Politics? No, this is about survival... Get a CDL to drive your tractor.

[Patriot]

P.S. In the hour it took me to type all of this, the Supreme Blondie moved it from Coffee Shop to Politics (quote from Mr. KSH)


LOL  She's sneaky like that, isn't she?

Sneaky?  Maybe, but you did one helluva job with her, Jo...  she's a damned fine example of what's missing these days... independent thinkers!  Good job mom!

[redcliffsw]

Independent - except few are nowadays.  Socailsits don't like the word "independent" much. 

[Patriot]

Independent - except few are nowadays.  Socailsits don't like the word "independent" much. 

Neither do 'moderates' or even some self proclaimed 'independents'.  I find many are just too comfortable with the status quo or are too afraid of conflict to stand up for principle.  Of course, when one stand for nothing, they will fall for anything.  No..  EPA meddling and govt regulations about gray skunks, darter snails and weird beetles won't slow progress, increase costs or interfere with progress.  And why shouldn't taxpayers build nurseries in public schools and provide day care for the babies of teenaged moms who couldn't say no?  Come to think of it, why don't the baby daddies have to reimburse the taxpayers for such stuff?

Now, about those DOT decals that grandpa needs for his old Farmall before he drives it on a public road...

[Catwoman]

I only moderated the Coffee Shop for Teresa as a favor to her, during a period of time when she was extremely busy...When things settled down for her, she took it back over.  No, Hillbilly...No catbox antics got the better of me... ...As far as it being pure poetry...I'll agree with that, too...

[thatsMRSc2u]

  Sure wish I had seen this BEFORE August 1st, I would have been one of their public comments AGAINST.
 
  I for one feel a HELL of a lot safer on the road with an eight year old drivin a feed truck than I do with a city "soccer mom" in her SUV talkin on the phone changin dvd's for the kids and generally "I have a big fancy suv nobody will hit me" mentality pullin out in front of people runnin stop lights...........
Guess what chick I have a big truck too...its a little beat up from haulin stuff but I have INSURANCE.

  I dont see the various Farm Bureaus and Granges allowin this to happen. What the government wants and what it gets are once in a while two entirely different things. I hope this is one of those times myself.

[Catwoman]

Mrs. C, I agree with you about how SUV drivers drive...It's as if they have a vast sense of entitlement out there on the road.  I have never seen such rude drivers, to be honest.  I've also noticed that they never get pulled over...It's as if the cops are afraid to pull them over because they can't see inside the SUV to begin with.  But, I'll respectfully disagree on the 8 year old driving thing...I wouldn't allow any 8 year old, who doesn't have the experience, the sense or the leg reach to operate any kind of machinery, much less a moving vehicle.  On this one, we're going to have to agree to disagree. 

[thatsMRSc2u]

  Lol Catwoman....my Granpa taught me to drive when I was 9 in a ford pickup with a three on the tree:) I taught my oldest son to drive when he was 8 in a gmc pickup with a three speed........We can both drive anything with a motor in it. I've known a LOT of farm kids that were better drivers at 8 than a lot of the adults I see drivin now. Yeah guess we're gonna have to agree to disagree LOL

[sodbuster]

It wasn't 'my' point, actually.  It was a reprint of an article of interest.  Though I do have a problem with the reclassification of a tractor & bale mover as a commercial motor vehicle and the ambiguous 'public road'.  All public roads aren't the Pacific Coast Highway.

Actually I live in a County that has an annual crop value of over $150,000,000 (Also has cattle ranchs) many rural roads, and farm equipment is allowed on  Highway 1 on the coast. PCH is in Southrn California and in Ventura County they allow farm equipment.

Charles, I think those big RV drivers should have to get a Commercial License too.

Cat and Pam I agree with you about those SUV driving soccer moms.

David

[Anmar]

You don't have to fill out a log book if you're driving less than 100 miles. 

I have a commercial license, I've driven trucks and tractors, and I don't think this is a good idea.  Getting a CDL isn't easy, and it would be an undue and needless burden on a lot of family farmers.  Someone suggested that farmers shouldn't need to get a CDL to drive a standard tractor-trailer combo around,  i don't agree with that either.  If you're driving an 18-wheeler, get the license,  If you're driving a tractor around the farm, you don't need it. 

I think if we want to make our highways safer, then we shouldn't have allowed Mexican trucking companies to send their trucks into the US to just haul freight wherever they want.

[Diane Amberg]

I just don't see anything that restrictive being passed.
Unfortunately, many years ago I lost a nine year old neighboring farm friend who rolled the John Deere over on himself in a hilly field and was crushed.  They almost gave up farming because of it. But the rest of the kids begged to continue,( there were 6 other kids,) and after much anguish they finally decided to keep at it.