“the word jaywalking is often used as a sort of blanket justification for the dominating presence of cars on city streets.”

Well, DAHHH!!! Cars do dominate all streets, moron. What do you expect? Streets were, and are, built with motor vehicle traffic as their primary user in mind. Now, laws prohibiting jaywalking (or any other non-driving activity by pedestrians, such as walking down the middle of the freeway, frying chicken on a onramp, or fornicating in the middle of a intersection) are in place to promote smooth and safe flow of motorized traffic, and keep all people safe. Now, if pedestrians are allowed to walk wherever, whenever, the little hearts desire, than maybe I should be able to drive my Hummer onto the sidewalk to get around the bluehaired old lady doing 3mph in her ’62 Chevy II, right? What's good for the pedestrian goose, goes diddo for the driving gander.

Too far until the next crosswalk? Tough cheese, enter the street at your own risk. When I’m driving, I can’t pull off the road and drive across someone’s yard just because I don’t feel like waiting for the light to change. Cars driving too fast for a drunk pedestrian to jaywalk/stroll across four lanes of city traffic? Oh well, last time I looked being drunk in public was a crime…I guess cops should start enforcing that law.

All the pedestrian friendly, slicked up engineering will not stop someone who believes that just because they are walking means they can do whatever the hell they want around moving cars. (By the way, I’ve been to Amsterdam, and I can tell you this… if you walk around there with your head in the clouds, you’ll end up with a BMW or a bicycle stuffed up your bleep just as fast as if you were on an LA freeway.)

Pedestrians are visitors ( when they are in the street) in the cars domain, and as such should , for the sake of their safty, and insurance rates A. Use the cross walks and traffic lights B. Pay attention when they are in the crosswalks. That means, WHEN A PEDESTRIAN IS IN THE STREET FOR ANY REASON THEY SHOULD PULL THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR I-PODS AND PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

Since sidewalks are made with pedestrians as their primary users, pedestrians can relax, stuff their heads up their cell phones, and stumble drunkenly along all they want. That is, until cars start driving on the sidewalks.

City streets existed long before the automobile. Their purpose is defined by the times. Right now, cars get preferential treatment. It is not absurd to question whether this is the wisest use of public resources. There are certainly types of roads (highways, major thouroughfares) that should be designed to best accommodate car traffic. Other streets, like those in busy downtowns, may benefit from other focuses.

“the word law is often used as a sort of blanket justification for the dominating presence of Americans in America.”

Well, DAHHH!!! Americans do dominate America, moron. What do you expect? American laws was were, and are, built by the people, and for the people. Now, laws prohibiting skyscrapers (or any other non-flying activity) are in place to promote smooth and safe flow of airplanes, and keep all people safe. Now, if buildings are allowed to build wherever, whenever, the little hearts desire, than maybe I should be able to drive my Boeing 767 into the side of your building. What's good for the American goose, goes diddo for the terrorist gander.

You don't like dying? Tough cheese, be American at your own risk. When I’m flying, I can’t run into someone's house or building just because I don’t feel like waiting for the world to change. Laws changing too fast so women can vote and democracy can thrive? Oh well, last time I looked being American made you a white demon…I guess UN should start enforcing that law.

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I search and searched, and all I found was this lousy terrorist...