by R Shimoda

Created on: April 24, 2008

The reason is simple. It's what separates man from animals. Think about everyone you know and ask yourself if all of you think alike, talk alike, want the same things, are motivated by the same drives, etc. Unless you're a clone, the odds are you aren't. Rules (and their more formal brother, laws) exist to set guidelines with the intent of making things fair for a majority of society. Do they work for everyone? Nope. Are things always fair? Nope. But the goal is to head in that direction.

Without rules, the world would be anarchy. Some argue it would foster a new dynamism, function as a breath of fresh air on society, allow persons to try new things. Guess what, even in a society with rules, it is still possible to do all of this.

How great would it be to drive to work without traffic lights? True, you wouldn't have to stop but neither would anyone else. As long as you're moving with the majority of the flow, life would be good but wait till you need to make a left turn against on-coming traffic. How long do you think it would take to make that turn and not get killed? Instead in America we use traffic lights, traffic signs, police officers and striped roads to set rules so a majority of persons can travel safely.

Does this mean everyone is safe? No. Just ask someone who has been the victim or knows someone who got hit by a drunk driver. It's illegal to drive with more than a state set threshold for alcohol in the blood but folks still do it. Again, this is an example of freedom in spite of rules.

On a more positive note, even with the sundry restrictions. There's nothing to stop you from driving different routes between your home and work provided you comply with the safety rules. There's nothing to stop you from driving the truck to work rather than the van. There's nothing to say you need to have the car totally filled or empty. Again, all examples of creativity in spite of rules.

Rules allows the elderly, the young, the weak, the physically infirmed and those not at the peak of their physical prowess to function as part of society. In spite of what others may think, the existence of rules and compliance with them, is truly what separates us from the animals.

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