FOLLOWING RULES IS TOO HARD, SO MAKE YOUR OWN?

Ask someone if following rules is too hard for them and they naturally say, “No, I can follow rules.”

Ask the same question after they get three quick traffic tickets and lose their license.

Following rules shouldn’t be too difficult since laws are passed after intense discussion and votes from intelligent elected officials.

Let’s start with intelligent officials.

On this page I don’t pretend to know the ins and outs of what it takes to pass a law, but I have thoughts.

A Clean Water vote failed recently and I’m left wondering why? What’s wrong with clean water and who would vote against it?

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Today five Justices of the United States Supreme Court reversed a California Federal District Court Judge’s decision vacating a Clean Water Act rule enacted by the Trump Administration EPA.  The 2020 rule had reduced the role of States and Tribes in the issuance of certain Federal Clean Water Act permits.

I’ll leave the legal stuff to legal scholars, but what I do recommend is pouring a nice glass of sludge for anyone against clean water to quaff down.

What it feels like to me is a play for buying drinking water instead of pouring it from a tap.

Has anyone kept up with Flynt, Michigan water?

I’m a fan of clean water the same way I’m a fan of electricity and lighting.

Call me a soft First World wimp, but I’m used to the comforts of civilization like clean water and sleeping in a warm room with a bedside lamp.

Yes, we live in a world of want, and there are priorities, but clean water is essential for everyone.

We want to trust the water we drink, cook with, and clean with, isn’t poison. Is that too much to ask?

“Oh, our water is awful. Here’s a plastic bottle of water instead.”

Once that becomes more normalized, who cares about clean drinking water.

Normalized Bad Behavior

Following rules doesn’t make you an automaton.

Helping someone in need doesn’t make you a pollyanna.

We’re wired to fix problems, unless we get re-wired by authorities who say, “There is no problem. Move along.”

I’m re-reading Catch-22 and nearing the end where Yossarian is getting sent home. I won’t spoil the story if you haven’t read it, but you should.

The main character goes through things and changes from one of the guys to a broken man who witnesses the awful decline of civilization during a war to save civilization.

It’s a painful read.

Expecting better from others is a good sign; hiding and running from responsibility, not so much.

When a big dog gets caught up in affairs spinning out of control, they look for any solution. And fast.

If it’s a problem with a person, is the first move finding someone with leverage over the person, or better communication?

If the perceived problem person isn’t the problem, but is expressing the problems of someone else, then what?

Give them a standing ovation for caring enough to risk their reputation.

Or write a blog post that expresses a standing ovation.

They are the people who will make tomorrow a better day for all of us.

If you know some of these people, leave a comment about them.