We are the third rail in transportation

      It's winter and with that brings more inside activities, like watching the news, sports events, favorite movie reruns and the like.  We also get a chance to hear what the powers that be are planning for our lives.  The state of the onion is that there seems to be layers upon layers of offensive smelling debate and disagreement in that pinnacle where we keep our decision makers to argue.
According to the president, we are entering a new era of energy independence and bi-partisan action.
If it's anything like his first state of the onion speech that means more bi-partisan bickering and disagreement over everything.  But I was watching carefully to see what his promises would be for energy independence and global warming.  I was, predictably, disappointed.  He promises to expand domestic production of fossil fuels by any means with which he agrees.  He intends to reduce carbon emissions by edict, and all the additional expense that creates.  He never mentioned using less, or emitting less by enjoying our less polluted air by getting some exercise.  Cycling is very carefully avoided by politicians because the public would perceive that as a suggestion of austerity.
        Meanwhile I counted 9 cycling references in the ads surrounding the speech and resulting discussion.
    Previously in an interview January 30, James Freeman Asst. Editorial director for the WSJ,  rebutted President Obama's statement that, if he had a son, he would have to think twice before letting him play football.   Freeman thinks we should do away with bicycling because it is obviously more dangerous than football.  Ignoring the WSJ's political opposition against the president, and the fact that President Obama's statement is that of an overly protective parent,  both are full of it.  Every sport is inherently dangerous.  Every time we pick up a dumbell, a golf club or stretch out on a yoga mat we are overreaching our physical boundaries in an attempt to expand those boundaries for future exploits.  If we do it wrong we might get hurt.  Cycling, football, golf, baseball, skiing and ballroom dancing are enjoyed by millions daily without incident because most people know to stay within their abilities.  It just makes me sick to see a, presumably, well informed editor make the erroneous statement that cycling is somehow more dangerous than football.  According to a nationwide  transportation study conducted by Consumer Product Safety commission, cycling fatalities represent less than 2 percent of 2010 traffic fatalities, but then that would be something the WSJ would ignore in deference to the vested interest it has in oil and autos.