There are many clears signs that The End of civilization is near: wars, diseases, too many anti-Christs to count.
But a better indicator is right in front of you, right under your nose: the driver in front of you.
If you think of the highway as the road to heaven, most drivers that cross my path are temptations sent to end my journey.
Imagine, if you will, a 35 mph zone with all of us–sane–drivers doing 38. Imagine, if you will, (are you getting the reference, by the way, or is it too old?) the lead car decides the squirrel on the sidewalk is going to cross the road. The prescient, Prius-driving, pink-wearing tree-hugger (unfair, but hopefully humorous. Look up: “alliteration”) decides to press the brakes in a manner meant to stop his car on a dime, or an acorn.
If those of us following avoid him and each other it is truly a miracle.
Now, imagine (no reference, it is now assumed you are quite young) the driver in front of you slows to 25 MPH and veers to the right. Can you guess what happens next?
Yes. The blinker goes on for a LEFT hand turn and the driver pats himself on the back for being a good, careful operator.
To one and all: driving is a social contract. It is the one, true, area where different races, colors, creeds, and nationalities SHARE something without bombs and AK-47s. We drive in Peace.
But we need to assume certain things for the contract to work. We need to know what the other driving is doing or we all end up crash test dummies for real.
Actually, we do NOT need to assume anything: there are laws.
But some are either ignorant of the law or of the opinion it only applies to them on the second Tuesday of the week.
The Blinker, for example, is used so seldom car makers should save money and not even install them, anymore. Headlights? If two are good, imagine how well you’ll see with 4 or 6 or 8. No need to worry about the retinal burns you give on-coming traffic: I can see clearly, now. (Anyone get THAT reference?)
Ask any agnostic and he’ll tell you he will believe in God when He comes to the Interstate and directs the cops to pull over the weaving Corvette doing 110 mph. That would be a miracle.
We are beginning to fail as drivers and it means we will fail as civilized human beings. Every driver for himself is what the Libertarians would argue. Stay to the right, for the conservatives. Passing is only for the left, a liberal might say.
When the roads get as bad as politics, you know the End is near.
In the meantime, if you see an angry, old guy giving you the finger from the car behind you, just once, think you might be doing something wrong and don’t just wave back.