You’ve had this experience. You’re third in line waiting for the red light to turn green. It does so. The first car in line has not moved. You fume! “What is that idiot waiting for?”
That first driver saw the light change when you did. But the first at a light understands this is “the land of free and the home of the brave.” Unfortunately, some Americans take these words from the Star Spangled Banner as an antisocial code for living.
They declare they are free to do what they will and they are brave enough to violate considerations of safety and the law.
The first driver in your line is waiting to see if one of these self-indulgent scofflaws is going to run the red light. The inappropriate behavior of others limits our freedom. We have to be brave to move forward.
Bravery applies to opposing, alone or collectively, the liberties taken by powerful organizations of all varieties.
Two examples: 1. The U.S. Forest Service wants to cut down and burn off sensitive terrain in the Hoosier National Forest (the Houston South Project). This endeavor threatens further damage to Lake Monroe, a significant recreation area and a major source of Bloomington’s water supply. It took bravery by the Indiana Forest Alliance (IFA), the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, the Hoosier Environmental Council and the Friends of Lake Monroe to seek and to win a preliminary injunction halting this destructive project.
To stand up to government or business in the U.S. is fraught with the danger of retaliation at the time or later in long-lasting relationships. Most of the time, opposition to the powerful does little good for the reputations of the protesting organizations.
2. It took action by the Environment Protection Agency to get the city of Kendallville to fine the Kraft-Heinz corporation for repeated violations of the Clean Water Acts. Kendallville itself (population 10,000) did not have the bravery to go up against Kraft-Heinz.
What city wants to be seen as “anti-business?” What city wants to admit to its citizens that its water treatment plant is inadequate to handle the wastes of its citizens and businesses?
And how much was the fine assessed on the mega-corporation, Kraft-Heinz? A pathetically small $20,000.
No one wants to stick the nose of a car out into an intersection when reckless drivers race on to beat the light. What organizations are willing to take on the government when the political mantra for success is “Go along to get along?” How can a mere city tell an international corporation it is polluting the local waterways?
If we are to be free, we must not be limited in our freedom by reckless people, irresponsible corporations or over-reaching governments. We must be brave and stand up to them.
Morton Marcus is an economist. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow his views and those of John Guy on “Who Gets What?” wherever podcasts are available or at mortonjohn.libsyn.com. Send comments to [email protected].
