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Don't drive into Rhode Island to play golf
By adamg on Fri, 04/03/2020 - 10:19am
Police there are serious about enforcing a state order against out-of-staters coming into the state to golf.
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Comments
These no good teens are at it
These no good teens are at it again!!1! Where are the parents of these punk kids??
Curious to know...
Are they also turning away out of state registered boats and yachts coming to Newport etc for summer season?
Rec
Wait, so remind me why we couldn't've done the same for banning recreational cannabis for folks from out of state rather than shutting the dispensaries down?
Wouldn't happen to be because our government officials prefer to take advantage of a crisis to shut down something the people voted for, would it? Under the same logic, perhaps RI should have shut down golf altogether because of too many out-of-staters...
Because...
...we're not idiot dipshits like Rhode Island?
Some nimrod from Australia was ranting about why the US hadn't shut down "interstate travel". I started counting the roads that pass from Massachusetts into another state, got to 100, got bored and quit. I was about halfway around the state.
I'm not making an argument for shutting down pot shops, but if you want to shut something down, you need to shut it down.
When u got bored..
Was it because you couldn't determine if Route 1, 95 and 128 was actually 1 or 3 roads?
When u learned to read...
...did you figure out that not all roads have numbers on them?
You do realize..
That I was not at all making a dig at your mapping exercise?
Perhaps not...
Fun fact!
Nearly every roadway in Massachusetts carries the same route number into its neighboring state. Very much by design. The Commonwealth was the first state to have a state road commission, and New England the first region to number its roads, which was the basis for the national highway numbering system (sort of). The state has coordinated numbering so that any highway which touches a border has the number carry across state lines. Some of these, like Route 8 out in the Berkshires, carry back to the 1920s: Routes 1, 8 and 10 in Massachusetts, and 9, 16 and 25 further north.
Don't forget The Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Also known as Route 6, which stretches from Provincetown to Bishop, California.
Pawtucket and South Attleboro
At this map link, you can see a small neighborhood of South Attleboro that is sandwiched between the Amtrak Northeast Corridor railroad tracks and the MA/RI state line. There is no way to walk or drive into or out of this Massachusetts neighborhood without entering Rhode Island.
Not surprised
As I was scrolling over the state line, I had a lot of "wow, what happened HERE?" moments.
What happened was a land swap
Massachusetts gave up (part of?) Pawtucket in exchange for (part of?) Fall River, in 1862.
When a crisis hits, some
When a crisis hits, some people step up, some people do no harm, while others bitch and moan about golf and rec weed.
Limiting free movement across state lines
How is this Constitutional?
Well...
When the Federal Government has abandoned all of the states to their own devices, then the states are going to be a bit more controlling about what they have control over. Why would Rhode Island's governor want to deal with additional coronavirus cases because someone else's state's citizens wanted to cross the border?
We're all in this together...except when it comes to the official responses...then it's every state for themselves, because Trump is a fucking incompetent narcissistic asshole.
Each state is going to have pressure to allow free passage AND protect its own as a priority. Each state is going to have to choose how it straddles that line. This is because each state is being forced to answer for itself and the nation is completely fractured because the President has caused it to happen.
Two things
1) You are probably right - this wouldn't stand in court - but what kind of damages are you going to claim that make it worth your while. I don't see the courts saying RI violated my civil rights by preventing my from playing golf so they owe me more than $1 (or a refund of the greens fees max).
2) We will get our revenge - RI was broke already. This has to be a death knell for them. RI will get sold to the highest bidder between CT and MA and CT isn't in great shape either, so get used to seeing Providence right before Provincetown in an alphabetical listing of soon to be 427 Mass cities and towns. (1/2 /s)
NO. No buy Rhode Island. Ever.
As a person that is quite well acquainted with the Ocean State, just no. Trust me.
As far as 'in court'? Well, they got stopped at a golf course, not trying to tiptoe over the border. So, maybe it would stand in a state court. Dunno. The trains are federally regulated, I believe they come under FRA or something. So, different bureaucracy. I think.
Buddy, we're not going to pay full price for RI
It's going to be dirt cheap. The big issue is that I'd assume Aquidneck Island and Fishers Island are going to form some kind of Elysium type rich person enclave along with the east end of Long Island.
In a surprise twist though, we should really name more things in Massachusetts for Roger Williams - he was the first American progressive. The Puritans can go fuck themselves.
Fishers Island is already
Fishers Island is already part of New York State.
What would happen to the Twin River and Tiverton Casinos?
Not that Rhody is even remotely ikely to be annexed, but:
1) Our law only allows 3 casinos - at least one of them would have to shut down (the other could apply for the southeast MA casino slot)
2) The sportsbook of the survivor (if any) would have to be shut down until/unless sports betting is legalized in MA. Don't anybody hold your breath waiting for that.
we are all going to need the revenue
We'll do what should always be done with these scarce government licenses - open it up to competition. Stop controlling the supply. If you open a casino and it fails, who cares - unless you are their bank.
I have a better idea
How about two new Canadian Provinces: The Province of New York and the Province of New England.
I have an addendum to your excellent idea
We (Canada) give Alberta to the US because it's the Texas of Canada.
No. Don't do that
I have family in Alberta and while you see it as the Texas of Canada, that isn't how even conservative Albertans see it. I have asked them - no fucking way will they want the US healthcare and social systems. They LIKE their benefits, especially the farmers and the small scale wildcatters in my brother's crew.
Besides, then I lose what my husband affectionately calls my "Anchor Brother".
Amusingly ridiculous
Rhode Island wouldn't even be a county in most states.
It's not. But it'll take
It's not. But it'll take years for a case to make its way through the courts, which of course is what governments are banking on when they do blatantly unconstitutional stuff like this.
MA and RI
Even with the current reduced service schedule, the MBTA is still running 11 trains each way on weekdays between Boston and Providence, with a couple of them continuing south to TF Green and Wickford Junction. They also run some trains on weekends, though fewer.
I don't see how any interstate restrictions can really work between our two states.
9-11 security theater
Only now, it's 'medical theater'. For your own good. Apparently the golfers were dimed out by someone.
Here's where it gets stupid...golf is a sport that easily accommodates the isolation parameters. Not a problem. It's outside, little bugs not easily transmitted.
As you point out, the trains, with their enclosed spaces, are still running.
My personal opinion is that Gov Ramaindo (sp?) is a total and compleat boob.
Probably an unpopular opinion
But what is wrong with playing golf during this? It is more than easy to socially distance and avoid touching any shared objects (e.g. flag sticks), and many courses demonstrated ways to avoid people reaching into holes to get their balls, which I can't imagine has a high risk of transferring the virus to begin with.
Sure, carts should not be shared - so either require 1 player per cart, or just make it walking only. Pro shops can figure out how to have people pay for golf without interaction as well, which already exists though programs like GolfNow, where you pay ahead.
What am I missing?
Why Can't You Just Stay Home?
Millions of people are unable to do things they enjoy. The courses will still be there when this is over. Stay the fuck home so this ends sooner.
What if
You get in a car accident or sprain your ankle or get hit by a ball or stung by a bee and you are allergic?
Any number of things can cause a hospital visit and they don't need us at the hospital right now.
Let the worst pass and we'll get back to living, but for now we have VERY scarce hospital resources. Do it out of respect for our health care workers.
That could happen to anyone, with or without golf
Other than being hit by a ball (a pretty rare thing), golf does not make those things any more likely than just walking or cycling outdoors. It is inherently a socially isolating sport.
Not...
If you follow Sam Jackson's advice and stay the F home!
Yes you can get hurt there too, but we don't need to increase the odds.
smile!
I remember, years ago, Candid Camera pulled a stunt where uniformed guards stood at the border of Rhode Island and told people the state was closed. Most drivers actually turned around.
We laughed and laughed.
Jay Ward had the right idea
">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmCFQMxw2w4[/youtube]
The RI order says out-of
The RI order says out-of-staters have to self-quarantine for 14 days if they enter the state for non-work purposes.
This is ridiculous. What if the nearest store to your Massachusetts house is in RI and you're buying groceries? Or medication?
Why is someone with MA license plates automatically suspected of being diseased, while someone with RI plates who spent the afternoon in Massachusetts is not?
If golf is safe for someone from Pawtucket, it's just as safe for someone from Rehoboth.