No Paradigms

 Perspective 

Traffic and Peaceful Coexistence

I listen and read the news from multiple media and to say I get sad is an understatement.  I lament that we cannot get along even within various country borders.  And we just don't 'get along' we are mean, angry and sometimes violent about it.  The premise of democracy, majority rule, seems a thing of the past as now every single person feels it is their God given right to do almost whatever they want without thought of others, impact to the lives of their neighbors, or simply repercussions of any kind.  I wonder about this and cannot fathom why it is so hard to get along and why life in general cannot be like TRAFFIC.  

Many of us drive often multiple times daily.  We do so alone or with other in our cars.  We go to destinations of our choice in areas sparse and sometimes so dense with cars you wonder how it is possible.  Accidents and issues (conflicts) are few.  So why can't the world be like this?  What makes traffic possible among people of different beliefs, races, genders etc?  

Can it be just:

> Simple and enforced laws?

> Mutually assured destruction?

We all understand the posted speed limits.  We understand traffic lights, stop signs and other postings.  We all understand that we drive on one side of the road based upon our direction of travel and we all understand that in a crash both parties may have serious liability up to death.  So what do the vast majority of people do?  They drive without issue.  Hundreds of thousands per day without issue.  Yes, there are accidents, and yes they are often the result of people not paying attention, under the influence of some drug, or just those who feel they are above all those mutually agreed upon standards (laws).  But they are few and they don't cause wars where no one may drive.  Is regulation of the world that simple?  Stay in your lane?  Follow the basic rules?  If you don't then jail or worse (depending upon the infraction)?  Is it - Can it be that simple?  

The vast majority of us just want to get from point A to point B without issue or death.  It's only the few who drive way too fast, weave in and out of their lane and some times crash into others.  And we punish those few... not the many.  

Traffic shows me we can get along but only if the few are controlled and do not get away with their infractions and thus incite others that its OK to do the same.  I wonder, does the law need to be that draconian to be effective so that the many are not slaves to the whims of the few?  That the many can live in peace?

Well - for me enough tonight.  I wrote this because I could not sleep and this was one of the burdens on my very busy mind.  Its not solved - obviously - but I got it out of my system (at least for now).