Controlling Behavior

Controlling behavior is a never ending task. I thought the religious fanatics had the job well in hand when along comes the just-as-obnoxious social architects who need to see that every rule is followed and make new rules occasionally out of spite. When I was a kid, I didn’t like hall monitors, and I like them even less now.
Sure there are some rules people have to live by so that we don’t kill each other over unleashed dogs pooping in my yard, but we also need to show some restraint in making rules. The rule makers don’t even need much of a reason to get out their petitions.
It doesn’t matter what the petition is about. Like nuclear proliferation, every action requires a reaction. Although I would like to define myself as tolerant, it would be more honest to say that I just don’t care what other people do just as long as they stay out of my way. That’s why I view every petition as a threat. No matter how well reasoned and well meaning, petitions are always about controlling behavior.
I guess it is the curse of democracy that everyone thinks their opinion is important enough to be made into a law.
Nancy Sherer