which state law is dumber?

[dead0man]

go

[dead0man]

NJ and OR politicos don't think their constituents are smart enough to pump gas safely*.  (probably accurate in NJ)  The "no beer at the grocery store" is a mix of churchies not wanting to see Bud ads when buying bananas and job protectionism.



*it's actually just protectionism too

[dead0man]

The second is far dumber.  I'd rather to pump my own damn gas and save the money.  As far as alcohol goes, that's never been an issue where I've lived.

New Jersey has the cheapest gas in the country. You aren't saving any money.

Somebody always brings this up (though this is the first time I've heard claim it was cheapest in the country, usually the defense is "it's cheaper than NY") and it never makes any sense.  Somebody is paying the pump jockeys.

Both are pretty stupid, but I don't think they're protectionist. At least, as I understand the term.

The pump jockeys and the public employees that sell drink are always the loudest complainers when somebody tries to make these laws sane.  Maybe "protectionism" isn't the perfect word, but it's something just as bad.

[dead0man]

It's actually very unlikely (nearly impossible) for a lit cig to ignite gasoline while pumping it into a car.  They just don't get hot enough.  I'm not suggesting you should do it, just that it's not as dangerous as conventional wisdom (or even common sense) would lead you to believe.