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Thursday, April 9, 2020

Fringeville #217: Civil Disobedience Begins Behind the Wheel

Guardian of the Bologna

Americans are, on whole, a law-abiding people. We are also capable of remarkable patience. Right now, millions of us have been laid off or have had our incomes hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. We are facing shortages and restrictions on food, paper and cleaning products. We are being restricted to our homes. Our country is largely shut down. And we’re being pretty damned calm about it. We understand (or at least most of us do) how important it is to break the grip this virus has on our nation.


That all being said, Americans do not have limitless patience. I think we've got about 6-8 more weeks until we start to exhibit some civil disobedience. Where will it start? How will the rebellion begin?


One way to assure mass civil disobedience is to tell folks they can't take a drive. Just a drive. Alone or with their fellow family confinees. An hour or so out of the damned house for something other than being herded in small groups into a supermarket, pharmacy, doctor’s office or Wallyworld.


Here in Pennsylvania, the state police have made it clear that you won’t be pulled over simply for being out on the road. Instead, you’ll be pulled over for some type of moving violation. In the course of interrogation over that bad taillight, you will be asked why you are out and about. If you tell them you’re taking a nice little drive, you’ll get warned or fined as a secondary offense. It’s already happened, and it sounds like the state police might be ramping that up.


This is going to result in deliberate civil disobedience.


When people are pulled over while out on a Sunday drive, they will lie to the police, and they will do so deliberately.


“License and registration, ma’am.”


“Here you go, officer!”


“You’ve got a busted taillight, ma’am.”


“Oh! Thank you, I didn’t know.”


“Are you aware of the Governor’s stay-at-home order, ma’am?”


“Oh yes, of course!”


“Why are you out today?”


“I’m going shopping.”


“You live in Plains. You’re in White Haven.”


“Yes, officer. My friend told me on Facebook that they have toilet paper in a store up here.”


“What store?”


“She didn’t know. She said White Haven. Or Blakeslee. Possibly Mount Pocono.”


“Are you sure you’re not just out for a drive?”


“Heavens, officer! That would be illegal. I’m just tired of using newspaper and leaves to wipe my backside.”


The rebellion will begin slowly at first, but gradually people will just begin to ignore restrictions on their mobility. They will continue to practice social distancing even as they fruitlessly look for hand sanitizer, paper products or face masks (because there are none to be found).


But they will, by increasing numbers, leave their homes to take a drive.


Why?


Because for Americans, our vehicles are an extension of ourselves. They are a sign of our freedom and of belonging to a free society. People who wouldn't think of violating social distancing guidelines will see a massive disconnect between policing that and policing the privacy and freedom offered by our vehicles.


They will realize that there is a small but tangible risk of getting exposure to a virus at a drive-thru fast food window (allowed) and no risk at all to driving a country road to enjoy nature's splendor (verboten).


And so they will rebel. 

Quietly. Politely. And in increasing numbers the longer they are confined. It's human nature. It is especially the nature of Americans, who have a wee bit of history chafing against infringements (real or perceived) on their personal liberty.


Am I advocating lawbreaking?


Absolutely not. Lawbreaking would be ...umm ...illegal.


But you just might see me heading to a grocery store, officer, on other side of the valley. Or over that mountain. Or just past that lake up near Thornhurst, the one with the ducks swimming lazily over the reflection of the budding trees. I’m just out looking for bologna, toilet paper and antacid. I’ll just die without them. My dog, officer?

He’s just here to guard the bologna.


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Be good to each other…

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1 comment:

My motto is be good to each other. In that spirit, keep it clean on the comments. Personal attacks, nasty language, and any disdain of chicken wings will not be tolerated.