The nature of suffering...

In an earlier post, I touched on the relationship between suffering and purpose. In that entry, I touched on the idea that suffering is not in itself evil. Rather suffering with no (good) purpose is evil, and it is the lack of purpose that defines evil suffering. I thought it was about time to expand on that concept and explore it a bit further.

Let me take the example of Guantanamo Bay interrogation methods. The question of whether they are evil (just, legal, etc.) has been debated in many other venues, and I don't intend to either justify or vilify them here. My only purpose is to use them to explore the relationship between purpose and suffering.

On one level, the question of purpose and suffering in a situation like Guantanamo can be reduced to a question of whether the ends justify the means. If one believes that the ends (protecting America from potential terrorists) are sufficiently important to justify the extreme measures that have been documented to extract information from detainees, then one is likely to conclude that the suffering of Gitmo detainees is not evil.

The next question is, of course, whether the suffering of Gitmo detainees is effective in reducing terrorism. This is where, from a philosophical standpoint, the "ends justify the means" position starts to fall apart. If the ends are not achieved by the means, then no justification remains. However, the effectiveness in this case cannot be determined either before or during the suffering. A useful philosophical definition of evil cannot, therefore, be based on effectiveness.

In a way, I alluded to this in the earlier post, in that the firefighter who suffers trying to save people and isn't successful is still seen as a hero for the attempt.

Conversely, one may choose to suffer for some perceived benefit, either for oneself or for others. I think it is sufficiently intuitive that such suffering, chosen by the sufferer, for a purpose that the sufferer sees as worthy is not evil. Foolish, perhaps, but not evil. Indeed, many stories both from various religions and from popular culture honor and extol willful suffering for the sake of another, or for some lofty goal. Indeed, even willful suffering for personal benefit is admired as an example of discipline.

The question then returns to one of the purpose of the suffering.

On behalf of? How can a choice that inflicts suffering be beneficial?

• Ask any pediatric oncologist. The child often does not understand why they are having to suffer, yet the physicians administer chemotherapy and radiation for the child's benefit.
• Ask a parent. Children often do not understand parental rules, and view them as causing needless suffering. The child may see the suffering as evil, however, the parent knows that the end result of not imposing the suffering is worse.

This really brings me to the key question in terms of understanding of the nature of evil.  As a former atheist, I have to say that one of the things that made me a theist was that I could not say with confidence that mankind is the ultimate intelligence in the universe.  This leads to a logical chain:

• If one accepts the possibility of a greater intelligence, one must accept the possibility that that greater intelligence may have some hand in humanity's past and future.  
• Once one accepts that possibility, one has to accept that human suffering may have a purpose beyond our comprehension.

Given that possibility, our arguing about whether suffering is evil may be on a parallel with the child arguing that homework is evil because (s)he doesn't yet understand why it is necessary. 

I landed that earlier discussion in roughly the same place, but I wanted to revisit the idea, because of this additional idea that has come to me of late:

If I have one great fear for our society, it is that, in the interest of "doing good" we eliminate all suffering, and thus miss a lesson that we need.

Why does Cycling have a drug problem?

Why does Pro Cycling have a drug problem?  Well, I have a theory, which I will now present for your consideration:

Every sport has had drug problems, but cycling seems to be having more than its share of troubles with it.  Let's compare cycling to other pro sports in terms of the expectations put on its athletes.  Can anyone name another professional sport where the athlete is expected to compete with any of the following injuries?

• Broken Collarbone
• Broken Wrist
• Broken Elbow
• Broken Tibia
• Fractured Cheekbone
• 2-5% of his or her skin flayed off
• Punctured Lung
• Ruptured Spleen

These are all injuries suffered by Tour de France-level competitors who continued to ride with those injuries for at least 15 kilometers before being taken out of the race.  In the case of the broken tibia, Alberto Contador finished an 18 km mountain ascent with a broken tibia after a crash.

So, if super-human levels of pain tolerance is an expected part of the sport, why WOULDN'T a drug problem be common?


Maybe in Boxing or MMA a fighter may complete a round with an injury like that, but how long is it before the athlete gets checked for these injuries? In Cycling it could be hours.

Crazy, isn't it?  Why do they do it?

Because if they don't demonstrate the ability to tolerate that level of suffering, they won't have a contract next season, or maybe not even for the rest of this season.  Cyclists don't get multi-year, multi-million dollar, contracts.  Most of them barely make a living wage (if that, Phil Gaimon made $2,000/year in his first contract as a pro, and still makes less than I do, between cycling, sponsorships, book sales, & etc.).

The top contenders on the Tour de France make in the $150,000/year range, if they can complete a season at the top of their game, or, like Jens Voight, can demonstrate the ability to make the team significantly more likely to put someone on the podium.

If you have to compete at the very top level, just to make a living wage, why WOULDN'T there continue to be a drug problem?
So what can be done about it?

I (and others) suggest 3 simple steps:

1. UCI (the international federation) is responsible for promoting the sport, AND enforcing drug policy.  One agency responsible for making the sport both exciting and clean.  Those two goals are at odds, so segregate them.
2. Minimum payment clauses required for a team to compete in UCI events.  If a burger-flipper at McD's can expect minimum wage, why can't a pro athlete?
3. Cyclists compete for spots on teams and negotiate for salary in total ignorance of what others are being paid.  End the secrecy, so that riders can negotiate in fairness.

Note that none of these steps address the drug problem directly.  They do remove most of the incentive to cheat, or for the UCI to continue to condone cheating.

MS Rides for Sponsorships

BikeMS is a series of 100 fundraising cycling events held nationwide to benefit the local chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Most of the money goes to provide local programs and support for people with MS, the rest goes to support research into cures.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The effects are unpredictable, and may include tingling, numbness, loss of coordiantion or muscular control, and loss of vision. While it is currently thought to be an autoimmune disorder, little is understood about the trigger. I do these rides because I know a number of people (friends, co-workers, and family) who are affected by MS.

For each MS Ride below, there is a link shown on the right. All Sponsorships are Tax-deductible donations to the National MS Society - Ohio Buckeye Chapter, from which you will get a receipt for tax purposes.

Date	Event	Links
June 20-21, 2015	BikeMS – Bike to the Bay (Saturday 35, 50, 75, 100 - Sunday 50, 75, 100)	I want to sponsor! http://bikeoha.nationalmssociety.org/goto/ckottingB2B15
July 11, 2015	BikeMS – Central Ohio Challenge (30, 50, and 95 miles)	I want to sponsor! http://bikeoha.nationalmssociety.org/goto/ckottingCOC15
Aug. 1 – 2, 2015	BikeMS – Buckeye Breakaway [Formerly Pedal to the Point] - (30, 75, 100, 150, 175 miles)	I want to sponsor! http://bikeoha.nationalmssociety.org/goto/ckottingBB15

Losing weight and getting fit: My experience

To start with, like every other blogger out there who writes about this, I have a few caveats:

• I'm not an MD.  I don't even play one on television.  (Yes, I am old enough to remember that commercial...)  If you have a serious weight problem, SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN.  If (s)he is no help, find one who is.  There may be a physiological problem that needs to be dealt with.
• That being said, this is based on some empirical evidence (that of my own household) and a fair amount of reading from, and conversations with, people who are experts.
• I hold no disdain for those who are struggling with a genuine weight problem.  I hold no pity, either.  I know from my own experience:
• how easy it is to get there, hence, no disdain.
• that (barring the aforementioned physiological issue) it is a result of one's own decisions, hence, no pity.
• either disdain or pity is actively detrimental.
• I do hold pity for those poor souls who are, frankly, just fine, but are convinced that they are "too fat".  This is a psychological problem that needs to be addressed, but is beyond the scope of what I can do in a blog entry.  Let me say this: If you think you are "too fat" despite what your friends / significant other / physician / parents / etc. are telling you, get help.  Please.

OK, caveats out of the way, some observations on weight loss from someone who has been there.  First some general facts:

• Our bodies were built to try to pack on pounds if at all possible, to get us through times when there isn't enough to eat.  
• This is particularly true for women, as your body constantly stands ready to provide nutrition for two.
• The problem for most of us is that those "lean times" don't happen anymore.
• Exercise boosts your metabolism.
• The process of burning fat (really converting fat to blood sugar) is slow, while the process of converting food to blood sugar is fast.
• Vigorous exercise depletes blood sugar faster that the fat-burning process can replace it.

These facts create some scenarios that can trip us up.

• Eating less may not work, and eating a lot less may be worse.  
• Your body will respond by slowing your metabolism (trying to preserve fat) causing you to burn fewer calories per hour all day, feel lethargic, and be less likely to exercise.
• Working out more may not work, and working out a lot more may be worse.  
• Working out hard will deplete your muscle glycogen and blood sugar levels, which your body will work to replace as fast as it can.
• Since your body tries to preserve fat (to get you through the lean times that aren't happening) it won't burn fat to do it if there's food available.
• Since converting fat to blood sugar is slow, converting food is fast, and your body is in a hurry, you will get ravenously hungry after a hard workout.
• Being ravenously hungry either means that you're not eating and suffering, or you're eating and defeating yourself, and feeling guilty because of it.  Either way, it sucks the joy out of a good workout.
• Working out really hard without adequate preparation also risks injury.

If you have self-discipline or motivation that would put a Navy SEAL to shame, you may be able to lose a lot of weight and pack on muscle at the same time, but you have to be pretty obsessive about it, and obsession is no fun for you or any of the people around you.

Also, if you focus on weight loss first, you may find that you're pretty happy with the amount of muscle you have.

So what are you going to do?  Here's what worked for me:

• Moderate reduction in calorie consumption, particularly avoiding those things that convert quickly to blood sugar or fat (sugars, simple starches, oils, and fats).
• Regular (daily, or at least 5 times a week) moderate exercise that is enjoyable was more effective at weight loss than busting my butt at things I suffered through 3 times a week.

Why did this work?  Here are my thoughts:

• Reducing those foods that the body quickly converts to sugars or fats, while still eating enough overall that you aren't aware of hunger, makes your body use it's fat-burning processes to replace blood sugars all day, and gives it time to do so.
• The goal of exercise in weight loss isn't to burn fat.  The goal is to keep your metabolism from slowing down in response to the reduced calorie intake.  Moderate exercise will keep your metabolism from slowing down, but allow your body to maintain normal blood-sugar levels through the slower fat-burning process. 

So that's what worked for me.

• I went from 267 pounds to 220 (47 pounds) by the "work a lot / eat a little" regime, in 2 years, and stalled there for another 7.  An average weight loss of about 2 pounds / month, if you ignore the 7 year stall.   
• I got from 220 to 175 (45 pounds) in 8 months by the "eat smart / work some consistently".  An average weight loss of 5.6 pounds a month, or more than a pound a week.

Here's the danger: Don't go back to your old ways.  You will put the weight back on (I did, some, and am working to get it back off again).

Last thought:  The word "Diet" comes from the Latin, where it means "daily life".  This is a process of lifestyle change.

This Summer's Cycling Events

I thought it might make sense to put a page together detailing all of my summer cycling events.  I have a lot of friends who have expressed an interest in sponsoring me, and this way I can point every one to one place.

This list is in rough chronological order, but grouped by the charity that the ride supports (and from whom you will get your tax deductions).

Tour de H₂O - 5/30/2015  100km / 62 miles

This is a Columbus, Ohio event that supports the work of Global Partners for Development to provide clean drinking water and sanitation facilities in Kenya and Uganda.  Imagine having to hike 4 miles or more to get clean water, if it is even available at all.  That is the situation many in rural Kenya and Uganda face.

Lack of clean water in a community has far reaching implications. Limited access to water influences the sustainability of other critical needs, including education, economic development, nutrition, environmental health and gender equality.  Sick adults are in a poor position to take care of their families. Sick children are unable to go to school or they have to drop out of school because there is not enough time for them to complete their daily chores, which includes spending substantial time getting water. Women also spend hours gathering water, which is time that could be diverted to income-generating activities that could enhance the standard of living for their families. According to the World Health Organization, "improved water and sanitation also contribute to gender equality and empower women, being linked to school enrollment and attendance, especially of girls."  A steady supply of water is also important for irrigation and livestock to keep crops and animals strong and healthy. In total, a reliable source of clean water can go a long way in helping a community break the cycle of poverty. 

Marcy and I are riding this together, and you can sponsor us here:
http://www.tourdeh2o.org/pages/kotting.aspx

UPDATE: This event raised over $30,000, which will fund developing fresh water wells and sanitation facilities in two villages.  THANK YOU, SPONSORS!

 Tour de Cure - June 6, 2015 160km / 100 miles

I have two friends who have Type 1 Diabetes (the kind that isn't a result of bad choices, just bad luck).  In Type 1 Diabetes, your pancreas is pretty much under attack all the time, and can't make insulin the way it's supposed to.  This is a challenge for anyone, because without the automatic regulation of blood sugar, one mistake in what you eat, or calculating your insulin administration, and you can die, or suffer permanent damage.   

I do this ride for Julia and Nina, two amazing young ladies whom I have come to admire for their ability to hang in there, and face the world, and their disease.  

This one kicked my behind last year...4,800' of climbing hurt.

https://donations.diabetes.org/site/Donation2?df_id=15871&PROXY_ID=9267156&PROXY_TYPE=20&FR_ID=10141


UPDATE: While I have a number of sponsors who don't show up in the online listing, I am still behind on this one!  If you'd like to help out, please do so today!

Bike MS Events

I do a lot of these.  They're great events, well supported and interesting and challenging routes, but I mostly do them because I have family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers who are affected by MS.

MS is currently understood to be an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the meyelin sheath surrounding the nerves.  Imagine a short circuit inside a computer.  Now imagine that the computer is your brain, the thing that controls all pain sensation and muscle movement, all perception and speech.  

It is a challenging disease to deal with, because the nerves are constantly in a state of damage and repair, so the symptoms are inconsistent, and sometimes devastating.  It usually affects people in the prime of life, and affects women disproportionately.

Bike to the Bay - June 20 - 21, 2015 320km / 200 miles

This is the first of the three MS Bike rides I'm doing this year.  It's the one that Marcy and I did together last year, but she can't ride in this year because of a schedule conflict.  

Please Note: I've met my sponsorship goal for this one!  THANK YOU SPONSORS!!!

If you're inclined to sponsor me for an MS Tour, choose one of the other two.

Central Ohio Challenge - July 11th, 2015 160km / 100 miles

This is the toughest MS Tour that the Buckeye Chapter puts on.  It's a pretty similar course to the Diabetes Association Tour de Cure, and the climbs will put a hurt on the unprepared.  I take this one on because I have so many friends who can't.

Sponsor me here:
http://bikeoha.nationalmssociety.org/goto/ckottingCOC15

UPDATE: If you want to sponsor me, and have some fun doing it, pregegister here for the Central Ohio Draught Night TONIGHT at Wolf's Ridge Brewing Company.

Buckeye Breakaway - August 1-2, 2015 282 km / 175 miles

This used to be the Pedal to the Point, the tour that got me back on a bike back in 2004.  New route this year, new turnaround point, better facilities.  The real point here is that a few thousand people get together to challenge themselves, and do something to stop a terrible debilitating disease.

Sponsor me here:
http://bikeoha.nationalmssociety.org/goto/ckottingBB15

And finally, the big ride of the year:

South Dakota for Sun Dial - August 23rd-28, 2015
705 km / 435 miles (estimated)

This is being put together by a friend, to support a retirement/assisted living facility in his home town. I'll let him explain:

"It is a fundraiser for Sun Dial Manor, a small nursing home in Bristol (my home town) as a tribute to the decades of caring they have provided for the area and in honor of my parents, Mary & Barney Klein, the first administrators of Sun Dial in 1968."

Day one of this little jaunt is 100 non-stop miles.  Straight into the Black Hills.  In August.

If you want to sponsor me for this bit of insanity, and see me push myself further than I ever have, you can do so here:
http://cycling4sundial2015.myevent.com/3/donate.htm
 
I'm a little shocked by the mileage I've committed to this year, a total of 1,072 miles.  

If you want to help me make good on those commitments (or just want to see me suffer all summer) pick an event and sponsor me!

Summer Events...

As any regular reader of this Blog knows, I am a cyclist.  I ride for exercise, for fun, and even to actually go places.  (Shocking, I know...)

Well, one of the things I try to do with cycling is raise money for charities.  What can be better that doing something you enjoy, to do something that matters?  Anyway, that is what this blog post is all about, raising money for charities by cycling.

By the way, any of you runners or cyclists out there, check out CharityMiles. Track your mileage, post your stats, and give money to good causes with your smart phone.

Presented below is a chronological list of the charity cycling events that I'm doing this summer.  Please look each charity over, look at the dates, and answer for yourself one of two questions:

1. Do I want to do this?
2. Do I want to sponsor Chris doing this?

Once you have a decision, if it's "Yes", you can click on the appropriate link to go to a web page where you can do what you've chosen to do.  If you don't want to do an online donation, contact me through whatever Social Media you saw this on (LinkedIn, Twitter, ZMGNA list, etc.) and I'll let you know how to proceed.

If you choose to do nothing, then, do nothing...

Date	Event	Charity	Links
May 30, 2015	Tour de H2O - Water for Africa (10, 25, 50 or 62 miles)
		The Tour de H2O works with Global Partners for Development to bring sources of clean drinking water, and facilities and education for personal hygiene, to communities in Africa, specifically Kenya and Uganda. Each project is managed and partially paid for by an organization in the local community, which takes on responsibility for upkeep. For information on previous years' projects, see http://www.tourdeh2o.org/Pages/Projects.aspx	I want to ride!
			http://www.tourdeh2o.org/Pages/Registration.aspx
			I want to sponsor!
			http://www.tourdeh2o.org/pages/kotting.aspx
June 6, 2015	Tour de Cure – American Diabetes Association
		The Tour de Cure is a series of fundraising cycling events held in 44 states nationwide to benefit the American Diabetes Association. The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. Whether you ride 10 miles or 100 miles, you will travel a route supported from start to finish with rest stops, food to fuel the journey and fans to cheer you on! I ride this one because of two young ladies, Julia and Nina, who each have Type 1 (what used to be called “Juvenile”) Diabetes. Unlike Type 2 Diabetes (which can often be treated or prevented through diet and exercise) in Type 1, your immune system freaks out and attacks the insulin-making cells in the Pancreas.	I want to ride!
			http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TourAdmin?fr_id=10141&pg=entry
			I want to sponsor!
			http://main.diabetes.org/goto/ckotting
June 20-21, 2015	BikeMS – Bike to the Bay (Saturday 35, 50, 75, 100 - Sunday 50, 75, 100)
		The BikeMS is a series of 100 fundraising cycling events held nationwide to benefit the local chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Most of the money goes to provide local programs ans support for people with MS, the rest goes to support research into cures. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The effects are unpredictable, and may include tingling, numbness, loss of coordiantion or muscular control, and loss of vision. While it is currently thought to be an autoimmune disorder, little is understood about the trigger. I do these rides because I know a number of people (friends, co-workers, and family) who are affected by MS.	I want to ride!
			https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/TRR/Bike/OHABikeEvents/1892452554
			I want to sponsor!
			http://bikeoha.nationalmssociety.org/goto/ckottingB2B15
July 11, 2015	BikeMS – Central Ohio Challenge (30, 50, and 95 miles)
		The BikeMS is a series of 100 fundraising cycling events held nationwide to benefit the local chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Most of the money goes to provide local programs ans support for people with MS, the rest goes to support research into cures. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The effects are unpredictable, and may include tingling, numbness, loss of coordiantion or muscular control, and loss of vision. While it is currently thought to be an autoimmune disorder, little is understood about the trigger. I do these rides because I know a number of people (friends, co-workers, and family) who are affected by MS.	I want to ride!
			https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/TRR/Bike/OHABikeEvents/1545525962
			I want to sponsor!
			http://bikeoha.nationalmssociety.org/goto/ckottingCOC15
Aug. 1 – 2, 2015	BikeMS – Buckeye Breakaway [Formerly Pedal to the Point] - (30, 75, 100, 150, 175 miles)
		The BikeMS is a series of 100 fundraising cycling events held nationwide to benefit the local chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Most of the money goes to provide local programs ans support for people with MS, the rest goes to support research into cures. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The effects are unpredictable, and may include tingling, numbness, loss of coordiantion or muscular control, and loss of vision. While it is currently thought to be an autoimmune disorder, little is understood about the trigger. I do these rides because I know a number of people (friends, co-workers, and family) who are affected by MS.	I want to ride!
			https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/TRR/Bike/OHABikeEvents/869391215
			I want to sponsor!
			http://bikeoha.nationalmssociety.org/goto/ckottingBB15
Aug. 8 – 13, 2015	SD4SD South Dakota for Sun Dial (400 miles, shorter distances & One Day participation welcome)
		More details on this one to follow, but this will be a week-long trip across South Dakota to raise funds for the Sun Dial retirement community in Bristol, South Dakota. More details are coming, so stay tuned.

Lessons in Physics and Civics...

Any physicist will recognize that formula, it is the formula for kinetic energy.  Physics is physics, it doesn't know how to adjust for societal norms, or believe in personal rights.  It just is.  Therefore, those of us who do care about societal norms or personal rights need to take into account that not everything in our universe does.

About a year ago, a woman was sentenced to 6 years for hitting and killing a cyclist who was stopped by the side of the road.  What has come out from the trial is that:

• She was driving with her vision impaired by her Diabetes, to which she had also lost a leg.
• She hit something that she claimed she couldn't recognize.
• After striking that something (which shattered her windshield) she did not stop to determine what she had hit, but drove on.

A number of people have taken sides in this case, and my interest here is not to "pile on" or take sides in this particular case.  Whether I feel justice has been done in this case is not the topic of this particular bit of writing.

More recently, a cyclist in England was hit and badly injured, however the occupants didn't stop to help, telling the cyclist that the sight of him would be too upsetting for the children in the car.

Obviously, as a cyclist, I find this a bit disturbing, particularly when the news is coming from England, a relatively "cyclist friendly" country.  But I'm not here to talk about that either.

What I want to talk about is the difference between "rights" and "privileges".  It is my opinion that a significant cause of cyclist deaths and injuries, and many of the deaths and injuries relating to the automobile in general, come from the fact that we have come to assume that the privilege of driving an automobile is a right.

In the case of the tragedy from a year ago, a lot of the discussion has revolved around whether she should have been driving.  Many of those who have argued in favor of leniency for this particular driver (and others) based on her disability and/or her need to be able to get around seem to be arguing from the position that a need or desire for transportation equates to a right to drive.

In order to bring a bit of perspective to the question of a "right" to drive a car, I'd like to invoke that formula at the top of the article.  I'm going to phrase the discussion in terms of the amount of kinetic energy you are responsible for controlling safely every time you get behind the wheel, and make a comparison that I think is particularly telling.

Let's start with some not-unreasonable figures: a 3,000 pound vehicle at 35 miles per hour.  If you click on the link above, you'll see that a Toyota Camry weighs in at just about 3,200, so 3,000 pounds is pretty conservative.

Kinetic Energy is often expressed in foot-pounds of force.  Just for consistency, we'll start by converting miles per hour to feet per second:

35 x 5280 = 184,800 feet/hour

60 x 60 seconds / hour = 3,600

184,800 feet / 3600 seconds = 51.5 feet per second.

Back to our formula:  

• Velocity in feet per second needs to be squared, so our 51.3 feet per second v becomes 2,635 v^2.
• Mass in pounds needs to be divided in half, so our 3,000 pounds of m becomes 1,500 1/2m. 
• Finally, we multiply 1,500 of 1/2m by our 2,635 v^2 to get 3,547,500 foot-pounds of kinetic energy that has to be controlled every second.

But wait, 3,547,500 foot pounds sounds like a lot, but really, that's a pretty small unit of energy, so something over 3 million isn't really so much to expect be controlled, right?

OK, let's compare it to something that society does insist be tightly controlled, and increasingly is only willing to put in the hands of trained professionals to control it: a typical "assault rifle" round, the venerable .223 Remington.

According to the website "Bullet Energy Transfer and Wounding Mechanisms", a .223 Remington delivers 1,102 foot pounds of energy to its target.  Let's see now, that means that a Toyota Camry at 35 miles an hour is equal to...3,547,500 / 1,102.  Or:

3,219 rounds of .223 Remington

...or...

107 30-round high-capacity magazines

In 2011: 

• 32,367 people were killed by motor vehicles (See Table 3)
• 323 people were murdered with a rifle

Almost exactly 10 times the death rate from automobile accidents than rifle deaths.  Now I'm not going into a "right to keep and bear arms" argument (though I easily could) because that will distract form the main point of my comparison.

Let me ask, why are we more concerned about the quality and training of the people we let have access to "assault rifles" and "high-capacity magazines" than the people we allow to drive?

Why do we allow ourselves to be so freaking careless behind the wheel?

I suspect it is because we have, as far as the automobile is concerned, confused privileges with rights.  In any other area, if you have to be licensed, there is an expectation of a high level of expertise, and particularly the ability to perform the task without injuring others. 

However, driving a car has become a sort of "rite of passage" for youths in our society, and the "rite" seems to have become confused with a "right".  There is no legal, moral or ethical right to drive.  But there is a legal, moral and ethical right to expect to be able to go about in safety, regardless of your mode of conveyance.

So, when you drive today, remember the truly incredible privilege you have, and the responsibility you bear.  Be careful with that kinetic energy, folks.