Another Politician With Too Much Time On His Hands

This sounds like something our beloved (NOT!) Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) would pull. An Indiana congressman has been swayed to put his weight behind legislation that would change - get this - an Interstate highway number!

Gotta love the heartland!

From August Wayne's story in the Hoosier Gazette:

There are plans to extend the interstate from Indianapolis through southwestern Indiana all the way through Texas into Mexico in the coming years. While most believe this highway will be good for the state’s economy, religious conservatives believe “I-69” sounds too risqué and want to change the interstate’s number.

Hostettler, a proponent of the interstate extension, agrees. “Every time I have been out in the public with an ‘I-69’ button on my lapel, teenagers point and snicker at it. I have had many ask me if they can have my button. I believe it is time to change the name of the highway. It is the moral thing to do.”

As a matter of fact, naming the highway’s extension I-69 is a violation of the Interstate Highway System’s rules for numbering roads. Interstates numbers are to increase from west to east. If the extension through southern Indiana is named I-69, then 69 will be west of I-65, a direct violation.

“Naming the road I-63 not only follows numbering guidelines, it doesn’t have the sexual undertones that I-69 has,” says Hostettler, “It is a win-win situation.”

Something similar to this happened a few years ago when United States route 666 was done away with, for the reason that many considered it "Devils Highway." The route is now US 491.

Now, does this I-69 legislation have a prayer? I don't think so - especially since it would require that the entire route be renumbered, and I-69 is already posted in Michigan and Indiana, for that matter.

So please, once again, let's find some more useful pursuits for our politicians and the religious folks (the ones who are really behind this idiocy).

Incidentally, the good folks at the Hoosier Gazette have a shop for you to buy I-69 related goods. I highliy recommend the boxer shorts, and the thong for the lady in your life. I mean, if the highway is going to be in the first place...