likely be top heavy on special effects and weak in all of the important aspects, such as plot, acting and ultimate meaningfulness.”

The Fine Arts Theatre plays first run, contemporary art and independent films. We play many Oscar nominated films throughout the year, typically more than other theatres if you average nominated films played versus the number of screens at the local multi-plexes. We consistently play the best rated films in town, many films you would never see in a city the size of Asheville, but the community here knows good film, I think you will too when you make your way downtown to the Fine Arts.

You also complained about the concessions at the theatres you visit- “You might fork out another $10 for fake buttered popcorn and a cup of ice mixed with a dribble of soda”
From this statement it’s obvious you have never been to the concession stand at the Fine Arts Theatre. Our popcorn is popped fresh every day in Canola oil, and we would never pour any fake butter flavored oil on it;  it is simply the best popcorn in town. Try it and you will agree. We offer dark chocolates, high end bottled sodas, wine by the glass, bottled beer, and two local beers on draft- all at a very reasonable prices. Our concession prices are generally 30-50 percent less than those at the multi-plexes.

You had a few recomendations to battle the ad onslaught, e-mailing the complaints to the chain theatres is the only viable one, encouraging the public to yell in the auditoriums only encourages bad behavior in public, and the only people that will hear this are the other movie goers. Complaining about advertising to local multi-plex managers is also futile, they work for large corporations, and are only doing what is required of them by playing the ads. Their corporate bosses would simply blow off any complaints conveyed to them. You mentioned that the revenues from these advertisements exceeded $315 million in 2003. Do you think the large theatre chains are going to give up this income because of complaints? I think not, because they don’t care about community, only money.

You ended with this statement- “Despite the pain inflicted by this ad incursion, I refuse to give up the hope that the classic American cinematic experience can be what it once was — i.e., better.”  I concur, and we strive for that every day at the Fine Arts.

So, the next time you get the urge to see a really good film, check out what’s playing at the Fine Arts and support local business. You can call 828-232-1536 or visit our website at www.fineartstheatre.com for current shows and times. I also send out our schedule, complete with a synopsis of each film, showtimes etc. via email, you can sign up for the email on our Web site.

NEAL REED
Asheville

P.S. — The next time you come to the Fine Arts, be sure to pick up a copy of the Daily Planet, it’s always available in our lobby!