Getting Along

As the man said, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Every day I get out on the road. During the day, especially after four in the afternoon, they get crowded. Now that we are approaching Christmas, they are going to get especially crowded around the stores, especially Walmart. Some of the intersections can get bottle-necked. There is one intersection near the Chick-fil-a where it can come that it can come to a complete stand still. It is the reason that we park about half a block away whenever we go there… and this though the dinning room is not yet open.

Nonetheless, most of us make it through just fine, though our nerves are a bit frazzled and we burn maybe a quart of gas getting the quarter mile or so. Then too, there is the time element. The reason we usually get along on the road is because of laws, rules that govern who can go and when. We are also encouraged to let the other drivers know our intentions. I find most drivers are courteous provided I use my signals and don’t make any sudden moves. As my brother told me before I did any driving, “Surprises might be fine for birthdays, but not so much for driving.”

Occasionally, though all the rules of the road are followed by everyone, people do have accidents. However, ‘accidents’ are generally the results of someone doing something wrong. Sometimes, it is unintentional; sometime it is right on purpose. Some take advantage of some imagined privilege and before you know it, bumpers are touching and then the tempers really flare. Sometimes, because someone thinks he is special and it ends in the loss of life. In such cases, the police become involved and no one likes the outcome.

When we were making a long road trip, my brother mentioned something that amazed me. On the two lane highway, people were passing each other at the relative speed of 130 mph, assuming both drivers are at the speed limit. A head on collision at that speed is almost always fatal. Yet, we do it everyday, somewhat casually, assuming the driver going the other way is going to stay on his side of the line. By the way, we do this just about 3 or 4 feet apart as we pass. As I think it over, it scares me. However, I still do it, giving it little thought.

The thing is, if we don’t “Just get along,” the results can be horrible, even fatal. So, in general, we follow the rules. In general, we remain relatively courteous. When it calls for it, we take our turn.

On the other hand there are those who are special. When one lane is closed, they wait until the last minute to make the lane change. It isn’t that they just crowd in front of me, but they are also crowding in front of the fifty patient drivers behind me who do it right. Sometimes they go into the emergency lanes. The police don’t like that because the lanes are reserved for real emergencies, not privileged drivers. It makes it difficult for ambulances, fire vehicles and tow trucks to make it through.

Sometimes these privileged drivers enter intersections, knowing that there is not going to be any room for them on the opposite side. When people do that, they cause gridlock. That is sort of what happens near the Chick-fil-a. Lights turn green; lights turn red. Then, because there are cars in the intersection, no one goes anywhere.

I can go on and on, but I am sure you know what I mean. The purpose for me explaining that which you know is to point out something that just might not be so obvious. We have other laws too, rules that we are supposed to follow. When we don’t it can result in problems. Yet there are people who disobey them. In some cases, they are caught by police and they are made to pay for the infractions. Other times, they get away with it. Here lately, it would seem they get away with it, as others watch. Sometimes even while others cheer them on. Sometimes, right in front of the eyes of law enforcement officers.

In situations such as this, it is as if there are no laws. It makes us a lawless society. In the end, it is to the detriment of all. For no one wants to live where there is no law.

Yet we have a political party that would have such a country. They want us to live in a place of theft and pillaging. They like it when the murderer murders and the innocent citizen goes to prison for defending his life and property. The figuratively put cuffs on the border patrol and ICE while they wave the law breaking illegal aliens through.

To be sure, where there is no enforcement, there is no law. Where there is no law, there is no justice. Where there is no justice, there is no just getting along. It was the reason for the law in the first place. But then the lawless society is exactly what they want and it is exactly what they are forcing onto the rest of us, like it or not.

Due to recent revelations, it would appear our nations number one law enforcement organization threw all the laws away. Instead of enforcing them they were breaking them. Dozens suffered the results directly. We all suffered indirectly. Yet, I doubt any of those really behind it will ever see the inside of a prison cell. Certainly neither of the Clintons will. There power and influence are simply too great. This is ironic seeing as Mrs. Clinton said that no one is above the law. Besides, there is no way the media will permit either of the Clintons to suffer such indignity.

If it becomes that way on the roadways, we might all be better walking.

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