Dangerous Streets

A new report out yesterday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put the total of drunken driving deaths for the year 2006 at 13,470.  USA Today reports that 22 states experienced higher numbers of fatalities, while 28 states had declining numbers. 

Frightening to think that almost 40 people die per day at the hands of stupid individuals who get behind the wheel when they know they’ve had too much to drink. 

Another interesting question to ponder: Is it safer to sign up for service in Iraq than it is to drive America’s streets?  Well, the numbers certainly indicate it is.  Over the past six years, the US has lost nearly 3,100 of our brave men and women in the conflict in Iraq. 

Every one of those 3,100 sacrifices has been a powerful example of everything that we stand for as Americans — men and women who gave it all for the principles of freedom.   What they have given shouldn’t be cheapened in any way.  Yet it leads me to wonder…with the constant angry protests, continual bickering in the halls of congress and now on this early presidential campaign trail, why has nothing been said about drunken driving??  Perhaps this should be an issue more of our leaders address. 

Grant the fact that war and drunken driving are two very different things.  Yet somehow it seems that our national perspective needs a little realignment.