Gotta love those small government Texas R's - they aren't going to bother with with actual small government issues until the next campaign. Which is as it should be because that is the way it has always been. Talk about something during campaign season, don't worry about it when governing, then bring it up again. Today's lesson in small government that isn't comes from Rep. Todd Smith (R-92). Rep. Smith has decided that freedom of travel in Texas is arbitrary and based upon whether or not a law enforcement agency wants to set up a roadblock. 

That's right, Rep. Smith wants to set up so-called sobriety checkpoints. You know, because sometimes we have to give up our freedom in the name of...something. Safety, I guess. I mean, if it saves just one life, it is all worth it, right? No, actually, that isn't right but it certainly is the view of some so-called social conservatives. 

Here's the bill:

Well, he did think of one small thing. Counties with less than 250,000 people are excluded from this bill. Yippee.

But who cares, right? Tea Parties are busy trying to kick out a conservative speaker, presumably because they like stuff like this. Liberals are irrelevant. The middle of the roaders always wait for the next election to speak up. People like me get ostracized for speaking up. 

So enjoy your freedom to travel while you can because this bill might make it into law this session. Who cares about the costs because the fines will be high enough to offset it or - hey, maybe it will be profitable! And freedom? Heck, I've heard that's just another word for nothing left to lose.

UPDATE 12/19/10 8:45 am

I found a comprehensive paper on sobriety checkpoints compiled by the Washington State Dept of Transportation. Very informative.