31/12/2021
THE OLD FART:
As I age I find myself crossing that threshold, entering cantankerous old fart status. Am I really that disgruntled or is the world indeed going to hell in a hand basket. Yeah! It is the New Year approaching and all. With that all the resolutions that I gave up trying to make years ago, all those things for which I should feel thankful for, and the anticipation of good things to come in the New Year. Sorry Folks! That just seems to be getting harder and harder to fathom.
Is it the age, or is it the times?
Does anyone respect the law anymore? I have heard the adage, "It's not against the law unless you get caught." Paired with, "It is my right!"
It seems as though there are those that might think that it is their right to break the law if they wish to. "If I get caught it's my problem." they say.
Let me cite a rather benign example:
On a regular basis I drive Interstate 94 from Minneapolis to Sauk Center; often further. I'm no Saint believe me. Do I exaggerate the speed limit? Yes, often four miles per hour over posted speed limit. I am passed as if I were sitting still by nearly everyone. I often feel by not moving with traffic I am more of a hazard than if I were doing the posted speed.
Recently I did just that. I began moving with traffic along a corridor between St Cloud, and Sauk Center. I was moving at eighty five miles an hour. I was passing no one. I was being passed by no one. Speed limit was seventy. Even in North Dakota the speed limit is seventy five. I found myself thinking. Holy moly! I'd sure hate to be out here with this lot moving along when this wet pavement turns to ice.
The feeling you get as you're moving along is that all are oblivious to the reality that potentially is confronting them. I make my exit to continue home.
A few days later while watching the news they report on a forty car pile-up on Interstate 94 in that very same area; some with severe injury. Nice way to start the Holidays. Where were the rights of those people. It is not the right of anyone to break the law and injure someone, or is it. These are the issues that are at the forefront today. One would think not. The reality is that those societal norms are being challenged. It is saddening.
